Natural History Wanderings

Photograph of a female Monarch Butterfly en ( Danaus plexippus en ) on a hybrid Milkweed en ( Asclepias tuberosa en x Asclepias incarnata en ). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Science Daily reports that the Monarch Butterfly population is expected to be down 30 percent this year. Drought and fires in their Mexican breeding region resulting in less nectar are part of the story. However, since 1994 when official population surveys began Monarch populations have been steadily decreasing.  The continued loss of habitat is the biggest reason for the decline in the Monarch populations. Female Monarchs lay their eggs exclusively on Milkweed. Increased conversion of land to farming and the use of herbicides and mowing decrease the amount of Milkweed available to Monarchs. Efforts to increase the planting of milkweed but so far have not been enough. The article refers primarily to the monarch population that migrates between Mexico/Texas and Canada through the central U.S. It does not make any reference to the West Coast Monarchs.  Read more at Science Daily Monarch butterflies down again this year as decline continues.