Beyond milkweed: creating a migratory oasis for monarchs

  • WHILE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES rely on milkweed as a host plant for eggs and caterpillars, a variety of nectar-producing plants are needed to fuel their fall migration. Photo courtesy of Laura McKenzie/ Texas A&M AgriLife
    WHILE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES rely on milkweed as a host plant for eggs and caterpillars, a variety of nectar-producing plants are needed to fuel their fall migration. Photo courtesy of Laura McKenzie/ Texas A&M AgriLife

    With the summer season ramping up, experts with Texas A&M AgriLife said now is the ideal time to create an oasis for monarch butterflies that will funnel through Texas during their annual fall migration to Mexico.

    Although monarchs are generally known for their specialized relationship with milkweed plants, they rely on a wide variety of nectar-producing plants during fall migration, said Wizzi…