The Monarch Butterfly

Description and Ecology of Organism

Monarchs start out in an egg, and when they hatch they take form as a caterpillar. Monarch caterpillars have black, yellow, and white stripes, and grow to about 2 inches before starting metamorphosis. Once the Monarch has gone through metamorphosis it becomes its vibrant orange counterpart. They have bright orange wings with a black border and black veins. Two rows of white dots fall upon the black border of the wings. These beautiful insects tend to have a wingspan between 3 and 4 inches. Monarchs not only bring beauty and elegance to the world, but they are also a big help to us by being pollinators. Without the help of these friendly fliers our plants in North America would struggle reproducing and likely cause problems for the health of the planet.

Geographic and Population Changes

During the warmer months these insects can be found in southeast Canada and all throughout the entire United States excluding only Alaska. They can also be found in Australia and New Zealand as long as there is enough milkweed and suitable temperatures. Starting in November and ending around mid-March they can be found in southern United States but living most vibrantly all around Mexico. In 2020, the population of Monarch butterflies plummeted to below 2,000 individuals. Today there are about 335,000 thriving in the wild. This is species is however still listed as endangered due to how quickly their population can fluctuate mainly because of their short lifespan. In 2014 they were originally listed as endangered. In 2020 they were listed at critically endangered, and since making a recovery they have been listed endangered in 2022 and 2023.

Main Threats

There are two main factors that are hurting the Monarch Butterfly. One is climate change. Climate change poses a threat to the traditional migration pattern of the monarch butterfly, impacting weather conditions in both their wintering and summer breeding habitats, potentially leading to disruption. Second is habitat destruction. Monarch butterflies depend on the mountain forests of Mexico for their winter habitat. However, the presence of nearby human communities adds pressure on these forests due to agricultural and tourism activities, impacting both the butterflies and the ecosystem. Within the United States, monarch butterflies require suitable habitats for reproduction and nourishment. Nonetheless, the widespread use of herbicides is diminishing the availability of their main food source, the milkweed plant.

Description of Recovery Plan

The National Wildlife Federation is actively restoring the habitat of the monarch butterfly by involving communities in recovery initiatives and encouraging individuals to cultivate native plants like milkweed in their residential, occupational, educational, recreational, and spiritual spaces. The National Wildlife Federation lobbies Congress to uphold agricultural conservation programs and their funding within the conservation section of the Farm Bill. Additionally, they advocate for these programs to prioritize the accommodation of native pollinators. This means that more grasslands and field will be left untouched by humans allowing not just Monarchs, but many other insects and animals as well to thrive and roam. This will help counteract the constant habitat destruction that has been occurring.