Monarch Butterfly Endangered

Monarch Butterfly Declared Endangered

In August of 2014, a group of scientists and allies unsuccessfully petitioned to have the Monarch butterfly protected under the Endangered Species Act. However, the Monarch moved closer to being declared in danger of extinction in August, 2022 when “The International Union for Conservation of Nature” added the migrating Monarch butterfly to its “Red List” of threatened species and categorized it as “endangered.” Note that the non-migrating Monarchs in Central and South America are not considered threatened, it is only the unique migrating Midwest population of Monarchs that is at risk. However, the United States still has not listed the Monarch as an endangered species. Maybe that’s fortunate. Read on!

Understanding the Bi-Phase Monarch

The Midwestern Monarch butterfly population has declined by almost 90% since 1994, caused primarily by the elimination of milkweed from GMO corn and soybean fields in the Midwest. However, millions of Monarchs still undertake this arduous 3,000-mile annual journey. Let’s begin in early spring in Mexico. After wintering in the mountains of central Mexico, gravid female butterflies migrate back north across the Gulf of Mexico and lay their eggs on milkweed along the coast of the U.S. And then they die. The eggs hatch into the very hungry caterpillars who then form chrysalids for metamorphosis into adults with wings and genitalia. The adults are not hungry, they are horny! After multiple copulations, the now gravid females fly north to lay their eggs on milkweed. These “reproductive phase adults” live about three weeks with procreation as their sole function. The third generation of reproductive adults fly as far north as the latitude of Ontario, hopefully not further since this is the northernmost range for milkweed. The lusty ladies lay their eggs and die, but when their offspring emerge from their chrysalids as adults, they have no interest in sex! They remain chaste and begin the flight south to Mexico. These are the migrating phase, the “Super Monarchs”, which are brighter orange and larger than the reproductive phase. They live as long as

eight months and put their energy into flight rather than reproduction. Reproductive phase Monarchs only fly north and migratory phase Monarchs only fly south until the females return to the U.S. in March to lay eggs along our Gulf shores.

In the Kansas City area, we see both phases in September. The reproductive adults are still mating and laying eggs. September is my most prolific caterpillar month. The native milkweeds are gone so Tropical Milkweed is the necessary food. Simultaneously, the migratory phase is flying south through Kansas. The Supers’ changes in behavior and appearance are caused by cues in the late summer environment that impact the feeding caterpillar and maturing chrysalis. The actual flight south is triggered by cooling temperatures and length of daylight. Scientists don’t yet

know why our U.S. subpopulation of Monarchs migrates instead of remaining in their tropical home. Wouldn’t that be easier? Native and naturalized Monarch populations thrive throughout the world. Some, like in Australia, have migratory patterns, but most do not. Monarchs in general are not in danger of going extinct, but we will lose the unique Midwestern migration if action is not taken.

The U.S. “Endangered Species Act” is administered by two Federal agencies. The National Marine Fisheries Service is responsible for marine species. For freshwater and land species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) administers the listing process and enforces the protections as defined by the Act. It takes an average of 12 years to achieve listing for any species submitted by scientists. Forty species have become extinct while on the wait list.

The powers of the FWS on behalf of listed species are draconian. If the FWS lists the Monarch, its mandated impact on midwestern agriculture could be devastating for the hungry people around the world that depend on our midwestern grain. Many scientists and economists urge that the Monarch not be listed but that more ecofriendly agricultural practices be voluntarily implemented to protect pollinators and humans. But where will the Monarch find enough milkweed to sustain its population? Not in our agricultural fields; farmers can’t relinquish Round-up or GMO crops. Not along our polluted roads. Not in our National Parks.

Photo by Lenora Larson.

This migrating male Monarch stops to refuel on a Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower). If droughts kill the wild flowers along the Monarch’s southbound route, millions will die. Endangered Species Bureaucracy

Is There Hope?

Yes, there is a best hope for Monarchs and for ourselves. But it is not a government agency, it is each of us. Doug Tallamy describes his vision for “Homegrown National Parks” in his newest book, Nature’s Best Hope. If all homeowners would replace half of their lawns with milkweed and other native plants, we could regenerate the lost populations of Monarchs, bees, birds and other wildlife. And we could save ourselves by preventing the impending collapse of the food chain.

LENORA LARSON Butterfly Maven

A Marais des Cygnes Master Gardener, Lenora is a member of the Idalia Butterfly Society and Kansas Native Plant Society. She gardens in the clay soil and cruel winds of Paola, KS. She may be contacted at lenora.longlips@gmail.com.

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