Grandfather Mountain, Wonders never cease

Explore the Lives of Monarchs Through Grandfather’s Naturalist Programs

caterpillar

This September, visitors to Grandfather Mountain will have the chance to witness a miracle of nature by spending time observing Monarch butterflies. Grandfather’s naturalists have been busy collecting eggs and caterpillars so they can share their enthusiasm for these fascinating creatures with guests.

naturalist programTogether with Monarch Watch, naturalists at Grandfather and throughout the United States and Mexico are able to track these butterflies along a 2,000 mile journey that ends in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.

“It’s hard to fathom that a butterfly will leave Maine in September and fly all the way to Central Mexico,” said naturalist Jesse Pope.

Two to four days a week the naturalists will bring out terrariums full of eggs and larva so that guests can watch the transformation from caterpillar to chrysalis.

“It takes about 30 minutes for the chrysalis to form," explained naturalist Katie Gray. Then over the following 10-14 days, the pupa undergoes a mysterious transformation inside the jade-colored chrysalis before emerging as a butterfly.

Each Monarch is tagged with a special ID sticker before being released in Grandfather's Butterfly Garden. As the weather turns cooler, the butterflies will head toward Mexico. Monarch watchers along the route who encounter the butterflies can check the ID tag with monarchwatch.org to see where they started their journey.

guests with caterpillarsPrograms focus on the Monarch life cycle, migration, and population. Discussion will include how the population has declined due pesticides and mowing of the pastures and roadsides where milkweed grows. Because the species is totally dependent on the milkweed plant, the only plant on which its caterpillars will feed, loss of milkweed means the loss of Monarchs.

“This is not limited to a park or school,” he said. “Anybody can do this at home.” Visit monarchwatch.org for more details on how to track Monarchs in your own area.

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