About 80 Adams Countians were treated to an entertaining recipe for backyard entertainment and pollination.
“Why would anyone plant a tree that isn’t native?” Toronto-based butterfly expert Carol Pasternak asked her audience Saturday afternoon.
Pasternak presented a recipe for inviting birds and butterflies to residential gardens and lawns — the latter which she decried as wasted land best converted to native flowers and trees.
Known in Canada as “The Monarch Crusader,” she raises and talks about Monarch Butterflies to raise awareness of the lessening populations of insects and birds that are responsible for pollinating, and therefore nurturing, most of what we humans eat.
“If you want birds, you need to provide insects,” she said.
Humans generally try to kill insects, including, for instance, the ubiquitous tent caterpillars that decorate many trees in springtime. But the tent caterpillars, recognized by their large silken baskets of caterpillars mounted in the tree’s forks, appear just in time to provide repast for birds’ new families.
“It takes 900 tent caterpillars to raise one clutch of chickadees,” Pasternak said. “and the tree is fine!”
Contrary to common belief, the caterpillars do not destroy their host trees.”
Monarch butterflies, with their distinctive orange and black markings, are known for their multi-generational migration between Canada, and the northern edge of their range, and Mexico, where they winter.
Pasternak compared the Monarch migration with that of Canada Geese, which return to their birthplace to breed. The butterflies breed and die in three locations between leaving Mexico on the northward journey and arrive back. The generation that completes the 2,500-mile final leg has no physical memory of their destination, she pointed out.
Responding to a question about claims hand-raised Monarchs may not migrate to Mexico, she acknowledged one survey had offered that suggestion. But Pasternak, who has been raising Monarchs for several years and has visited the butterfly’s Mexican migration terminus, pushed back.
“I know they go to Mexico because we put tags on them,” Pasternak said, about a program by which volunteers mark the migrating insects. She said she has watched just-released butterflies and “they go up and fly around a little bit and then go south.”
Monarch butterflies also are particular about their breeding points, and require milkweed, though she said the specific species of milkweed is not critical.
“Milkweed is the only place a Monarch will lay its eggs,” she said.
She provided samples of Swamp and Common milkweeds for her audience to grow in their home gardens.
Pasternak, has written two books —How to Raise Monarch Butterflies: a Step by Step Guide for Kids and 5 Butterflies, which focuses on the life cycles of Monarch Butterflies, Eastern Black Swallowtails, American Ladies, Question Marks, and the Cecropia moth. Both books are written for youngsters ages seven to ten. She is working on a third book, though she did know when that book would be published.
Her appearance was sponsored by Gettysburg Green Gathering, which organization co-chair Steve Zimmerman said is the latest installment of a planned bi-annual presentation. The next program is slated for the end of October, but Zimmerman said details had not yet been confirmed.
© 2023 John Messeder. John is an award-winning environment columnist and social anthropologist, and lives in Gettysburg, PA. He may be contacted at john@johnmesseder.com
John Messeder is a freelance reporter and photographer who resides in Cumberland Township. He may be contacted at john@johnmesseder.com
This presentation was wonderful. All the information about caterpillars and moths was impressive – and useful for homeowners. Plant more native trees! (There will be another Adams County Planting Partnership tree distribution this fall.)
Thanks to Steve Zimmerman and the Gettysburg Green Gathering for hosting this event. And tying it to the opening of the Farmers Market was great.
WOW I was at her presentation. Carol was so passionate, entertaining and informative. I noticed many people very excited to learn more and bought both of her books.
Audrey K