Solimar, p.14
Solimar, page 14
Monarch butterflies need milkweed and nectar plants to survive. Adult butterflies drink nectar from flowering plants, which gives them the energy they need to migrate. And the females lay their eggs on milkweed leaves so that when the caterpillars hatch, food is at the ready! In the wild, native milkweed is the only food the caterpillars will eat, and they’ll often eat ten or more milkweed leaves a day for about two weeks.
A Place to Hang
When a caterpillar is about to enter the chrysalis stage, it doesn’t usually stay on the milkweed leaf. It finds a spot protected from wind and rain on which to attach. Chrysalises have been found dangling from all sorts of things, including other plants, ladders, window sills, trees, grates, screens, the sides of a shed, and wood piles. It will take another few weeks before a butterfly emerges. Then, it will feed on a wide range of nectar-rich flowering plants, beginning the butterfly life cycle again.
A Threatened Existence
Sadly, the monarch population has been diminishing. There are many reasons for this, including habitat loss and overuse of pesticides along the butterflies’ migratory routes in the United States and Canada, which reduces the amount of nectar plants and milkweed that the butterflies need for survival and reproduction. The overwintering grounds in the oyamel fir forests of Mexico are also in trouble due to logging and wildfires. Thankfully, efforts are being made to protect them.
How to Create a Haven for Monarchs
Consider a butterfly garden for your patio, yard, school, or community. Choose a spot that is mostly sunny and not too windy. Water it regularly and keep some areas of the ground damp, or have a shallow bowl with soil, rocks, and a little water. Monarch butterflies need moisture.
Plant native milkweed in clumps of six to eight plants. When the caterpillars hatch, they will need lots of leaves to eat. There are many different types of milkweed, so you may need to call or visit a nursery to find out what type is native to your area, and when to cut it back or replant.
Adult monarchs drink nectar, so don’t forget to add some nectar plants! Monarchs and other pollinators are attracted to bright, colorful blooms. Plant a variety of flowers that are nectar-rich such as lantana, echinacea, yarrow, Mexican sunflower, verbena, and others. Cluster the nectar plants, which will make it easier for the butterflies to find them.
Find Out More and Have Fun
Search online for information about monarch butterflies, butterfly conservancies, how to participate in a butterfly count, and butterfly fun facts, such as: Did you know that they taste with their feet? Or that their scientific name is Danaus plexippus, which means “sleepy transformation”? Or that they have successfully hatched on the International Space Station?
Spread the Word
Give native milkweed- and flower-seed packets or milkweed plants as gifts.
As you can see, monarch butterfly migration is a mystery and a miracle, and it’s significant to the natural world. So let’s all try to help.
!Viva la mariposa!
Pam Muñoz Ryan
I have immeasurable gratitude for my editor on this book, Samantha McFerrin, whose patience and dedication ushered the story to completion, and for her assistant, Andrew Elmers, for behind-the-scenes support. Thank you to Sara Liebling, managing editor, and copy editors Jody Corbett, Mark Steven Long, Ariela Rudy Zaltzman, and Harriet Sigerman.
Jacqueline Alcántara, illustrator, brought Solimar to life. I am grateful for her particular magic, as well as the talent of the design team, especially Joann Hill, Shelby Kahr, and Jackie Lai.
I could not have introduced Solimar to the world without those in the Disney publicity and marketing departments: Danielle DiMartino, Holly Nagel, Dina Sherman, LaToya Maitland, Maddie Hughes, Marina Shults, Ian Byrne, Andrew Sansone, Kyle Wilson, and Seale Ballenger. And a special thanks to Zak Gezon and Leslie Huetter at Disney Conservation for their careful vetting and resources.
I never want to miss an opportunity to thank my benevolent couriers, the booksellers, who continue to put my books into readers’ hands.
As always, big hugs to my family for understanding the life of a writer.
PAM MUÑOZ RYAN is the author of over forty books for young readers and has been honored as the US nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award. Her novels include Esperanza Rising, Becoming Naomi León, Riding Freedom, Paint the Wind, The Dreamer, Mañanaland, and Echo, a Newbery Honor book and the recipient of the Kirkus Prize. She is the author recipient of the National Education Association’s Human and Civil Rights Award and the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award for Multicultural Literature, and is twice the recipient of the Pura Belpré Medal and the Willa Cather Award. Other honors include the PEN USA Award, the Américas Award, the Boston Globe−Horn Book Honor, and the Orbis Pictus Award. She was born and raised in Bakersfield, California, but now lives near San Diego with her family. Many of her stories reflect her half-Mexican heritage. You can follow her on Instagram @PamMunozRyan or visit her at www.pammunozryan.com.
Pam Muñoz Ryan, Solimar
