First reports are in…and they’re not great. According to the World Wildlife Federation, the eastern migratory monarch population shows a drastic decline, with numbers decreasing by 59% compared to 2023. Why?
Adverse climatic conditions seem to have played a large role, including
–excessive rainfall in early summer, limiting time for egg laying (since monarchs’ life spans are limited, this can result in fewer eggs laid)
–unusually cold temperatures in early August, delaying emergence and development of the migratory generation (on time = more successful migration)
–unusually high temperatures in September (according to Chip Taylor of Monarch Watch, this has historically decreased populations)
Additionally, changes in land use and widespread applications of herbicides in the US have continued to decrease the availability of milkweed and nectar plants.
Since butterflies like monarchs are so sensitive to environmental stressors, we can consider their decline as an early warning signal for our ecosystems.
What can we do?
Whether you choose to plant more native milkweeds and nectar sources in your landscape or support conservation efforts with your dollars, the monarchs are telling us to take action now.
Will you answer the call?
