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Demovictory9

(37,113 posts) Sun Jan 6, 2019, 03:17 PM Jan 2019

Monarch butterflies in CA declined by 86 percent in one year. Extinction likely. 30k left [View all]

https://m.sfgate.com/science/article/monarch-butterflies-california-extinct-decline-13507308.php

If you enjoy watching the annual migration of the western monarch along the California coast you have probably already seen the signs of trouble in recent years. Numbers have declined precipitously over the last two decades and extinction looks increasingly likely.

IIn 1981 the Xerces Society, a nonprofit environmental organization that focuses on invertebrate conservation, counted more than 1 million western monarchs wintering in California.

The group's most recent count, over Thanksgiving weekend, recorded less than 30,000 butterflies — an 86-percent decline since 2017 alone.

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Monarch butterflies in CA declined by 86 percent in one year. Extinction likely. 30k left [View all] Demovictory9 Jan 2019 OP

Very sad shenmue Jan 2019 #1

If you want to help, athena Jan 2019 #2

They migrate through here, central Okla, and we have monarch feeding areas filled with milkweed Tess49 Jan 2019 #3

Propagation (Growing Milkweeds) KO_ Stradivarius Jan 2019 #7

Thanks. Will do. Just shocked at rapid decline...will research further. RestoreAmerica2020 Jan 2019 #17

It's not just about our enjoyment.When butterflies die out, other species are stressed and depleted ancianita Jan 2019 #4

The butterfly effect, literally StarryNite Jan 2019 #12

Butterflies and bees are disappearing. It really is frightening. SunSeeker Jan 2019 #5

Bummer. Seems just a few short years ago, they were reporting a small, but stable population... Brother Buzz Jan 2019 #6

Minnesota has a state sponsored road ditch program that sponsors a save the Monachs movement. pazzyanne Jan 2019 #8

The insect count overall has gone down elmac Jan 2019 #9

I planted milkweed here in ne California jeffreyi Jan 2019 #10

This is terrible StarryNite Jan 2019 #11

Not trying to argue with their findings... N_E_1 for Tennis Jan 2019 #13

is that the Western Monarch? The article is referring to the Western Monarch. Demovictory9 Jan 2019 #15

From the same site you link to, they describe the 2 different populations of monarchs BumRushDaShow Jan 2019 #18

I have definitely seen this decline catchnrelease Jan 2019 #14

that is sad. butterfly experts need to tell us how to handle the Tachinid fly Demovictory9 Jan 2019 #16

I realeased 33 fro southern Louisiana this Sept. skip fox Jan 2019 #19

We released 30 last summer from 5-6 batches many a good man Jan 2019 #20