Natural History Wanderings

There have been a number of articles recently about the Monarch Butterfly population hitting a new low. National Geographic reported that scientists surveying monarch habitat in Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve found the insects occupied 59 percent less land than the previous year—the smallest area recorded in 20 year. The two leading causes of the population decline have habitat loss specifically milkweed which is the plant where they lay their eggs and serves as food for their young and the extreme climate fluctuations, including freezing temperatures and heavy rain.

Read more at National Geographic Monarch Butterflies Hit New Low; “Worrisome” Trend