Science News

Monarchs Back From The Brink, But Officials Say There’s More Work To Be Done

IMAGE VIA PIXABAY

Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) populations are determined by the amount of area that they cover. In 2013 populations of this popular butterfly dwindled as they only covered 1.66 acres.  CBC News reported that a new count of the butterfly’s coverage in 2015 determined that over 10 acres were occupied.

The numbers of acres occupied in 2015 was considered to be a huge win for the species whose populations have been on the brink since 2013. The 2015 numbers were a big jump from not only the 2013 coverage, but also from the 2014 coverage which was about 3 acres.

Despite this sudden increase in population coverage, numbers are still far below what they were in previous years. According to CBC News monarch butterflies covered as much as 44 acres just 20 years ago. Those involved with the efforts to bring the butterflies back from the brink say that the work is far from finished. Joint conservation efforts must continue across Canada, the United States and Mexico.

According to Discovery News, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has urged citizens of the United States to consider planting milkweed. Planting milkweed is thought to help increase monarch populations. Milkweed is the monarch butterfly’s host plant, meaning that monarchs have a unique relationship with this plant. Monarchs spend most of their life on this host plant. For example, monarchs only lay eggs on this plant because it provides their larvae with protection from predators. As the larvae eat the tiny spines on the plant they become poisonous to any animal that might attempt to eat them.

Illegal logging in Mexico and the use of herbicides in North America are to blame for the monarch’s population declines.

Illegal logging in Mexico and the use of herbicides in North America are to blame for the monarch’s population declines. The ultimate goal of the multinational effort to save the monarch butterfly, according to Discovery News, is to increase the population coverage to 14 acres by 2020. That’s 30 acres less than coverage 20 years ago.

Click to comment
To Top

Hi - Get Important Content Like This Delivered Directly To You

Get important content and more delivered to you once or twice a week.

We don't want an impostor using your email address so please look for an email from us and click the link to confirm your email address.