Monarch Butterflies are Fighting for Survival, and They Need Your Help

From the USA to Canada and Mexico, Monarch butterflies are steadily dwindling and on the verge of extinction in North America. From 1996 to 2020, nearly 90% of the eastern monarch population reduced from 383 million to just under 45 million. According to the World Wildlife Fund, Monarch butterflies dropped 22%, from 7 acres to nearly 5.5. acres in their wintering grounds in Mexico. This is in stark contrast to when monarchs occupied more than 45 acres of forest. In this article, we will delve into factors affecting the Monarch butterfly decline, why these little creatures are important and what you can do to help.

Monarch Butterflies, Life and Habitat

Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) are part of the Nymphalidae family, recognized by their striking orange and black wing patterns. They inhabit meadows, fields, and gardens, relying heavily on milkweed plants for feeding and breeding. Monarchs lay eggs exclusively on milkweed, which serves as the sole food source for their larvae. Migratory Monarch butterflies are found across North America, from southern Canada through the United States and into Central America. Non-migratory monarchs can also be found in South America, Australia, and some Pacific islands. Migratory monarchs live up to 8 months.

Why Are Monarch Butterflies So Important to the Environment

Monarch butterflies are responsible for one of the most challenging feats in the animal kingdom. During their annual mass migration from Canada and the US to their wintering grounds in Mexican forests, they grace gardens throughout their route, pollinating as they go along. This natural and free pollination service by one of North America’s largest pollinators contributes to healthy ecosystems, supporting wildflower reproduction, biodiversity, and agricultural food production. They serve as indicator species, signaling a healthy ecosystem with sufficient milkweed and nectar sources.

The Great Monarch Migration

The breeding and migratory patterns of the monarch butterfly are one of the most extensively studied and remarkable phenomena of the insect world. These less than half-a-gram wafer winged travel almost 3000 miles from Canada and the US to the overwintering sites in the mountain forests of Michoacán and the State of Mexico. This migration is unique because it spans multiple generations, with butterflies that reach Mexico not being the same individuals that started the journey. In spring, the surviving monarchs begin the northward trek, laying eggs along the way to ensure the continuation of their migratory cycle.

The Numbers Are Reducing

The largest monarch biosphere is in El Rosario, in the state of Michoacán in southwestern Mexico. The 56,259-ha sanctuary lies within rugged forested mountains about 100 km northwest of Mexico City. However, researchers have observed a massive dwindling of monarch numbers falling steadily over the years. In contrast to monarch populations covering 45 acres of forest in the nineties, there have been just 0.46 acres of occupation in El Rosario in 2023-24. More accurate data has found how eastern monarch butterflies wintering in Mexican forests occupied 2.2 acres in the 2023-2024 winter in comparison to 5.5 acres in the previous year.

Why are Monarch Butterflies Reducing?

Monarch populations are dwindling due to habitat loss, climate change, global warming and pesticide use along the migratory life process. Urbanization and agricultural expansion have significantly reduced the availability of milkweed and nectar sources, which are critical for their survival. Milkweed is the only plant where monarchs lay their eggs, failing which there would be no new generations. As a result, the monarch has now been listed as endangered on the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

What Can Garden Owners Do to Help

There is much house garden owners can do to help support the survival of the monarch butterfly.  Here’s how

• Plant Milkweed: Grow native milkweed species in gardens to provide breeding sites.
• Create Pollinator Gardens: Plant nectar-rich flowers to offer food for adult butterflies.
• Avoid Pesticides: Reduce or eliminate pesticides to prevent harming butterflies and their larvae. Even herbal pesticides can kill monarch larvae. If you need to use ingredients like neem oil, insecticidal soaps, and horticultural oils, apply them after dusk when pollinators aren’t active.

Make Your Garden Attractive to Monarch Butterflies

Create a small mud puddle or add water to sand in a sunny area of your yard and place a flat stone within it. Butterflies will bask on the stone to increase their body temperature and drink from the puddle, which provides essential salts, vitamins, and minerals to supplement their nectar diet. Additionally, you can grow colorful native plants, including nectar-producing ones such as lantana, liatris, echinacea, flowering sages, verbena, bee balm, black-eyed susans,  yarrow, and, of course, milkweed.

The Silver Lining: Winter Breeding Adaptation

Recent studies reveal that monarchs are adapting to climate changes by breeding during winter in Northern California. This new behaviour could be critical to their survival as it helps them cope with warmer winters​. If this behavior continues, there is still hope for the monarch yet. Moreover, conservationists are working to protect monarch habitats and promote milkweed planting. However, challenges include balancing agricultural practices with conservation needs and addressing climate change impacts.

Public awareness and participation are vital for the survival of these majestic butterflies. By understanding these critical issues and taking actionable steps, we can help ensure that monarch butterflies continue to thrive in our environment.