The arrival of monarch butterflies is a surefire sign that spring has sprung. If you're looking to attract them to your garden, Amazon is selling a set of three milkweed roots that will do the trick for $14.99.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, the endangered, orange-and-black species of butterflies migrate from the mountains in Mexico to the northern US and Canada each spring looking for milkweed (asclepias), a specific variety of flowering plant.
While many different flowers provide sufficient nectar for the butterflies, only milkweed plants are suitable as food for monarch caterpillars to eat, according to House Beautiful. The butterflies exclusively lay their eggs on the plant and thus seek them out specifically on their annual northward journey, as a Medium post by the US Fish & Wildlife Service explains.
Not only do the flowering plants make for a beautiful addition to any landscape, but they also help promote the survival of the butterflies themselves. According to Gardener's Supply, development and agriculture has destroyed much of the monarchs' natural habitat in recent years, so planting milkweed in your yard helps provide the butterflies with an alternative landing spot.
If you aren't in a position to get down and dirty planting your own garden, you can always take a trip to Texas or California to watch vast swaths of butterflies during their migration.
According to Texas A&M Today, researchers at the university predicted that there would be as much as a 144% increase in the number of monarch butterflies migrating through Texas this year.
Read more: 300 million monarch butterflies are expected to fly through Texas
Similarly, a "super bloom" of wildflowers brought swarms of painted lady butterflies to California this spring.
SEE ALSO: Dolls Kill is selling shoes that turn your feet into butterflies
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