Yes, they’re threatened and an egg’s survival rate goes from 1-2% in the wild to 95% in my nursery. New scientific research bebunks the myth that tropical milkweed is harmful to monarchs. al., “Serial founder effects and genetic differentiation during worldwide range expansion of monarch butterflies,” Proceedings of the Royal Society of Britain, 281: 2014.2230. Unfortunately, it has only produced more convoluted theories that deny the value of non-native plants and trees to monarchs. Awareness of the monarch butterfly’s life cycle and habitat requirements is essential for their survival and an important step in the conservation of this animal. The beautiful Monarch butterfly – possibly America’s best-known butterfly – is being considered for “endangered”status under the Endangered Species Act. Leiling Tao et.al. The monarch butterfly meaning is one of expansion and amplification. Yet the monarchs’ migration remains one of nature’s most intriguing mysteries. I am extraordinarily pleased that this fairy tale journey of me and my butterfly traveling from Albany, N.Y. to San Antonio, Texas on November 5th, 2012 on Southwest Airlines to the San Antonio Botanical Gardens was widely reported on t.v. “CALIFORNIA CHICANO LITERATURE AND PRE-COLUMBIAN MOTIFS: FOIL AND FETISH.” Confluencia, vol. The spirit of the butterfly was often personafied because of the symbolic metamorphosis of its life. Twelve other tree species were identified…with a combined prevalence of only 10%.” (1). Carrasco, David, and Scott Sessions, ed. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1051822. 2, 1986, pp. The genus name is said to be derived from Danaus, a character in Greek mythology. Its orange wings are laced with black lines and bordered with white dots. ( Log Out /  She is described as the star demon who devours people during solar eclipse. The dispersal of monarchs from their original range in North America is approximately 200 years old, according to molecular analysis of populations across the Pacific Ocean (Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Australia) and across the Atlantic (Spain, Portugal, Morocco). Elizabeth Benson : "The Maya and the Bat", p. 113. I rarely write poetry, but occasionally. They claim that the monarch parasite (Ophryocystis elektroscirrha) can accumulate on tropical milkweed because it doesn’t die back during the winter. (6) Art Shapiro, Field Guide to Butterflies of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento Valley Regions, California Natural History Guides, UC Press, 2007. One butterfly weighs barely anything, but millions of butterflies can serve as a vital part of an ecosystem. 175 illustrations, 150 in full color, 9 x 11" Neither native milkweed species, nor migration are essential to the survival of monarchs as a species. Most monarch butterflies that emerge after about mid-August in the eastern U.S. enter reproductive diapause (do not reproduce) and begin to migrate south in search of the overwintering grounds where t… University of New Mexico Press, 2007. Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed and their larvae, the caterpillar, feeds exclusively on milkweed. Many native plant advocates believe that the monarch requires a native species of milkweed. Once again, we find a lot of pessimistic speculation, but little evidence that eradicating non-native plants will benefit wildlife, or conversely that wildlife can only survive in native habitat. [4], Orizaba the Moth Fairy, a villain in Elena of Avalor, was inspired by Itzpapalotl. The femur is thought by some scholars to have significance as a war trophy or a sacred object in Pre-Hispanic art. ... Then Mimich ... ran and ... descended into a thorny barrel cactus, fell into it, and the woman fell down after him. On the Western side, they migrate between the interior and the coast. A few examples: In Mandarin Chinese the word for butterfly is "hu-tieh". Unlike summer generations that live for two to six weeks as adults, adults in the migratory generation can live for up to nine months. The Monarch is especially prized, particularly in Mexico. Turkish Culture. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Wikipedia lists over 35 species of milkweed (genus Asclepias) all over the world and many are known to be used by the widely dispersed populations of monarchs. ( Log Out /  There are drawings of monarch butterflies, views of monarchs migrating, of caterpillar and chrysalises, and a swarm of monarch butterflies on a branch. It takes four or five generations of butterflies to make the 3,000-mile flight from Mexico all the way to Canada, since the monarch’s typical lifespan is just three to four weeks. According to a Chinese Mythology, green butterflies is a symbol of good and love. Monarch butterflies roosting in eucalyptus tree. Dreaming of Butterfly awakens us to the dance of life with colour, lightness, and Joy. The people of Slovenia believed souls looked like butterflies. [12], Additionally, the goddess is one of the Pre-Columbian motifs found in California Chicano Literature.[13]. Abstracts of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, volume 21. Butterflies have enchanted poets and artists since the beginning of time. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/27921652. It is referred to as monarch and is a milkweed butterfly from the Nymphalidae family. [9], According to the Manuscript of 1558, section VII, Itzpapalotl was one of two divine 2-headed doe-deers (the other one being Chimalman) who temporarily transformed themselves into women in order to seduce men. When application for endangered status for monarchs was filed in August 2014, a few new monarch myths emerged and have since been faithfully repeated by native plant advocates who are demanding the eradication of our urban forests. Change ), Click on the picture to go to SFGlenCanyon.Net, Inclusive Environmentalism – Preserving Public Parks for the Public. Butterflies are amazing creatures that bring color to our world, literally and figuratively. We watch from April to September, hoping to catch a glimpse of a Swallowtail or a Monarch. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Are Butterflies appearing in your dreams? (2) Jessica Griffiths and Francis Villablanca, “Managing monarch butterfly overwintering groves:  Making room among the eucalyptus,” California Fish and Game 101(1): 40-50; 2015. Live Monarch butterfly releases for butterfly themed weddings and funerals. Fletcher (1990). The deity is shown brandishing a severed leg, thought to be a symbol of battle. Born out of a caterpillar in the chrysalis, butterflies were a symbol of rebirth, regeneration, joy and happiness to Native Americans throughout Mexico. Myth #2:  The California migration of monarch butterflies used exclusively native trees before eucalyptus was planted in California. In Aztec religion, Ītzpāpālōtl [iːt͡spaːˈpaːlot͡ɬ] ("Obsidian Butterfly") was a striking skeletal warrior goddess who ruled over the paradise world of Tamoanchan, the paradise of victims of infant mortality and the place identified as where humans were created. In California, a tropical species of milkweed is popular with gardeners (Asclepias curassavica). (5), Monarch caterpillar on milkweed. De Alva, J. Jorge Klor. They looked at both resistance to monarch parasite (O. elktroscirrha) infection and tolerance once infected. When Butterfly symbols or spirit animal appears for you in a dream it is a sign that you are ready to let go of something or someone that has been holding you back, this will be life changing in deep and significant ways. Tropical milkweed is the only milkweed available in winter. The monarch migration in California is using predominantly non-native trees, which should afford those trees some protection. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. That assumption supports their claim that all of our eucalyptus can be destroyed without having a negative impact on monarch butterflies. Itzpapalotl approached the two "cloud serpents named Xiuhnel [ˈʃiwnel] and Mimich [ˈmimit͡ʃ]", who transformed themselves into men (so as to disguise themselves when all the others of the Centzonmimixcoa had been slain in the ambush?). In the Jewish community, butterfly imagery is profoundly connected to remembrance of the Holocaust. The Eastern migration is threatened mainly by a lack of milkweed, their nursery plant, as farmers efficiently exterminate the “weed.” But the Western migration is threatened by something different – a steady reduction in wintering sites as the war on eucalyptus trees continues. 2, 1988, pp. [2] She is the mother of Mixcoatl and is particularly associated with the moth Rothschildia orizaba from the family Saturniidae. (8) studied monarch lifespans when they fed on a variety of milkweed species. It's quite possible that clawed butterfly refers to the bat and in some instances Itzpapalotl is depicted with bat wings. The Greek word Psyche means both Soul and Butterfly. 4, no. 1, no. To Xiuhnel, Itzpapalotl said ""Drink, Xiuhnel." (8) LeilingTao, et. It is the largest family of butterflies with over six thousand species. There is alot of symbolism and mythology related to the butterfly in many cultures. Ancient mythology says that the powerful Egyptian son had the name Danai, hence the name of the insect. For the record, we should tell you that we are just as opposed to the pointless destruction of Monterey pine and cypress outside their small native range as we are opposed to the destruction of eucalyptus. ( Log Out /  Hard to know because the butterflies winter in remote spots high in the mountains. So, I’m curious. This extreme viewpoint is one of the reasons why native plant advocates have earned their reputation as fanatics. Butterfly Legends & Lore Legendary butterfly stories, Mythology, supersitions and Butterfly Folklore from various cultures around the world. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The butterfly is a goddess symbol in Greek Mythology (as you may well know), and Psyche is the name for butterfly and also Soul. Of course, native plant advocates prefer native species of milkweed and they justify their preference by claiming that tropical milkweed is harmful to monarchs. Yes, they’re beautiful and mystical. Debunking the myths of nativism—especially those that justify the eradication of non-native trees—is the task we have assigned ourselves, which requires us to revisit a few of the misconceptions about monarch butterflies in California. They report that the monarchs moved around among three tree species including eucalyptus, suggesting to them that Monterey pine and cypress are equally important to the monarchs. When I was young, I set out on a plan to learn every butterfly species that occurred in my part of the country (upper Midwest USA). What to expect: Monarch Butterflies, Facts, Rhyming Text In this fact-filled rhyming story book, author Cathie Moog shares her insights and photographs of the majestic Monarch butterfly. Butterflies play a variety of roles in Native American folktales from different tribes. [7], Itzpapalotl is the patron of the day and associated with the stars Cozcuauhtli and Trecena 1 House in the Aztec calendar. MARALEEN MANOS-JONES has been involved with butterflies for nearly 30 years. “Three Nahuatl Hymns on the Mother Archetype: An Interpretive Commentary.” Mexican Studies/Estudios Mexicanos, vol. Unfortunately, her advice has been ignored by native plant advocates, who continue to demand that all Monterey pines be destroyed where they have been planted outside their present native range. Vorder Bruegge; R.C. According to Aztec mythology, Obsidian Butterfly or Itzpapalotl was the warrior goddess of fire and infant mortality. In :-, Itzpapalotl, the Obsidian or Clawed Butterfly, Itzpapalotl: Itzpapalotl, Goddess of Fire and Birds in Aztec Religion, Mythology, "Map Quest: Follow a pre-Hispanic manuscript into the world of the Chichimecs", "Orizaba in "Scepter of Night" was inspired by the Aztec goddess Itzpapalotl", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ītzpāpālōtl&oldid=974754960, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 24 August 2020, at 20:36. [3] However, she primarily appears in the form of the Obsidian Butterfly. [4], Itzpapalotl's name can either mean "obsidian butterfly" or "clawed butterfly"; the latter meaning seems most likely. They are mistaken in that assumption. Myth #1:  The California migration of monarch butterflies prefers native trees for their winter roost. It’s  republished with permission from “Death of a Million Trees.” Recognizing the truth will help us save these beautiful creatures. In Aztec religion, Ītzpāpālōtl [iːt͡spaːˈpaːlot͡ɬ] ("Obsidian Butterfly") was a striking skeletal warrior goddess who ruled over the paradise world of Tamoanchan, the paradise of victims of infant mortality and the place identified as where humans were created. 18–26. If, in fact, monarchs do have a preference for Monterey pines and cypress for their winter roost, they do not have that option outside of the small native range of those trees in Monterey County. They are documented in field guides. The California migration of monarch butterflies prefers native trees for their winter roost. Although there are numerous members of the milkweed family native to Australia, monarchs do not appear to utilize the native species, preferring the introduced species of milkweed. [6] Itzpapalotl is sometimes represented as a goddess with flowing hair holding a trophy leg. The monarch butterfly is an insect (Class: Insecta), belonging to the subgroup of insects that includes the butterflies, moths and skippers (Order: Lepidoptera; from the Greek, "Lepis" = scale, "pteron" = wing). Other times when Butterfly magic is very helpful is when you hit a creative wall, or have lost your joy to stress, anxiety, or depression. Nativist myths are partly responsible. [11], Beyond pop culture, the name of the goddess has been used to name formations, the Itzpapalotl Tessera, on the planet Venus which are being studied for our knowledge of the geological history of our planet. For Christians, butterflies represent resurrection. The theme of the heart devouring goddess appears in other global mythologies. Monarch butterfly in San Francisco. She lives in a house surrounded by her butterfly garden in Brooklyn, New York. Butterfly Dream Symbolism. There are two migrations of these butterflies: East of the Rockies, these butterflies migrate between Mexico and the northern part of America. The California migration of monarchs spends the winter months roosting in tall trees in 17 counties along the coast of California, from Mendocino County in the north to San Diego County in the south. R.W. Griffiths and Villanova (2) observed the monarch migration in a few sites in Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties. Copyright Janet Kessler. (3) Richard Vane-Wright, “The Columbus Hypothesis:  An Explanation for the Dramatic 19th Century Range Expansion of the Monarch Butterfly,” in Biology and Conservation of the Monarch Butterfly,Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 1993. She could appear in the form of a beautiful, seductive woman or terrible goddess with a skeletal head and butterfly wings supplied with stone blades. One of the first of these was the beautiful and regal monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus. During migration, Monarch Butterflies will land in the very tree as did their ancestors. The monarch butterfly is the most recognized butterfly in North America. Here in the San Francisco Bay area, for example, 500 Monterey pines were destroyed on the Marin headlands a few years ago and an untold number of Monterey pines will be destroyed by the FEMA projects in addition to those that have already been destroyed here. My Experience With Monarch Butterflies and Other Insects. Yes, it was a tedious journey to that conclusion and we thank you for your patience if you have persevered to our optimistic conclusion that wildlife is far more resourceful and resilient than nativism wishes to believe. However, she can also appear with clear butterfly or eagle attributes. A study of the trees used by monarch butterflies for their winter roost in over 300 different sites in California reported that the vast majority of monarchs are using eucalyptus: “Three types of trees were used most frequently by roosting monarchs:  eucalyptus (75% of the habitats primarily Eucalyptus globulus), pine (20% of the habitats; primarily Pinus radiata), and cypress (16% of the Cupressus macrocarpa). Ītzpāpālōtl also features prominently in the novel Obsidian Butterfly, the ninth book in the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton. Mexico - A small town in Mexico also sees butterflies as souls, and it is to that town that the monarch butterflies migrate every year on and around the holiday known as the Day of the Dead. The ritual is illustrated in the sixteenth century document known as the Map of Cuauhtinchan No. Irish folklore holds that the butterfly is related to the very soul of a human being. While we don’t doubt that this may be true, we don’t think we can generalize from this study because it was conducted in the small native range of Monterey pine and cypress. (4) Constance Millar, “Reconsidering the Conservation of Monterey Pine,” Fremontia, Vol. The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is among the most recognized, studied, and loved of all of North America’s insects. The author asked that Monterey pines be allowed to remain where they lived in the past because the species is threatened in its small native range. Meanwhile, we’re cutting down the trees these creatures depend on. According to Jacob Grimm in Teutonic Mythology, when a witch travels at night (astral travel), her spirit comes out of her mouth in the shape of a butterfly. (1) Most of that expanse is outside the native range of Monterey pine and cypress. Suddenly she ... devoured him, tore open his breast. Monarch Butterflies T his gallery of Monarch Butterflies were taken from a number of books in the public domain. "Tieh" means "70 years", so butterflies have become somewhat of a pun for longevity. Please log in using one of these methods to post your comment: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Recent molecular analysis of the monarch migration confirms that the eastern and western migration of monarchs in North America are genetically identical, suggesting that the populations might be dispersing east and west from their Mexican winter roost. There are more than 20,000 species and more are still being discovered. There are many links with butterflies in mythology from all over the world, many of which, in particular Greek mythology, link butterflies to the human soul. To give you an example, the yellow monarch butterfly meaning would be almost the same as any other yellow butterfly, except the yellow meaning would be amplified, which means that good news is imminent, possibly right around the corner and that the positive change it’s going to bring will be immense. Other common names, depending on region, include milkweed, common tiger, wanderer, and black veined brown. Trees Matter: Mc Laren Park and Environmental Justice, is being considered for “endangered”status, On Treasure Island, where Monarchs have been known to over-winter in some years, hundreds if not thousands of trees are being cut down, Surprise Tree Removals for McLaren Park Native Plant Garden, Trees Targeted for Destruction In Golden Gate Park, SF Rec & Parks Using a New (Old) Pesticide, We Still Need to Say, After All These Years: Black Lives Matter, Pesticide Use Up in San Francisco Parks, Natural Areas – 2019, Answering the Smithsonian – The Flawed Logic of Native Plant Activism, San Francisco Cutting Down its Ancient Trees – Sutro Forest/ Clarendon, San Francisco Cutting Down its Ancient Trees – Lake Merced, Refuting Jake Sigg: No, 90% of Insects Do Not Eat Only Native Plants, 2018 Herbicides in San Francisco: NRD Use Rises (Again), Season’s Greetings and a Hopeful New Year in 2019, An Amazing set of San Francisco Wildlife Photos. There is paleontological evidence (fossil cones) that Monterey pines lived in the San Francisco Bay Area several times in the distant past. Cave, City, and Eagles Nest: an Interpretive Journey through the "Mapa De Cuauhtinchan N° 2. In historic documents, Itzpapalotl is associated with moths, deer and black butterfly. Gingerich, Willard. Unlike the native species of milkweed, tropical milkweed does not die back in winter. [5], One of the prominent aspects of the ritual surrounding Itzpapalotl relates to the creation story of the Aztec tribe, the Chichimec. The Trecena 1 House is one of the five western trecena dates dedicated to the cihuateteo, or women who had died in childbirth. al., “Lack of genetic differentiation between monarch butterflies with divergent migration destinations,” Molecular Ecology, (2012) 21, 3433-3444. In North American Native mythology, butterflies symbolize the soul or human spirit. Those who wish to discount the value of eucalyptus to overwintering monarchs often assume the California monarch migration predates the planting of eucalyptus in California in mid-19th century. “The lack of mimics suggests the [monarch] may not have been here long enough for any to evolve.” (6). and in the press, including NPR, Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, and at least 30 pages of Google listings. The full name of the monarch is from the royal sources. It’s considered bad luck to kill a white butterfly because those hold the souls of deceased children. Her wings are obsidian or tecpatl (flint) knife tipped. Green butterfly. 191–244. “For example, monarchs were recorded in Australia in 1870 and were most probably carried there on cyclonic winds from a source population in New Caledonia.” (7)  These populations do not migrate and are therefore genetically distinct from the ancestral population of North American monarchs as a result of genetic drift. Thank you for posting all this scientific information. Gardeners therefore tend to prefer the tropical milkweed because it makes a colorful contribution to their gardens year around. Tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) Creative Commons. The historical record of the monarch migration was reported by Vane-Wright (3), who tells us the California monarch migration is probably a 19th century expansion of the range of the eastern monarch migration, from east of the Rocky Mountains to Mexico. While it’s a pleasure to increase the Monarch population on my land, this passion feels deeper than that.