Monarch milkweed finder

The guide identifies milkweed as the essential food source for monarch caterpillars and the only plant where they lay eggs. It attributes the decline of migratory monarch populations to the loss of millions of acres of milkweed caused by agricultural expansion, urban growth, and the use of herbicides and GMO crops. To mitigate this, the document provides a regional directory of native milkweed species for the US and Canada, categorized by soil and climate requirements, and encourages planting a variety of nectar-producing plants to support adult butterflies during their migration between Mexico and northern North America.

• Milkweed is critical for the monarch butterfly's life cycle as it is the sole plant used for egg-laying and the only food source for caterpillars.
• The population of migratory monarchs has decreased significantly due to the destruction of millions of acres of milkweed, driven by urban development, agricultural expansion, and the use of GMO crops and herbicides.
• Monarch butterflies migrate from Canada and the US to overwinter in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve within the oyamel forests of central Mexico.
• Different milkweed species are suited for specific US regions and ground conditions; for example, the Northeast region supports species like Common Milkweed in well-drained soil and Swamp Milkweed in marshy areas, while the Western region includes Mexican Whorled Milkweed for dry climates.

APA

WWF International (n.d.). Monarch milkweed finder. https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/tips/monarch-milkweed-finder/

Chicago

WWF International. Monarch milkweed finder. n.d. https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/tips/monarch-milkweed-finder/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Monarch milkweed finder |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/tips/monarch-milkweed-finder/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternationalndmonarch, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Monarch milkweed finder}}, institution = {WWF International}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/tips/monarch-milkweed-finder/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }