Monarch Butterflies: A Wonder of Nature

For Evan Padua and his family, monarch butterflies are more than just a beautiful sight to behold. They evoke memories of their friend Ed Wesely, who spent his life studying and tagging these creatures at his Butterfly Barn in Milanville, PA.

Padua credits Wesely with teaching him about the importance of milkweed, the primary host plant for monarch caterpillars. He has since raised several caterpillars to adulthood, including one he named Ed in honor of their friend.

The process of observing these creatures is a wonder in itself. A monarch caterpillar will eat its way through a patch of milkweed, eventually growing up to 2-3 inches long and half an inch wide. It will then form a chrysalis around its body, which takes about 5-7 days to develop into a butterfly.

The result is nothing short of magical: a beautiful monarch butterfly emerges from the chrysalis, expands its wings, and flies away to pollinate plants and flowers. These butterflies migrate thousands of miles each year, traveling as far north as Canada in the spring and as far south as Mexico in the fall.