Hey there! Did you know there’s a butterfly that travels super long distances every year? 🦋 Meet the monarch butterfly, one of the most amazing travelers in the insect world!
What’s So Special About Monarchs?
Monarch butterflies are famous for their bright orange and black wings. But that’s not all! Every fall, they fly thousands of miles from places like Canada and the United States all the way down to Mexico and California. That’s like a tiny creature traveling across countries! 🌎
The Big Problem
But here’s the tricky part: over the last 40 years, the number of monarch butterflies has dropped a lot. 😢 Scientists have noticed that monarchs spending the winter in Mexico have decreased by 80% between 2007 and 2023. In California, it’s even more—over 95%! That’s a huge decline.
Why Are They Disappearing?
There are several reasons:
- Tiny Parasites: Some parasites make monarchs sick and weak.
- Road Dangers: Monarchs can get hit by cars when they cross roads. 🚗
- Climate Change: Changes in weather patterns make their migration journey harder.
- Not Migrating: Warmer weather in some places makes monarchs skip their migration, which isn’t good for their life cycle.
Good News!
Even though the winter numbers are down, monarch butterflies are still doing okay in their summer homes. 🏡 Studies from 2022 and 2023 show that there isn’t an overall decline during the breeding season. That’s because monarch moms lay hundreds of eggs, helping their numbers bounce back!
How Can We Help?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is thinking about listing monarchs as a threatened species to give them extra protection. They suggest:
- Protecting Winter Homes: Making sure the places they spend the winter are safe.
- Planting Flowers: Adding native plants along their migration paths so they have food and rest stops.
What Should We Be Careful About?
Some ideas might hurt more than help:
- Raising Monarchs at Home: This can spread diseases among butterflies.
- Planting Non-Native Milkweed: Milkweed that’s not native can confuse the monarchs and mess up their migration.
Let’s Make a Difference!
Experts say the best way to help is to focus on making their migration routes and winter homes safe and healthy. 🌿 So, if you want to help monarch butterflies, think about planting native flowers and protecting the environment!
Together, we can help these incredible butterflies keep flying for years to come! 🎉
Reference(s):
Protection for monarch butterflies: Potential benefits and risks
cgtn.com
