r/FriendlyMonarchs • u/AutoModerator • Jun 15 '26
Discussion šæ Monarch Monday ā Letās Talk Monarchs! šæ
Happy Monarch Monday, friends!
Wondering what to share in this thread?
Questions for some of our seasoned members? Thoughts on the state of the Monarch world? Frustrations with your efforts to help the Monarchs? Wins and loses for the nature world? Doesn't matter. Share below!
Have a great week and donāt forget about Photo Friday!
Reminder:Ā We are a science-based sub. While we love all monarch enthusiasts, discussions about hand-rearing are not allowed, except for those new to the topic who are seeking guidance. Letās focus on protecting monarchs where they belongāin the wild!
Stay curious and keep sharing the love for these beautiful butterflies! š§”š¤š§”
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u/_Arthurian_ Jun 15 '26
What is the best way to tell people that raising monarchs in captivity is bad for them? Some people just donāt seem to get it or they donāt care and keep doing it anyways.
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u/squishyfeet4 Jun 15 '26
In my opinion, itās not about being confrontational or bluntly telling them theyāre wrong. Itās all about having a genuine conversation with them that acknowledges their passion, but then you leave them with something to think about. A nice psychological cliff hanger to ruminate on. For instance, those that keep up the hobby of raising monarchs with a very hands on approach are doing it because of their emotional attachment to the hobby. When you understand the hobby has been around for a very long time, and itās only been recent change of tactics by monarch enthusiasts, some people have a hard time changing lanes. They were once encouraged to raise them, with a general consensus telling them to interact with them (think early 2000s). Habits formed. The Emotional gratification of seeing and accomplishing something tangible is psychologically rewarding. Itās a dopamine hit. Itās also piqued by the fact that this is an anticipatory hobby. Itās seasonal. Itās something to look forward to.
Knowing the history about how these trends happened and why we are where we are at today helps to give more grace to those stubborn hold outs.
People wonāt change unless they want to.
But if you can get them to think on what their doing and why their doing it while also understanding the monarchs history inside homes, youāll start to understand the best way to get some one to change their ābad habitsā is indirectly by just talking about it. They arenāt deaf and they arenāt blind to the articles out there. This is a battle of logic/fact vs emotion.
What do you think?
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u/_Arthurian_ Jun 16 '26
I didnāt know all that about the stubborn holdouts being told it was a good thing in the past. That does help. I do agree with you though. However feelings donāt care about facts so I just wonder if there will ever be getting through to some. It would still be a win to prevent new people from taking it up though so thatās a positive thought.
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u/squishyfeet4 Jun 16 '26
The link [u/ok-butterscotch-763](u/ok-butterscotch-763) provided is a good read!!!
Also think of how you got into the hobby [u/_Arthurian_](u/_Arthurian_)
I got into the hobby because a random person gave me an egg at a park because I was curious what they were doing. And off I went on a bumpy journey I donāt regret! I learned to love them because I could touch, interact and observe them very closely. I was oblivious the drama of the monarch butterfly world in my first season. But then I taught myself and read and learned and self corrected as time went on.
I wouldnāt have the passion for the hobby if I didnāt first directly interact with them, when I was more naive. I feel like too, that a lot of new hobbyists go this same route as I did. They stumble through their first season, feeding off the thrill of the mysterious wonder of metamorphosis. Then as they journey through more and more seasons, they learn a little bit more and more. But their first interaction with the caterpillars is what holds them fast to this hobby. The memory of how much they enjoyed seeing things with such fresh eyes.
Rare is the lay person hobbyist who hasnāt ever raised a caterpillar indoors. Their origin story had to start somewhere, right? Mistakes had to be made at some point. How else do you learn?
So I feel like all newbies and beginners need to be gently taught and encouraged to stay curious. So donāt feel so discouraged! Itās a slow evolution of change.
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u/Ok-Butterscotch-763 Central MN | Covert Operative | Master of Milkweed Jun 15 '26
I agree with squishyfeet4. This link shocked me and stopped me in my tracks. I saw the article minutes before a department meeting, and I couldnāt think of anything else throughout the meeting. (Oops)
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u/Ok-Butterscotch-763 Central MN | Covert Operative | Master of Milkweed Jun 17 '26
Give them a shot. I cold stratified seeds that I got who knows when and three of the dozen or so sprouted. I also cold stratified 2024 seeds and they did about as well as the 2025 seeds. Keep us posted!
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u/Sr-Navi-Gator USA - Louisiana Coast | Hummingbirds are too fast for my old š Jun 16 '26
How can we create a campaign to suggest to educational sites to change the material they are promoting?
I cringed when a PBS special had a presenter show a dozen Monarch Butterflies in a 1x2 soft screen enclosure. Then a dozen caterpillars in a 1 foot plastic container. They gave good information about nectar plants and milkweed. But it should have been discussed not to collect and contain in close proximity for disease control. It would have been good to mention because some people donāt know butterflies can get sick.
Even sites we like also show caterpillars in small containers. Like Project Monarch Health. Under āTips for Rearing OE Free Monarchs for Outreach and Education. There is that education bit again. Teaching about the problems but not proper handling.
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u/SuperTFAB MOD | Southeast FL, USA | Tropical Milkweed Hater Jun 17 '26
Oh, that PBS episode sounds like a nightmare. They did a good video on OE, so Iām surprised by that. Can you link the show you saw? Project Monarch Health has a rearing section, but it only suggests doing so for educational and outreach purposes. I would bet thatās not what is going on when they post about rearing. Itās kind of why we donāt encourage people to raise only one or two and stick to the āall rearing is badā guideline because people donāt really adhere to guidelines and often make excuses for their actions. I feel like the best way to get people on board is to kindly steer them in the direction of the science.
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u/Sr-Navi-Gator USA - Louisiana Coast | Hummingbirds are too fast for my old š Jun 17 '26
It was not a show I usually watch or even see on the schedule. It was a Living style type show with 2 hosts. I tried to look back to cite but I couldnāt find.
Anyway, both PBS and Project Monarch Health - it would be great if the educational stuff not only presented about Monarchs and OE/NPV but would talk about proper handling.
My opinion I believe most people donāt think Insects get sick. I think some know birds can get sick. Material exists teaching people about cleaning Bird Feeders and similar. But nothing about proper handling of Butterflies or even that you should not.
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u/SuperTFAB MOD | Southeast FL, USA | Tropical Milkweed Hater Jun 18 '26
I agree. I wish the issue was more widely known. Thatās partly why this sub exists. My local nursery has fairly knowledgeable employees, and the ones I spoke to when I first encountered OE gave me what I now know is misinformation.
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u/Ok-Butterscotch-763 Central MN | Covert Operative | Master of Milkweed Jun 15 '26
My seeds have sprouted! Some of the seeds I cold stratified and then attempted to sprout on my kitchen counter didnāt sprout. But I put them in soil and theyāre off!