Monarch Butterfly

1857 CE - 2016 CE

The monarch butterfly exhibits the most highly evolved migration pattern of any known species of butterfly or moth, perhaps of any known insect. Every autumn, millions of specimens, several generations removed from the previous year's migrants, travel between 1,200 and 2,800 miles or more from the United States and Canada to central Mexican forests. However, the monarch faces many risks that are resulting in declining populations in both the eastern and western parts of their North American range.

Historic Population

Researchers speculate that monarch populations were likely higher in the two centuries prior to 1994, although historical estimates are unavailable (Vidal and Rendon-Salinas 2014). Numbers might have peaked in the nineteenth century, after European settlement (which created extensive disturbed habitats favored by common milkweeds) but before the near elimination of tall grass prairie.

Most Pressing Issues

Loss of milkweed

Loss of milkweed needed for monarch caterpillars to grow and develop, due to habitat conversion and adverse land management

Drought conditions

Drought conditions in California and other areas in the western U.S., resulting in lower milkweed biomass, and reduced availability of milkweed late in the summer

Insecticide and herbicide use

Insecticide and herbicide use to control insects and weeds, with unintended consequences for monarchs

Overwintering habitat loss and degradation in California and Mexico

Overwintering habitat loss and degradation in California and Mexico, due to development within and adjacent to overwintering groves, and illegal logging

Historic Population

How You Can Help

Monarch Watch

Monarch Watch is a nonprofit education, conservation, and research program based at the University of Kansas that focuses on the monarch butterfly, its habitat, and its spectacular fall migration.

Monarch Butterfly Fund

Monarch Butterfly Fund's mission is to "To foster the conservation of North American monarch butterflies and their migration through habitat conservation, research, monitoring, education and support for sustainable community development in and near monarch habitats in Mexico."

Forests for Monarchs

Forests for Monarchs to restore the environment for overwintering monarchs and other wildlife, as well as for the people who live there.

North American Pollinator Protection Campaign

North American Pollinator Protection Campaign a collaborative body of over 140 organizations that work for the protection of pollinators across Mexico, Canada, and the United States.

Sources:

@WWF. http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/invertebrates/monarch_butterfly/ http://www.fws.gov/cno/es/Monarch/Monarch.cfm https://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/pop_millions.html