For some, the sight of a butterfly is a loving sign from a deceased loved one, that they are ever near. Cultures around the world, from the Japanese, Chinese, and Russians, to North America's Indigenous peoples, see butterflies as symbols of souls, transformation or rebirth. The ancient Greek word for butterfly - psyche - means soul. In Mexico, where millions of Monarch butterflies arrive in late Fall, around All Souls Day and the Day of the Dead, the butterflies are thought to be returning souls.
Ironically, Monarch butterflies are threatened with extinction. The US Center for Biological Diversity says the Monarch butterfly population has declined 80% over the past decades. In July, their Senior Scientist, Tierra Curry wrote, "On top of the loss of milkweed in its Summer grounds, logging in its Winter home in Mexico has increased, a severe storm this Spring killed millions of Monarchs, and a mine now threatens the Monarch Biosphere Reserve." Curry says the "catastrophic decline" in the Monarch population is in part due to the use of Monsanto's Roundup herbicide on genetically engineered Roundup resistant crops. Milkweed is killed. Milkweed is the only source of food for Monarch larvae.
Monarchs are a symbol of transformation, and of rebirth. They metamorphosize from larvae, to caterpillar, to butterfly. I have a coffee mug with the inspirational words, Just when the caterpillar thought its life was over, it became a butterfly. It took on a whole new meaning, when my husband was finally listed for a liver transplant. It takes on yet another meaning, now that I am in the "pupa stage", recreating my life as a widow.
Schoolchildren learn about the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly. For those of us who've forgotten: the butterfly eggs are laid on the Milkweed plant, and the larvae hatch, and feed on it exclusively, growing into fat caterpillars. The caterpillars then encase themselves in a hard, protective shell, and transform from this pupa stage, to emerge from the cocoon as butterflies.
As the days grow shorter, and the light changes, Monarch butterflies begin their migration from Canada and the US, into Mexico. It's an arduous journey of 5-thousand kilometres, or 3-thousand miles to the warmth of their Mexican Winter home.
A 56-thousand hectare, or 140-thousand acre Monarch butterfly reserve in Mexico, is now a Unesco World Heritage Site. The government funds indigenous farmers in the mountain region to preserve the Monarchs. There, the butterflies hibernate, until the siren call of Canada's northern climes stirs them.
Schoolchildren learn about the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly. For those of us who've forgotten: the butterfly eggs are laid on the Milkweed plant, and the larvae hatch, and feed on it exclusively, growing into fat caterpillars. The caterpillars then encase themselves in a hard, protective shell, and transform from this pupa stage, to emerge from the cocoon as butterflies.
As the days grow shorter, and the light changes, Monarch butterflies begin their migration from Canada and the US, into Mexico. It's an arduous journey of 5-thousand kilometres, or 3-thousand miles to the warmth of their Mexican Winter home.
A 56-thousand hectare, or 140-thousand acre Monarch butterfly reserve in Mexico, is now a Unesco World Heritage Site. The government funds indigenous farmers in the mountain region to preserve the Monarchs. There, the butterflies hibernate, until the siren call of Canada's northern climes stirs them.
I'll bet you didn't know that two dots distinguish the male Monarch from the female. If you look closely at the photo above, you'll see two black oval shaped dots on a straight black vein, on either side of the tail of the Monarch. It's a boy butterfly!
Did you know that the Monarch was the first butterfly to have its genome sequenced? They were also transported to the International Space Station for breeding. They truly are regarded as the monarchs of the butterfly world!
Science loves the Monarch, and so do The Arts. I've added new designs to my Art of Where clothing line, based on the photo of the Monarch butterfly taken in Toronto's High Park last week. Great for those of you heading to Mexico for the Winter!
Photographs and Designs Copyright of: Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Inc.
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