[ad_1]
Nearly 250 people evacuated from Hurricane Ida have found a new home in a nursery in Opelousas.
New Orleans resident Christy Davis was preparing to leave for Florida ahead of the storm when she noticed a monarch butterfly laying eggs outside. Davis is one of the many people who try to raise caterpillars on their own, so she walked around her yard and picked up each egg before she packed her bags and evacuated. Davis has since returned home, but is unable to take care of future monarchs as she has no electricity.
She took to Facebook, posting to local gardening groups to see if anyone could help.
Karen Garrison
In Acadiana, Karen Garrison saw Davis’ post and took action. She called several nurseries before landing at the Lastrapes Garden Center in Opelousas. The nursery allows caterpillars to eat milkweed in the center, which makes up the majority of a caterpillar’s diet.
On Thursday, Garrison and others were putting the caterpillars on their new home. They will then enter their cocoons and after about 8-10 days they will emerge as monarch butterflies.
Garrison said the monarch is one of the most common types of butterflies, but their population is in free fall due to threats from pesticides, development and global climate change. She and others are working to gain their protection under the US Endangered Species Act.
“Only about 10% is all that does” in nature, Garrison explained. “If we can increase that number a bit more, that’s fantastic.”
Once hatched, the butterflies will likely fly to South America, then return in the spring and lay their own eggs to begin the cycle again.
“It’s new life for the butterflies. It feels good that 274 Ida evacuees are at Opelousas … which is pretty cool.”
Below, more photos:
KATC
KATC
KATC
————————————————– ———-
Keep in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
To join the newsroom or report a typo / correction, click HERE.
Sign up for newsletters sent by email to your inbox. Choose from these options: Latest News, Evening News Headlines, Latest COVID-19 Headlines, Morning News Headlines, Special Offers
[ad_2]
Source link