Milkweed and Butterflies

[DrRod]

I have read that monarch butterflies depend on milkweed as a place to lay eggs. We have blue monarchs and yellow ones [which I assume are some sort of monarchs] and they are really a nice part of summer living. So I have started mowing around milkweed patches in a few places to ensure they are available for the butterflies. But I'm wondering, do I really need to leave them standing or if I mow them late in the fall will the eggs be there and hatch ok in the spring? Are there any lepidopterans out there who know about such things?

 

[Mendonsy]

I leave mine growing all year. There is some information here:
Monarch Butterfly Site: Life Cycle, Migration, Pictures, News, More!

 

[oosik]

Seldom see many Monarch butterflies in my area. However, the deer simply LOVE the milkweed seedpod heads in the fall.

 

[Weedy Fields]

There are several species of Milkweed.
Monarch use all of them along with other types of Forbs (wildflowers).
One of the main reason for the decline of Monarchs is lack of habitat.
SO if you live in the country and own 5 acres don't mow it all, leave 3-4 acres wild.
Milkweed spread easily on their own. Or you can do like I do, transplant existing ones from developing areas and plant them in a small field I own.