The wildlife in any given area have adapted over thousands of years to rely on the plants that are readily available in their region. These animals depend on those plants for food, shelter, and reproduction among other things. Individual ecosystems are dependent on every member of the system being present in order for the system to remain healthy and functioning.
Pictured here is a common milkweed plant blooming in the field around my house. Monarch caterpillars have evolved to feed only on milkweed, a plant native to many areas of the US, including southern Indiana. As fields and meadows are converted into parking lots and housing additions this important food source is disappearing. Because of this monarch populations are dwindling. There are programs in place to re-establish milkweed and other native blooming plants on private lands in order to attract the monarch butterflies and other pollinators. Pollinators (butterflies, bees, birds, etc) are an integral part of food production. No pollinators, no food. That is why we’re going native!
The Native Indiana Landscape 