Home - Garden
The Easy-To-Make Mistake That Can Spell Doom For Your Milkweed
By MARCO ROSSI
Milkweed is beautiful in any backyard and attracts pollinators and butterflies. It is the only plant on which Monarchs lay their eggs, making it vital to their survival.
When cultivating milkweed in your garden, it is critical to avoid using any form of pesticide, including those deemed eco-friendly, such as rubbing alcohol.
Pesticides can kill the Monarch caterpillars that live on milkweed and harm or poison adult butterflies and bumblebees visiting the plant.
This issue is particularly concerning given the alarming decline in Monarch populations (90% in the last two decades) which is suspected to be partly due to pesticide use.
Studies have shown that Monarchs avoid milkweed coated with pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides, significantly reducing egg-laying on these plants.
Consequently, Monarchs may fly long distances searching for untreated plants or lay eggs on other plants. The caterpillars will die in such cases, as they feed only on milkweed.