Monarch butterflies are quickly dying out, at the risk of disappearing altogether. So far, their population in the east has declined by as much as 80 percent or more over the last 20 years.
The decline of milkweed plants and other nectar food sources, which are believed to be the work of widespread use of herbicides, among other factors,, are what researchers believe has contributed greatly to the population decline.
By planting milkweed plants in residential yards, along roads, in empty lots etc, they anticipate that it could help to save these butterflies from extinction. To help, it's estimated that over 1 billion milkweed plants are needed to boost the monarch butterfly population.
Some individuals have now taken to even raising monarch butterflies in their homes.
Government stands in the way.
Researchers behind the move to help the butterflies, insist that these sorts of native plants such as milkweed, are beautiful and beneficial elements in home landscaping and that the state should justly approve of them as acceptable to be planted and grown in someone's own yard, encouraging people to grow native plants and grasses.
Pics:
pixabay
Sometimes I think we humans are our own worst enemies! I live in a rural area where the county public works goes around the county roads and spray a herbicide to control the growth of the weeds and grass along the sides of the road. Ironically when we first moved here, the first time I saw the warnings stapled to the telephone poles and street signs, I misread it as a 'homicide' warning. (maybe I needed glasses.....or did I?) We have 5 acres that is home to more stinging nettle than I care to think about and lots of wild berry vines as there are MANY blackberry and raspberry farms around. As much as I don't like all the nettle or the berry vines on our property, we don't spray. If we want it removed, we go get a tractor. We have lots of wildlife here and lots of insects, probably because we don't spray. All that gets into our food and water systems. Maybe not the time you spray it, but with as much as is used, it has to eventually. All of this will affect not only the insects and pollinators, but eventually everything including the human race.
This kind of thing is really important.
All too often we get caught up in the idea of planting certain species for their looks or their medicinal properties...
But we also need to remember that there are life forms on this planet that need plants... we can get up in our immediate human needs we forget about the insect world.
😊🙏🏽💜
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We planted milkweed this year. But we made sure that ot wasn't treated with pesticides.
sweet!
This year was the year of the Monarch in Utah. I went hiking a few times in the early spring and these little guys were all over in pairs of two. I got a few photos of them but I wish I would have got more. I didn't realize they were in such decline. I am now glad I got to see them flying around while I could. I may now even try breeding some at my home now. Great post
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butterflies are so nice, can stare at them forever
sorry for the question, but... you make powerdown: do you leave the platform? it makes me sad:(
not planning on going anywhere! 😎
Oh this pretty monarch butterfly is on verge of extinction. I seriously had no idea it happens in case of butterflies too. Too sad for these pretty creatures.