Home
Milkweed and Monarch Butterflies
- Details
- Written by Super User
- Category: Wetland Plants
Below are two photos I took Saturday of Monarch caterpillars eating Milkweed leaves, their sole source of food. Monarch butterflies have declined precipitiously over the last twenty years, a direct result of declines in Milkweed, open space, and the degradation of their winter nesting grounds in Mexico.
In the Northeast, Milkweed is not considered a wetland plant by the USDA for wetland classification purposes, but is elsewhere in the United States it's status differs, as there are over 100 species of Milkweed in the United States. The swamp Milkweed found in the west thrives only in moist soils, and the photos I took were roadside, in a very dry environment. Due to the toxins found in Milkweed, which are also present in the caterpillar, birds and other predators steer clear from what would otherwise be a juicy snack.
Some helpful pages here:
Native Milkweeds - The Xerces Society
USDA Milkweed plant Profile
Wetlands Institute - Monarch butterfly
NRCS Monarch Butterfly Habitat Development Project
Monarch Butterfly Conference Report
A particularly well researched monograph on Milkweed from a Botanists perspective
New Website
- Details
- Written by Super User
- Category: Other
Just a quick update, the long overdue website update has been completed to the most recent version of Joomla! Some Menu items and dropdowns still need to be updated, but the site now offers more features and is much more mobile friendly.
Wetland Plant Guides
- Details
- Written by charlie
- Category: Wetland Plants
Below are a few visual resources for learning about Wetland Plants,I always found that photos are easier to learn from than black and white drawings that are found in many books. They can also be referred to more easily while out in the field, assuming you have internet connectivity. The flashcards are a novel idea, and you can use it to gauge your progress about your knowledge of wetland plants. Each of the 133 flashcard lists bothe Common names, scientific names, and additional info the particular species, as well as an audio component. The only drawback is the flashcards were created 4 years ago, and not edited recently.
Specific to the Michigan and to the Midwest, many of the plant species found in the over 2,000 photos are also found elsewhere in the United States, and can still serve as a guide for other areas.
Wetland Plant Flash Cards
Photos and Characteristics of Wetland Plant Species and Wetland Ecological Communities of Michigan and the Upper Midwest
Wetlands in the News
22 January 2025
-
Study highlights the vital role of coastal wetlands
New research has revealed the unique ecological role of coastal wetlands in the face of rising sea levels, capturing carbon, adjusting their soil elevation and protecting the coastline.
-
Key wetlands protected near Lake George
The Lake George Land Conservancy has purchased 45 acres that are mostly wetlands off of Lake George in the town of Bolton, it announced Wednesday.
-
Wetlands, homes, and shelters: The tough costs of expanding Tacoma light rail
Sound Transit is debating how best to connect Tacoma to Federal Way via light rail, a project that faces serious community and environmental obstacles.
-
Inspection reveals pallet walkway on Middletown farm's wetlands 'crushed' vegetation
The Middletown Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Commission is requiring Lovie's Farm to get a permit for the wood skids he uses as a bridge over wetlands.
-
Louisiana's wetlands are priceless. This team is calculating what they're worth to the climate.
Louisiana has more than three million acres of wetlands, vast expanses that teem with animals, trees, swamps, water and wildness. They're part of the state's culture, its lifestyle, its tourism...