Not good news at all.
Known for its bright orange colors and its incredible annual migration, the migratory monarch butterfly is now classified as “Endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
I absolutely love the beauty of monarch butterflies. And to think that some of them journey 4,000 miles.
One of the primary reasons for the decline: weed control.
During the last three decades, the eastern migratory monarch butterfly population has decreased by more than 80%, according to WEF monitoring reports. One of main drivers in the decline of the migratory monarch’s population is the use of herbicides in the U.S., resulting in a loss of milkweeds, essential for monarchs reproduction. Additionally, climate variations in North American during the summers of 2004 to 2018, affected both the presence of milkweed and the butterflies’ life cycle.
While I understand the importance of keeping weeds (especially invasive species) in check, we -- all a part of humanity -- must find ways to do it responsibly.
Once a piece of nature's beauty is gone...... it's gone forever.
Grace & Peace & Love to you all -
Matt