Monarch Butterfly

At the scavenger hunt: There is a lot of a tall plant with a cone shaped top near this location. This is Common Milkweed, which is one of the few milkweed plants that Monarchs can feed on.

Identification:

• Will hang around most areas that have milkweed growing nearby, and are only in Tommy Thompson Park during the summer

• Are known for their orange and black colour

• Female butterflies have thicker veins than the males

Species status:

• There is no IUCN Red List page for the Monarch Butterfly

• Ontario Species at Risk status: Special Concern

Future climate change effects:

• Global Warming of summer sites such as Tommy Thompson Park, as Monarchs are very sensitive to temperature and rely on migration to escape it​

• Droughts can kill off milkweed since it requires a moist environment to grow

How you can maintain the Monarch Butterfly's summer home:

• Plant your own milkweed to create a suitable habitat for Monarchs

• Stop pesticide and herbicide use on your gardens

To learn how the TRCA is helping others learn more about the Monarch Butterfly, click here.