Monarch Butterflies on Decline in Mexico

[Ithaca 37]

"The population of Monarch butterflies has suffered a drastic decline, but Mexico — where deforestation has long devastated Monarch wintering grounds — is now blaming the United States and Canada.



Mexico's Environment Department said on Wednesday that 75 percent fewer Monarch butterflies have appeared in 2004 compared to previous years.


It blamed cold weather and intensive farming — including genetically modified crops — in areas of the United States and Canada where the butterflies spend the summer and reproduce.


In past years, Mexico acknowledged the butterflies were affected by illegal logging of the central Mexico fir forests that make up the winter nesting grounds.


Activists and researchers suggested Mexico may be trying to offload some of the blame, after its own highly-publicized efforts to stop illegal logging ran up against often violent resistance from logging gangs.


"This is an incomplete and tendentious report, that seeks to put all the blame on other countries which do share responsibility," said Homero Aridjis, whose Group of 100 environmental organization has long opposed illegal logging...................... "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm.../20050217/ap_on_sc/mexico_monarch_butterflies

I'm betting we have SI posters who don't think we should be concerned about butterfly declines-----probably the same ones who think wild salmon aren't important.

Should we be alarmed that the butterfly population dropped by 75% last year?

 

[MattK]

Ithaca- It is troubling to see the decline; however, I have seen that same decline since I was very young and spending summers on my uncles ranch. Milkweed is the only food source that a Monarch Butterfly utilizes. It provides for the poison which keeps predators from eating too many of them (also provides protection for a moth that looks like the monarch, I believe the victoria moth). The problem with Milkweed, it's a weed that most farmers and ranchers get rid of. So the problem could be an increase in the US and Canada. I will say the numbers over the past 20 years have had a severe decline in the Bitteroot where we used to see them. It's really too bad because it made for some very interesting science projects, seeing them go through all the stages to become a butterfly.

 

[MarvB]

Monarch Butterflies on Decline in Mexico

....I think there is a good chance they have all snuck over the border and have taken menial labor jobs in the U.S!!

...where's cjcj when ya need him

 

[ELKCHSR]

I posted two articles on this subject last year. I didn't think any one was interested...