Movement To Save Butterflies, Pollinators Growing In Essex County

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — It’s one of the most awe-inspiring migrations in nature: the flight of the monarch butterfly.

Unable to survive cold winters in most northern climates, monarch butterflies travel as far as 3,000 miles south to spend the winter in the mountains of central Mexico. In the spring, those monarchs will head north again, producing generations of offspring to repeat the process.

But if something isn’t done — and soon — these majestic flights will become a relic of the past, according to John Ostering.

Ostering runs Morgan’s Farm, an organic farm and museum that is part of the Cedar Grove Historical Society. Recently, he and the volunteers who power the nonprofit have been trying to create more habitats for the iconic butterflies, which face an uncertain future amid an alarming drop in numbers.

One of the biggest threats? Pesticides, he says.

Ostering said native milkweed plants that are not treated with pesticides can be difficult to find in areas of New Jersey. And when they do find a food source, hungry caterpillars can strip the leaves from a plant nearly as quickly as they grow.

Although monarchs would qualify for protection under the Endangered Species Act because their numbers have declined so dramatically, they failed to make the list in December, in part because there are more than 160 species in line ahead of them.

“The monarchs could be gone in our lifetime if we don’t start increasing their habitats one garden at a time,” Ostering urged.

Most people recognize the orange and black monarchs, one of the world’s most recognizable butterflies, when they visit Essex County in the summer and early fall. But not everyone is aware of the important role they and other pollinators share on a year-round basis, Ostering said.

For example, pollinators are responsible for reproduction in 90 percent of the world’s flowering plants — including food crops — by spreading pollen from flower to flower, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

To make a long story short: Pollinators need more host plants. And for monarchs, that means milkweed.

Female monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed, their food source. When the eggs hatch and tiny caterpillars emerge, they eat milkweed voraciously for a week or two before forming a chrysalis. Soon afterward, they emerge as butterflies.

To help provide monarchs some more snacking material on their long journey, Morgan’s Farm is selling milkweed plants at $2.50 to $6 each, with options for bulk purchases. Local gardeners can then add the plants to their own backyard habitats.

Learn more here.

Arlene Schneider, a Montclair resident and butterfly gardener, told Patch that she was inspired by the work Morgan's Farm is doing to help pollinators.

“When I first learned about monarchs, I was attracted by their beauty,” Schneider said. “But every year, I've learned more about the important role they play and the challenges they face.”

“As a gardener, it's been hard at times to find the right plants, and this is a great source and a chance to support a local organization,” Schneider said.

• See related article: This Bumblebee Once Flourished In New Jersey, Now It's Endangered

ESSEX COUNTY GARDENERS UNITE

The movement to protect pollinators has been spreading its wings in Essex County over the past few years.

In nearby Caldwell, local environmentalists, community gardeners and nearby college students recently turned Personette Street into a bountiful oasis of pollinator gardens and native trees.

• See related article: Caldwell Pollinator Gardens Blooming On Personette Street

And in Montclair, more than 250 places in town are certified as wildlife habitats, including back yards, houses of worship and local parks. Many of those locations serve an important role as pollinators, helping local flora and fauna to keep a foothold in one of the most densely populated regions of the nation.

Last year, the Montclair-based Northeast Earth Coalition launched a new initiative in partnership with the Pollinator Pathway Northeast, with the goal of creating a “contiguous corridor of pollinator-friendly properties in New Jersey” that would extend to surrounding states.

• See related article: Montclair Has 250 Wildlife Habitats – But Needs More, Group Says
• See related article: Montclair Pollinator Garden Is A Boost For Local Bees, Birds, Bats

This story is part of Patch's Headlining Hope series, which profiles local nonprofits and charitable organizations in need of volunteers and resources. If you know about a local organization that should be profiled, contact eric.kiefer@patch.com

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