Occurrence of common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) in cropland and adjacent areas

Abstract

Interest in the population dynamics and geographic distribution of common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.) has recently increased due to the importance of common milkweed in the life cycle of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). A survey of common milkweed occurrence in various habitats was conducted in Iowa in June and July of 1999. Common milkweed was found in 71% of the roadsides and approximately 50% of the corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) fields. Corn and soybean fields had 85% fewer patches than roadsides. Conservation reserve program fields had the greatest average area infested. While common milkweed was frequently found in corn and soybean fields, average frequency and patch sizes were much greater in noncrop areas. KeywordsBt pollen, Monarch butterfly, weed distribution, maize, soyabean RightsWorks produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted. AbstractInterest in the population dynamics and geographic distribution of common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.) has recently increased due to the importance of common milkweed in the life cycle of the monarch butter#y (Danaus plexippus). A survey of common milkweed occurrence in various habitats was conducted in Iowa in June and July of 1999. Common milkweed was found in 71% of the roadsides and approximately 50% of the corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) "elds. Corn and soybean "elds had 85% fewer patches than roadsides. Conservation reserve program "elds had the greatest average area infested. While common milkweed was frequently found in corn and soybean "elds, average frequency and patch sizes were much greater in noncrop areas.

Mapping of alien species of Asclepias syriaca and Fallopia japonica populations in the agricultural landscape

“…The infestation of adjacent fields was not recorded. Contrary, in our research this weed infested adjacent fields of Triticum aestivum L. and Helianthus annuus L. Cramer, Burnside (1982) and Hartzler, Buhler (2000) reported that A. syriaca is mainly found in soya, maize, wheat, oat and broomcorn plantations, and often appears also in road-side vegetation in United States and Canada. In the surrounding area of Budapest in Hungary, extent stands of Common milkweed are found on disused agricultural lands, and some smaller stands occur in abandoned vineyards also (Sarkany, et al, 2008;Csontos, et al, 2009 …”

Tracking multi-generational colonization of the breeding grounds by monarch butterflies in eastern North America

“…However, the physiological constraint hypothesis held nearly as much support, which suggests that distribution limits are also a function of stochastic weather patterns which predicts distributional range shifts of organisms in response to changing weather [25,42]. While land cover has a strong effect on host plant distribution and abundance [13,43,44], it had less influence on butterfly occurrence, which supports the notion that monarch butterflies are generalists that use diverse habitats during the breeding season [23,24].…”

New localities and habitat preferences of common milkweed Asclepias syriaca L. in Toruń (Central Poland)

“…In its natural range, the common milkweed occurs on prairies, roadsides of traffic routes, in cereal crops, meadows, grazing lands, forest areas, alluvia of rivers, and even swamps (Browmik & Bandeen 1976;Baskin & Baskin 1977;Hartzler & Buhler 2000). According to Browmik and Bandeen (1976), the species prefers soils with neutral and slightly alkaline reaction, but it occurs also on soils with low pH.…”