BALTIMORE, MD—Each year, thousands of monarch butterflies travel through Maryland on their way to Mexico – but a new study has revealed that they may not be getting enough to eat while they stay in the Old Line State.

The study, which was conducted by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), found that the monarch butterflies are not getting enough to eat when they stay in Maryland. This is despite the fact that they are not listed as endangered in the United States.

The researchers found that the butterflies are spending too much time in the woods and not eating the milkweed and clover that are their primary food sources. This is a significant concern, as the milkweed is essential for the health of the monarch butterfly. The caterpillars feed off the milkweed, and adults need nectar-producing plants to snack on during their migration.

The lack of food resources is having a negative impact on the survival of the monarch butterfly. The population of these beautiful insects is already in decline, and the DNR is hoping that by understanding how they are affected by habitat change, scientists can better protect them.

The DNR is encouraging the public to get involved in the monarch butterfly migration study by monitoring their habitat.  By collecting data on the number and types of flowers and milkweed plants, citizens can help scientists understand how the butterflies are using their habitat. This information is then shared with the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program, which is collecting data from across the country. The data will be used to help scientists track habitat change and understand how it is affecting the survival of the monarch butterfly.

Volunteers from the Maryland Master Naturalists organization are working with the DNR to survey the plants. Becker and her team have been surveying monarch habitat and contributing to the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program since 2021. They carefully survey plots, identifying and counting blooming flowers and milkweed, and noting any monarch activity.

The public can learn more about the native plants that support butterfly habitat each year at the Monarchs and Milkweed Festival at Merkle Natural Resource Management Area in Prince George’s County. This event, taking place on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., provides opportunities to tag and release butterflies and go on guided tours of the area’s gardens. There will also be kids crafts and activities, food trucks and native plant sales, and a costume contest and hayrides. The event is family-friendly and pet-friendly.

At the festival, butterflies will be tagged with small alphanumeric stickers issued by Monarch Watch, a volunteer community science project that was initiated in 1992. When someone finds a tagged butterfly, they can report it to Monarch Watch, giving scientists a rough idea of the path the butterfly took.

A video with more information about the festival is available below.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo via MDDNR