This Parasite is Cramping The Monarch Butterfly’s Style

This Parasite is Cramping The Monarch Butterfly’s Style | Deep Look

Рет қаралды 392,282

Жыл бұрын

Monarchs are locked in a battle with Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE), a parasite that can trap a butterfly in its own chrysalis and deform its beautiful wings. Turns out there is a wrong way, and a right way, for you to help these butterflies in your backyard.
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Monarch butterflies are one of the most recognizable animals in the world, but these beloved insects face have lost much of their historic milkweed habitat to agriculture and development. As a result, monarchs are more concentrated on the milkweed plants they have left.
Monarch caterpillars are completely reliant on milkweed for food and many people plant milkweed in their yards to help them. But not all milkweed is the same.
Tropical milkweed, with its pretty orange and red flowers, doesn’t die back in the fall and that means that the protozoan parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE) has more time to build up on its leaves.
Monarch caterpillars inadvertently ingest the spores, which release the microscopic parasites into the caterpillar’s flesh. When a heavily infected monarch goes through metamorphosis, the butterfly will have lesions on its abdomen, making it stick to the inside of its chrysalis.
“It gets stuck and you really see the butterfly struggle at that point which is a sad sight,” says Jacobus de Roode, a researcher at Emory University in Atlanta who studies the relationship between monarchs and OE.
“Normally the butterfly comes out very smoothly, it pops out and starts pumping up those wings. But when they get stuck you can see them for minutes or even hours struggling and they just can’t get out. It’s kind of traumatic.”
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--- How do monarch butterflies help humans?
Monarch butterflies are important pollinators that are hugely beneficial to the ecosystems in which they are found.
--- Where do monarch butterflies migrate each year?
In the fall, monarch butterflies travel to their overwintering locations. The majority of monarchs live east of the Rock Mountains and they travel to central Mexico. The monarchs that spend their summers west of the Rockies travel to the central California coast. There is some overlap between the populations of monarchs.
--- How do monarch butterflies protect themselves?
Monarch caterpillars feed on milkweed plants, which contain toxic substances called cardiac glycosides that accumulate in the caterpillar’s flesh and stay with it even after it metamorphoses into a butterfly. Both monarch caterpillars and butterflies have vibrant warning colors that tell predators that they don’t taste good.
---+ Find additional resources and a transcript on KQED Science:
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---+ For more information:
The de Roode Lab at Emory University in Atlanta: deroodelab.org/
---+ More Great Deep Look episodes:
Glasswing Butterflies Want To Make Something Perfectly Clear | Deep Look
• Glasswing Butterflies ...
The Pipevine Caterpillar Thrives in a Toxic Love Triangle | Deep Look
• The Pipevine Caterpill...
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Пікірлер: 333

@teainnit27 Жыл бұрын

Fun fact: when butterflies are going through metamorphosis their entier body turns into a goo with it's brian floating in it, and then it reasambles it self into a butterfly shape. Pretty wild if you ask me.

@aimeewillis708 Жыл бұрын

Your sayings pre butterflies are slime?

@CeeJMantis Жыл бұрын

I heard that previously myself, but it turns out that that is incorrect

@SnakeDude. Жыл бұрын

@@aimeewillis708 Basically! They turn into mush as they metamorphosise, completely changing practically everything about themselves, yet keeping their caterpillar memories, strangely enough.

@xDaniel.S Жыл бұрын

@@SnakeDude. does that mean that we ourselves are also nothing but the memories in our brain?

@caedovos Жыл бұрын

@@CeeJMantis which part is untrue? the definition of 'slime'? Just curious

@Sentarry Жыл бұрын

I saw at least 1 monarch this past September and I was surprised to see one here in Southern California while on my evening walk. I remember growing up in the late 90s to 00's and seeing them around quite often in my elementary school. It's quite sad to see why they've become less common in my area maybe for this reason. I'll definitely get some native milkweed and put some in my backyard ☺️ I love seeing Monarch Butterflies a plenty.

@KQEDDeepLook Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Sentarry!

@jasonplatco7881 Жыл бұрын

1 big thing killing them off is the herbicide roundup. Milkweed is real sensitive to it. And as it washes off people's sidewalks and lawns in to the drainage systems it contaminates the land and kills off the milkweed all along the way.

@davidt8087 Жыл бұрын

@@KQEDDeepLook that voice 🤮🤮

@kawaiipurplesaphire6163 8 ай бұрын

Brow that Voice over 😬

@ByakuganWhite 4 ай бұрын

Be cautious if you have pets. Milkweed is poisonous.

@thechickenwizard8172 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for making this! I only learned about OE a few months ago, but since then I've cut down my tropical milkweed bushes and replaced them with native varieties, and am currently working on planting more native plants in my garden. Its so important for people to know the important of native plants, and how planting invasive/non natives can have significant impacts on wildlife.

@KQEDDeepLook Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@fuxan Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Growing native plants is vitally important and the best decision I've made in my life to convert our entire yard to 100% native plants and zero turf grass...lots of biodiversity.

@featherboi Жыл бұрын

This video could not have come out at a better time. We had planted tropical milkweed in our front yard and it attracted many monarchs early in August and later in September, we noticed several caterpillars on the plants which was a sight to see! Felt like a monarch hotel! Even though about 10 or 15 caterpillars were on the plants, only 5 were able to make a chrysalis, and out of those, 4 hatched and seemed okay! No deformations or struggling to get out. But the last one still hasnt hatched and its darkened quite a bit now. So I hope that one isnt infected with OE or just got hit by a wasp. Here's to hoping for the best!

@keiko3099 Жыл бұрын

unfortunately sometimes oe infected monarchs never come out. happened to a couple of mine when i used to have tropical... since ive planted 10 narrowleaf milkweeds cause im in cali(asclepias fascicularis), i have tested my monarch scales and ALL are healthy!

@GoingtoHecq Жыл бұрын

@@keiko3099 You are the best kind of nerd. Nerdy for kindness.

@ThatGuy09890 Жыл бұрын

Don’t feel bad if some die. I’m a huge butterfly nerd (you can check my channel haha) and I have raised Monarchs before, and between OE and tachnid wasps, which are smaller than rice grains, it’s virtually impossible to have a “perfect” year. You will always get some that have blotches of black and don’t make it. I am raising Giant Swallowtails here in SoCal now, and even a few of those guys have come out with deformed wings. It just happens sometimes, but think of it this way: generally, only 1 out of every 200 eggs survives into a butterfly. That’s .005%. If you take in 10 caterpillars and only 5 turn into healthy adults, that’s an artificial 50% survival rate you made! :)

@keiko3099 Жыл бұрын

@@GoingtoHecq haha thanks! XD 2 years ago i got obsessed so now i have a ton of plants and shirts

@dicas1988 Жыл бұрын

@@keiko3099 right on brother. We gotta take care of this planet.

@TragoudistrosMPH Жыл бұрын

It's distressing just how many ripple effects invasive species cause... Especially when well meaning people accidentally cause the problem. The information is extra important.

@reverb6513 Жыл бұрын

I recently did a study on OE and found spores in local monarchs in my area. Since then I’ve published a paper of my findings and have been spreading the word. It was so cool yet horrifying seeing OE spores underneath the microscope- I really love that you guys are spreading the word and telling others about how to test them! I know testing them has helped me learn so much more about them and others 🦋

@BestMods168 9 ай бұрын

And they were trying to blame us for the reduced population of the monarchs. Most likely it was one of the scientists who brought in the parasite when they planted the milkweeds.

@Velkhana_The_Myth Жыл бұрын

It's quite sad how these beautiful butterflies are unable to show their colours due to that protozoan. It is multiplying too much! Hopefully we can decrease the amount of them so it wouldn't harm the butterflies anymore! They aren't even able to to fly! And here I thought that being poisonous would deter anything from harming them :(. besides, they are threatened! So glad people are making efforts to help them! Edit: guys stop harassing me i didn't know. Let me change it.

@yalanyalan698 Жыл бұрын

It's quite sad how this amazing fungus gets talked down by the likes of u

@Velkhana_The_Myth Жыл бұрын

@@yalanyalan698 what?

@hejgustavful Жыл бұрын

Ophryocystis elektroscirrha is a protozoan not a fungus.

@Velkhana_The_Myth Жыл бұрын

@@hejgustavful it said spores. i got confused. also i thought only some plants and all fungi produced it. thx for info tho.

@Kamila.k Жыл бұрын

@@yalanyalan698 trol

@Cytrillex Жыл бұрын

The footage in this episode is absolutely incredible! The detail on the egg that gets eaten by the newborn caterpillar is so so cool. You folks behind Deep Look clearly put a ton of time into getting these macro shots and I'm just amazed that it's freely available on the internet.

@BestMods168 9 ай бұрын

And they were trying to blame us for the reduced population of the monarchs. Most likely it was one of the scientists who brought in the parasite when they planted the milkweeds.

@YouTubeUzername Жыл бұрын

I do this type of work professionally so I design monarch habitats. I only place native milkweed in their habitats but I had no idea that tropical milkweed was causing them to not migrate. Good information!

@Jesus-pg6gq Жыл бұрын

Also tropical milkweed makes OE flourish even more than never before if we don’t cut it down.

@BestMods168 9 ай бұрын

And they were trying to blame us for the reduced population of the monarchs. Most likely it was one of the scientists who brought in the parasite when they planted the milkweeds. Also, your comment proves why I dont trust "professionals" and "experts." They simply forget the basics or no longer crave new knowledge. This is why I believe we need more research scientists. Not just scientists that are employed by corporations to make a profit but scientists that just do research for the knowledge of mankind.

@BlueyChafalitaPosting Жыл бұрын

It's always so fascinating when a new Deep Look vid gets upload, monarch butterflies are amazing, i love watching them here in Mexico, hopefully something is done to stop that infection

@frogglen6350 Жыл бұрын

Ah deep look. My favorite channel to watch for disturbing aspects of nature

@comanderspartan1876 Жыл бұрын

This is really sad to see honestly... Great video!

@nicolassateler2449 Жыл бұрын

Who would guess that "helping" the local environment by using non native species would be a doble backlash...

@kepler180 Жыл бұрын

2:41 HES TOUCHING THE WINGS NOOOOO

@williamcozart8158 Жыл бұрын

One good thing is more and more people know about the relationship between the monarchs and milkweed and people are leaving milkweed patches for the butterflies rather than mowing it down, and I have seen more (wild)milkweed around here in Michigan this year than I have seen in quite a few years.

@thatweirdartist9852 Жыл бұрын

I was on a walk a few days ago with my grandma and saw a milkweed with some seed pods so we grabbed one to plant it in our butterfly garden so I’m hoping it will work. If you have any tips on growing milkweed let me know!

@yanj111 Жыл бұрын

milkweed is a very tough plant, here in Chicago, milkweed survives the coldest winter and dry summer without any problem. as long as the seeds are spread, they will grow the second year.

@OutdoorLonghair Жыл бұрын

Sow the seeds in the fall, they need to cold moist stratify and will do so over the winter. Good luck.

@alexvasquez5053 Жыл бұрын

So many reasons to only plant native species. We don't always realize the cascade of effects that can happen until decades later.

@jakimiyamizu3198 Жыл бұрын

Thankyou as always deeplook for this video!!! Love it and Keep it up!!!

@KQEDDeepLook Жыл бұрын

You are welcome, JAKI! Our next video will be about 🐝 yellowjackets, in November. Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss it!

@jakimiyamizu3198 Жыл бұрын

@@KQEDDeepLook looking forward to it🥰🥰🥰

@daniadoo Жыл бұрын

I discovered OE this summer when I found a butterfly with a crumpled wing. It could not fly so I let it sit on my arm for a while. The poor thing never wanted to leave my side and it lived for about a week and a half in my garden. I was so sad about my new butterfly friend so i researched OE and decided to help out by planting tons of native milkweed and raising my own monarchs. I found 3 OE infested butterflies with crumpled wings this year, I hope we can find a way to eliminate the parasite soon.

@chitinskin9860 Жыл бұрын

The parasite isn't the problem, people introducing exotic milkweed where it doesn't belong are. Normally, tropical milkweed is protected by the protozoan, as monarchs will feed on it year round in their native habitats, with very few predators and parasites to control them other than this one due to the latex in their bodies. This protozoan is just doing what it has been doing for millennia, and is only problematic now because people have ruined monarch butterfly habitat. Temperate milkweed does not support the parasite very well as only a couple generations of monarchs will feed on a single temperate plant before migration, the remaining protozoans will die with the plant. Also, in these temperate locations, the parasite typically doesn't reach infestation proportions unless some tropical milkweed is introduced. So really, all you have to do is grow temperate milkweed, and get rid of any exotic species you encounter, unless you live in the tropics in which case no interference is needed. Eradication of the parasite is not necessary, and would probably just result in monarchs wiping out their only tropical food source.

@WolfGuy100 Жыл бұрын

As a guy who enjoy watching Monarch butterfly going thru life stages, this sadden me. I have never ever knew that monarch butterflies would come down with this horrible parasite that would harm them or cripple them. I'll be sure to find some native milkweeds and plant them in the backyard once they're back in season :)

@huldu Жыл бұрын

So basically the milkweed and that parasite have a "mutualistic" relationship when it comes to fighting off these butterflies(or rather their caterpillars that eat the milkweed)? It's never really black and white when it comes to nature, there are so many nuances. It's very fascinating.

@keiko3099 Жыл бұрын

i encourage ordering seeds and live plants from joyfulbutterfly (just search that site up!) natives are a lot harder to find in nurseries cause either they have pesticides or they just dont carry them because theyre not "Showy" enough or die down in the winter.. anyways joyfulbutterfly is where i get mine from (i have 30 plants!) and they can even show you yours according to your state!

@Chickengun Жыл бұрын

Butterflies have to dissolve into disgusting piles of Goo to become butterflies. So if you're a mess wrapped in blankets right now, keep going.

@aprilmeowmeow Жыл бұрын

i would love a full deep look documentary one day. these videos are written and narrated very well :)

@Jesus-pg6gq Жыл бұрын

Can you guys add Spanish captions to the video. This video has the greatest OE parasite-explanation ever!!! And here in Mexico, we are starting to have OE cases with our monarchs. Can you guys add Spanish captions to this video? If so, you are gonna help us save hundreds of monarchs, and we are gonna enhance our conservation efforts to better support this beautiful butterfly 😊💖❤️🦋🐛

@soniaaltizer5582 Жыл бұрын

Amazing footage, and you did a fantastic job explaining the biology and emphasizing the need to plant native milkweed for monarchs. It's so important to create diverse and healthy habitats for butterflies and other insect species and the complex web of species they interact with.

@TightyWhiteyTrash Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the new videos Deep Look!

@marko3502 Жыл бұрын

What would happen if we helped one of them out of their chrysalis? Would we only hurt them?

@Velkhana_The_Myth Жыл бұрын

Oh yes it would! The butterflies use the force from pushing itself out of the chrysalis to pump its wings full of blood to make them big! If you removed them, their wings would be small and weak as they used no pressure to get out of the chrysalis

@marko3502 Жыл бұрын

@@Velkhana_The_Myth thanks!!

@kissit012 Жыл бұрын

Duh

@namdo10 Жыл бұрын

Your videos never disappointed me! Thank you! Let’s hope scientists can figure out something to help those beautiful 🦋

@sfrosegrower Жыл бұрын

Let's put pressure on big box stores that sell tropical milkweed. Customers assume it's safe.

@zacharywong483 Жыл бұрын

Spectacular footage and great video Deep Look team!

@renatocann5142 Жыл бұрын

Love that it ended with something actionable, great vid as always DL!

@CrimsonCraft69 Жыл бұрын

Wow, seeing the cycle of a monarch butterfly upclose is just soo mesmerizing! Good stuff, Deep Look!

@kimbratton9620 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this detailed video, I had no idea what some monarchs go through!😮😃❤🦋

@zerobahamut03 Жыл бұрын

This was so informative. Thank you.

@daniellevy892 Жыл бұрын

Super thanks for sharing!!! Deep look shorts are the best! 🔆

@AllFiery Жыл бұрын

“It breaks *FREE* from its chrysalis”

@theknightba6bo6_45 Жыл бұрын

OMG thank you deep look 4 these informations

@KQEDDeepLook Жыл бұрын

You bet.

@PushyPawn Жыл бұрын

Poor things are dealing with a pandemic too.

@amjay98 Жыл бұрын

Love from India 🇮🇳🇮🇳 and congratulations for achieving 2 million milestone...👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

@OptimusPrime218. Жыл бұрын

I've been the Monarch Paradise in Michoacan, MX. Let me tell you it is such a beautiful sight. Everytime I travel to Michoacan I go. It's absolutely beautiful!!! 🦋

@normal2222 Жыл бұрын

Time to take a deep look.

@WarChallenger Жыл бұрын

Thank you for posting this information! We raise black swallowtail caterpillars here, but were wanting to start planting milkweed for monarchs as well, since they occasionally fly into our yard as well. This is good stuff to know for when we begin!

@LinkedMember Жыл бұрын

I really like the recommendations to help the mo arch butterflies; more suggewtions about other life would be amazing!

@echidna6248 Жыл бұрын

Finally! Been waiting for so long

@CrankyPantss Жыл бұрын

That was very interesting. I hope the word gets spread.

@GraemeGunn Жыл бұрын

That sucks.

@Amber12332 Жыл бұрын

I raise monarch caterpillars on the native milkweed that I grow in my yard for them (NOT TROPICAL). I had a pretty successful year this year I released 52 butterflies I was actually surprised I had that many because of all the hardships monarchs face. I bring them in as eggs because of pest that eat them and tactic flies they will lay their eggs in monarchs and when the caterpillar is nice and chunky the larvae basically split the caterpillar open eating it from the inside out😔 I hope we don't lose something so beautiful. 🐛🐛🦋🦋🌿🌿

@piligarcia3239 Жыл бұрын

Deep Look with another upload :) I like monarch butterflies 🦋 but this reminds me of the fly zombie

@ahavarichardson5426 Жыл бұрын

Learning about AS much as possible,I STARTED growing milkweed last year and I have seen two caterpillars eating the leaves! I only saw one parent so NEXT year hoping to see more every year!

@davidpak271 Жыл бұрын

Good video, I think in the future tho maybe go into just a little more detail into which milkweed and the solution

@Eli-akad Жыл бұрын

That would make sense why this year I actually started seeing monarchs (or maybe there impersonators) later more towards fall. I barely saw any this summer

@imberrysandy Жыл бұрын

This video is very timely. I'm going to a California Native Plants convention next week. Im definitely talking about and showing this video around, esp in the identifying pathogens workshop

@KQEDDeepLook Жыл бұрын

Please do!

@TheReaperHazard Жыл бұрын

I work on campus and never knew this was here!!! I'm doing to go take a look!!

@antoniebek7027 Жыл бұрын

Really cool!

@luchang2148 Жыл бұрын

For the sake of the species of butterfly, Perhaps that tropical milkweed should be outlawed. Stop merchant from selling them...

@Nyax50Lopez Жыл бұрын

Kinda sad that they almost hit endangered levels during the Monterrey, Mexico freezing temperatures which it was a very harsh hit for everyone. I think it was in 2017 or 2018. It made me sad and thankfully many people are getting milkweed plants

@LECHEDUMFUK Жыл бұрын

Is the timing and title "Monarch" somehow an homage to the queen's recent passing?

@teguhf.2084 Жыл бұрын

Didnt realise this is a recent upload

@KQEDDeepLook Жыл бұрын

Yep - just released this morning. But if you want mor we have over 150 episodes to choose from. :-)

@zooemperor3954 Жыл бұрын

Excellent video and that is truly sad to see

@killeanmcchesney5138 Жыл бұрын

Awesome, thank you

@KQEDDeepLook Жыл бұрын

You're welcome!

@meganium131 Жыл бұрын

This last week, I was lucky to spot a tagged monarch outside at my work. I didn't use to live in the main migration path so I don't know how common they are in my area but I was so excited that I dropped what I was doing to report it online. It felt like finding a unicorn.

@ashuroraha Жыл бұрын

The caterpillar goes to work munching on an empty shell of its old egg 1:24 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 her voice just changes out of no where 😒🤣🤣😅🤣😅🤣😅😅🤣😒🤣😒🤣😒🤣😒🤣😒🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@getcaughtin4klol752 Жыл бұрын

Can't wait for the video about yellow jackets I hope they talk about mold next

@happyjay Жыл бұрын

very good info...

@LazyTallGuy Жыл бұрын

Oof that was hard to watch for some reason, seeing the butterfly just decimated like that! Thanks for bringing this to my attention as I had no idea about this parasite.

@darthjacobynum573 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the information!🥺 let's help our little buddies as much as we can

@footfault1941 Жыл бұрын

Scary indeed. That could potentially cause extinction of a species, or already happened anywhere else in the history? This is a very interesting footage. Researchers have made a great job! So did deeplook. Thanks.

@polic72andDrD3ath Жыл бұрын

Love the music in this one! Just in time for the spooky season >:)

@james4thedoctor482 Жыл бұрын

Dang; time to grab my clippers…

@micliebhart Жыл бұрын

parasite is always in different game

@tyson145 3 ай бұрын

I've been growing common milkweed/selling the seeds for a few years now. I just learned something new about the "tropical" milkweed from this video.......I'm torn....The tropical milkweed is pretty AND still helps other pollinators....Soooo....what do I do?

@atomicsamurai8967 Жыл бұрын

What's wrong with... well.. everything? Me: humans.

@mclarenf1gtr99 Жыл бұрын

Always love a scary invisible parasite story.

@SaunieHolloway Жыл бұрын

Awesome PSA video. Plant native!

@janeeyre80 Жыл бұрын

Everyone should share this this is so sad

@touremuhammad5983 Жыл бұрын

I’ve seen quite a lot of Monarch Butterflies around here in Richmond lately.

@alpacaofthemountain8760 Жыл бұрын

Love Monarchs, hopefully next summer I can plant a healthy patch of native milkweed

@ahavarichardson5426 Жыл бұрын

I learned the red milkweed was a poor choice for monarchs but not sure why so thankful for the information!

@tahsin7770 Жыл бұрын

deep respects to deep look

@quitlife9279 Жыл бұрын

I'm more interested in how protozoans like the parasite form spores, can you do a video on it?

@stephaniebragg3081 Жыл бұрын

Yikes. I planted the tropical in my yard in the spring, and two of our monarchs we had in a habitat had deformed wings. Guess I should go take it out of the ground!

@defeatSpace Жыл бұрын

Keep spreadin' them facts, love this channel!

@Mister006 Жыл бұрын

Where do I find the right milkweed seeds?

@effective_cmpote 10 ай бұрын

He had a can of Olde E and some raisins.

@skoonthatraccoonskunkguy3865 Жыл бұрын

I found out about these parasites the hard way, my encloser had the the chrysali above the caterpillars and had a full batch of wrinkled wing butterflies... See, as I found out, when they emerge is when the parasites fall off the wings in droves, these parasites are actually reletively "normal" just like we have various fauna on our skin, that if out of control, could hurt us as well. But because my caterpillars, and more importantly, their food supply was getting dusted regularly it caused a build up way out of control.

@clayka012 Жыл бұрын

I wonder if this why many suggest disinfecting enclosures between each batch of caterpillars. I haven't done that, but did have more issues this year in the past with with wrinkled wings, one butterfly that emerged as goo, and one that only partially emerged. We also do plant tropical in our yard (Michigan) along with several native, but the tropical never grows back because of freeze/frost and subzero temps. We always start with new tropical plants from seeds we cultivate ourselves .

@skoonthatraccoonskunkguy3865 Жыл бұрын

@@clayka012 sounds plausable, also part of why I decided to stop using my old enclosure, made it when I was a kid and its made of wood and metal screen, can be cleaned, but kind of a hassel. I should probably fully redesign it some time, was pretty proud of itnin my teens.

@ReaperGamerYT Жыл бұрын

i didn't notice butter flies have fur or hair i thought only moths have them

@famereisaihburgon7430 Жыл бұрын

Vid idea:"how does a mantis hiss?"

@theseventhgeneration6910 Жыл бұрын

I used to give tropical milkweed seeds away to protect the population.

@livallen9304 Жыл бұрын

Always plant native stuff, help a wild neighbor!

@strawberrysproutz 7 ай бұрын

2:41 blud's skidaddling for her life

@ellenkuang8853 Жыл бұрын

Sorry, but I'm high key frustrated with some of the information in this video. I grow tropical milkweed in my patio garden for the monarchs. Of the 2 dozen I raised this year, I lost half to tachinid flies, but not a single OE. I grew local narrowleaf milkweed 2 years ago, but the problem is that because of climate change, monarchs showed up this year in February. My narrowleaf milkweed was still dormant underground until June. Please tell me how monarchs are supposed to go 4 months without local supply? True, local milkweed dies back in the cold, taking the OE spores away. The same thing happens to the tropical milkweed when all the new growth gets eaten down the sticks and I physically cut the plant down to a stump 3-4x a year and the sticks go to the green bin. Also, the monarchs in Western region where I live annually overwinter along the California coast. So, what would the disruption in migration cycle be? If anything, climate change has been the biggest disruption. Tropical milkweed is the earliest available milkweed in these changing climates for monarchs awakening from diapause early and can be managed responsibly to reduce OE spores. I'm keeping them around.

@ericwtfsky Жыл бұрын

I feel like I'm missing a lot of info still after watching this. How do these infections start in the first place? There's no like larger parasite that can go around infecting stuff so.. where did it come from? And when the milkweed dies does that make all the old oe die also i guess obviously?

@nivajaranjit4322 Жыл бұрын

even they are endangered now

@cheychc Жыл бұрын

oh my god the party music lol

@Lacocacolaman 9 ай бұрын

Every November I cut my milkweed but I tried growing native milkweed. it's insanely difficult. if it weren't for the tropical milkweed I think these things would be extinct. Thanks to the tropical milkweed my grandmother probably raised over 1000 caterpillars.

@Man_Noob- Жыл бұрын

Poor monarch butterfly’s :(

@millenathefoxyuwu4064 Жыл бұрын

this is very interesting, I didn't know butterflies had bacterial parasites They release spores like fungi that fascinates me

@zippersocks Жыл бұрын

I just bought a tropical milkweed last week. Ugh.

@richardc6269 Жыл бұрын

This is incredible. Our touch is felt across the natural world. Sometimes it's soft but most of the time it's like a hammer. When will we learn?? My take is...never.