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THE PLIGHT OF MONARCH BUTTERFLIES

The western population, located in California, saw a more precipitous decline, from about 1.2 million in 1997 to fewer than 30,000 in 2019.
- Fish and Wildife Survey

SO, WHATS HAPPENING TO OUR MONARCH BUTTERFLY POPULATIONS? 
​(AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP) 

Picture
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

1. TROPICAL MILKWEED

This non-native milkweed is the popular and "beautiful" milkweed loved by gardeners.... HOWEVER, tropical milkweed has been linked to one of the causes of why MONARCH BUTTERFLIES are becoming endangered.


READ MORE
Picture
Photo: Brittanica

2. ARE THEY BECOMING ENDANGERED?

Currently, MONARCH BUTTERFLIES are being considered for the Endangered Species List. According to Fish and Wildlife: 

"Over the past 20 years, scientists have noted declines in North American monarchs overwintering in Mexico and California, where these butterflies cluster. Numbers in the larger eastern population are measured by the size of the area they occupy. At a density of roughly 8.5 million monarchs per acre, it is estimated that the eastern population fell from about 384 million in 1996 to a low of 14 million in 2013. The population in 2019 was about 60 million. The western population, located in California, saw a more precipitous decline, from about 1.2 million in 1997 to fewer than 30,000 in 2019." Taken from Fish and Wildlife Website
READ MORE
Picture
Photo from: Research Gate

3. THE Protozoan PARASITE

Due to Non-Native Milkweed, Monarch Butterflies are picking up a parasite called the Ophryocystis elektroscirrha. This parasite attacks the Monarch and makes it difficult for the Monarch to fy. According to SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE: 


In response, many gardeners have begun adding milkweed species to their plantings, including the non-native tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, in coastal regions like South Carolina, Texas and Florida. Unlike native milkweeds, which die out in late summer, forcing the monarchs to move on, their tropical cousin lives year-round, providing leaves for caterpillars to munch on and flowers for adults to drink from.
This has led to the establishment of year-round resident colonies of monarchs in some areas. It has also led to increased infection with a protozoan parasite called Ophryocystis elektroscirrha, that shortens the butterflies’ lifespan and makes it difficult to fly. When native milkweeds die off, the parasite dies with them, meaning there’s fresh, uncontaminated milkweed each spring. Since tropical milkweed doesn’t die off, the parasites keeps spreading.
READ MORE
Picture

4. PREDATORS, PARASITES and DISEASE

According to Butterfly Farms, there are many parasites that can attack Monarch Butterflies. The list is as follows: 

  • OE Parasite
  • Tachinid FLY
  • Bacterial and Viral Diseases
READ MORE
Picture
PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

5. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP: 

If you live in CALIFORNIA, PLANT MORE CA NATIVE MILKWEED. The following .pdf is from the XERCES society. 
​


  1. Get educated
  2. Order CA NARROWLEAF MILKWEED seeds and get started
  3. ​Be sure you plant in the right time of year. 
  4. Educate others about tropical Milkweed and why its harmful to Monarchs.
  5. Write letters to Nurseries encouraging them NOT to sell Tropical Milkweed. 
Picture
NATURE JOURNALING PAGE BY WILDERNESS APPRENTICE SANA RASHID

Native Plant Nurseries and Supply Stores

  • TREE OF LIFE NURSERY (San Juan Capistrano)
  • Theodore Payne Foundation
  • Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens
  • Mountain Rose Herbs

PLIGHT OF THE MONARCHS

Watch these videos by our amazing Art and Wilderness Students to better understand the Plight of the Monarchs
Art and Wilderness Institute LLC
info@artandwildernessinstitute.com
(909) 206-2226

Picture
Photo used under Creative Commons from Patricia Pierce
  • HOME
  • About
    • About
    • The Team
    • employment
    • Partners
    • HOUSES
    • Join our Mailing List
    • Contact Us
  • ENROLL
  • PROGRAMS
    • CALENDAR >
      • SPRING 2023 Classes
      • Semester Dates & Holidays
    • Charter School List
    • GPS ADVENTURES Knowledge Quest >
      • GPS LANDING Portal >
        • SPONSORSHIP GPS
      • GPS - ORANGE CRESCENT SCHOOL LANDING PAGE
    • Nature Unit Studies TK - 5th
    • Preschool at Redwood Raven Campus
    • Redwood Raven School K - 3
    • Mugworts Middle School 5th - 8th
    • PARENT & ME
    • Mentorship
    • Campouts/Retreats
  • RESOURCES
    • BOTANY VIDEOS
    • SCHOLARSHIPS >
      • DONOR PAGE
      • SCHOLARSHIPS- APPLICATION PAGE
    • OUTDOOR TEACHERS RESOURCE PAGE
    • OUTDOOR TEACHERS RESOURCE PAGE
    • FREE RESOURCES >
      • SUSTAINABILITY Resource Page
      • Butterflies & Habitat Restoration
      • PLANT MEDICINE RESOURCE PAGE
      • How to Draw RESOURCES Partial
      • Quizzes RESOURCES
    • CA NATIVES TRADING CARDS >
      • TRADING CARD DESIGN CONTEST
      • 2020 WINNER GALLERY
    • Community Craftsman Marketplace
  • COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Internships
    • AWI NEWSLETTER
    • PTO
    • CLUBS
    • ECO-SONGS with SAFIA
    • STUDENT SHOP- Shop to support Charity Projects
    • Green Masjid Initiative
    • CONTESTS >
      • T-shirt contest winners
      • 2022 TRADING CARD WINNER GALLERY