Monarchs are taking a special emphasis in St. Joseph next month.

“People are becoming aware of the plight of the Monarchs over the past couple of years,” said David Laderoute, Regional Coordinator for the Northwest Region of Missourians for Monrachs.

Laderoute said St. Joseph Mayor Bill Falkner will declare May as Monarch and Milkweed month during the City Council Meeting Monday evening.

Laderoute said the population of Monarchs has declined over the past 20 years which has been caused due to a number of factors.

“It’s not just one thing. It includes deforestation in Mexico–a lot of it illegal; loss of habitat here in the United States through changing farm practices and urban sprawl which is eating up a lot of land,” Laderoute said.

Milkweed is a key component to the survival of the Monarch.

“A lot of people don’t know it, but one plant in particular which they also use as a nectar and pollen source is the milkweed plant. If there’s no milkweed then there’s no Monarchs,” Laderoute said.

He said the community can help in several different ways.

“Anybody can help by planting both milkweed and any other plants Monarchs will like to use as a pollen and nectar source,” he said.

Laderoute said the Monarchs plays an important role in nature.

“They’re a wonderful pollinator. They do a marvelous job of flying from one flower to another and pollinating it,” Laderoute said.

For more information contact David Laderoute at (816) 262-2074