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Western NC Threatened Species- Monarch Butterfly
The Tsali Lodge Threatened Species flap set depicts threatened Mammals, Insects, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, and Flora of Western North Carolina. The set was issued throughout 2027 as a fundraiser to subsidize the cost for Scouts to attend the 2027 National Order of the Arrow (NOAC) conference held at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is a famous pollinator known for its bright orange and black wings. This bold color pattern acts as a warning to predators that the insect tastes bad and is toxic. Monarchs are incredible travelers. Every autumn, the eastern North American population journeys up to 3,000 miles south to Mexico to escape the cold winter. During this massive trip, many monarchs fly straight through the Appalachian Mountain ridges of western North Carolina.
The Life Cycle
The entire monarch life cycle relies completely on one type of plant: milkweed. Adult monarchs feed on nectar from many flowers, but they only lay their eggs on milkweed. Once the eggs hatch, the caterpillars exclusively eat milkweed leaves.
Environmental Threats in Western North Carolina
Sadly, monarch populations are dropping rapidly, and the species is proposed for protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. In western North Carolina, they face several critical threats:
• Missing Milkweed: Heavy herbicide use in farming and roadside mowing destroys native milkweed, leaving caterpillars with nothing to eat.
• Pesticides: Chemical sprays used in gardens and farms kill healthy pollinators like monarchs.
• Habitat Destruction: Urban sprawl, building homes, and commercial development destroy the fields and forests butterflies need for resting and refueling during migration.
• Extreme Weather: Climate change triggers intense storms and unpredictable temperature drops that disrupt flight paths and kill migrating butterflies.
This issue is part of the following sets:
Western North Carolina Threatened Species
There have been 1 revisions. Last change was create on 06 Aug 2026 by Henry Birdsong
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Tsali (134A) S188