Canada/ A garden for the conservation of the monarch butterfly in Dieppe
The City of Dieppe, New Brunswick, wants to contribute to the survival of the monarch butterfly. To this end, the municipality has set up a breeding and feeding site for this endangered species.
In partnership with the Naturefriends of Southeastern New Brunswick, a milkweed garden has been planted near the Aquatic Center.
The site was unveiled at a ceremony on Saturday.
Milkweed is the only food the monarch butterfly eats, so the more we put in the city, the more we help the butterfly reproduce and maintain a healthy population," says Alexandre Truchon-Savard, Director of Environment for the City of Dieppe.
He explains that the toxicity of milkweed incarnate is transmitted to the caterpillar, creating a natural defense mechanism that repels its predators.
Once it has become a butterfly, the insect lays its eggs under milkweed leaves and feeds on the nectar of its flowers.
We can already see caterpillars on the leaves," confirms Alexandre Truchon-Savard. The butterfly's ability to detect its food source is quite incredible.
For the survival of the species
A historic low in monarchs was first reported in 2013. The species has been considered endangered in Canada since 2023.
One of the reasons for the drop in the monarch population is the lack of food and habitat.
A quote from Alexandre Truchon-Savard
To survive, the adult butterfly migrates to Mexico to spend the winter in ideal temperatures. However, monarchs have only a 50% chance of survival. Last year, 60% perished.
The monarch is in a critical situation," explains Alexandre Truchon-Savard. It's important for the City of Dieppe to do its part. By doing so, we also end up protecting other animal species, pollinators and nectar-producing plants.
In Dieppe, Ami.e.s de la nature will be collecting the caterpillars that settle on the leaves of the milkweed plant and rearing them at home, before releasing them into the wild.
When the plants bloom in autumn, the group will replant the cuttings elsewhere in the region.
An educational and festive space
In addition to the milkweed plants, the garden features educational interpretation panels for the public.
Among other things, the explanatory panels could encourage citizens to reproduce this type of garden in their own backyards, so that they too can contribute to the survival of the monarch butterfly.
The aim is to welcome groups, day-care centres and schools who would like to visit the garden," continues Truchon-Savard.
Also on the grounds is a sculpture designed especially for the occasion by Nova Scotian artist Heather Lawrie-Morse.
She does a lot of metal sculptures for outdoor gardens inspired by nature," explains Alexandre Truchon-Savard.
At the unveiling of the garden on Saturday morning, onlookers were able to observe caterpillars and monarch butterflies released during the event.
Source: ici.radio-canada.ca
