This week on the Good Growing podcast we learn about monarch butterfly science from a leading scientist in the field of monarch butterflies, Dr. Andy Davis from University of Georgia. We learn some hard truths and ask do the monarch butterflies really need to be saved? What roles should humans have in monarch butterfly protection? All this and more (like cicadas and Joro spiders) in this week’s Good Growing podcast. 

Plus check out Brodie Dunn’s newest podcast Voice of the Wild. Brodie plays us short clips of recorded wildlife sounds and talks about what we are hearing. Voice of the Wild covers mostly birds, but Brodie’s latest episode is about the American sycamore tree. https://extension.illinois.edu/podcasts/voice-wild

Dr. Davis’ blog https://www.monarchscience.org/
Engage with monarch scientists on the Thoughtful Monarch Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/565065511941624 

Skip to what you want to know:
0:35 Hey Ken! Latest cicada report. What's happening in Jacksonville?
2:05 Brodie Dunn's new podcast, Voice of the Wild
2:49 Welcome Dr. Andy Davis
3:51 The Thoughtful Monarch Facebook page
6:17 Andy's background
8:15 Will we see fewer monarchs this summer in the US and Canada because of the low overwintering counts in Mexico?
16:00 What about the possibility of monarch butterflies being listed as an endangered species?
19:36 The problem with rearing monarchs.
31:08 www.monarchscience.org
32:15 The gap between science and the public.
33:54 What about rearing monarchs in schools to teach kids about insects?
38:57 What are some of the issues with growing tropical milkweed?
46:20 What can people do if they stop rearing monarchs and planting tropical milkweed? How can they redirect their energy into something that may benefit monarch butterflies?
48:18 Some interesting behavior of the non-native Joro spider and monarch butterflies.
52:42 Once Joro spiders get to Illinois will they cause ecological havoc?

Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: [email protected]
Ken Johnson: [email protected] 

Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing
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Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.

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