The Monarch butterflies are a breed of strikingly beautiful butterflies with bright orange wings lined with black, as seen in the picture above. These small but elegant creatures make an incredible journey from Canada down to Southern California or central Mexico; this is a trip of over 2500 miles! Unfortunately, in recent years the Monarch butterfly population has drastically decreased. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, “{The Monarch Butterfly population} declined by 95% over two decades. Numbering some 1.2 million in the 1990s — … — in 2022 the butterflies rebounded to 247,000.” This is concerningly low. Human interaction with their habitats and the environment is a major factor in the reduction of this population. They face challenges such as harmful pesticides and fragmented habitats, a result of deforestation, as they travel south.
What can one do?
Although these issues cannot be tackled head on there are things that individuals can do to improve the situation. Growing Milkweed is the best way to promote a healthy environment for the Monarch Butterflies. Milkweed is a flowing plant that produces an abundant amount of nectar and attracts all sorts of insects, bugs, hummingbirds, and of course the Monarch Butterfly. These plants help the butterflies feed and reproduce; This simple action gives back to the pollinators that makes our food possible.
What is JLA doing?
This week the JLA middle and upper schoolers started planting various herbs, flowers, and vegetables in JLA Gardens. Students got to experience hands-on nurturing, planting, watering, and caring for nature. One of the plants in this garden is a variation of the Milkweed plant; this is caterpillar central, a place for caterpillars and butterflies alike. Walking near the garden students are able to see the magnificent colors of the Monarch butterflies. There has been only one problem with the mini butterfly garden: The caterpillar crossings. On a much smaller scale, JLA has its own Monarch butterfly Crisis. As the young green caterpillars crawl across the campus they often meet their fate flattened to the white tiled pavement. This hapless story is not of one instance but of mass propriety. How can students prevent this? An individual can protect the caterpillars by being aware and watching the ground ahead. If a caterpillar is in the middle of the path the best course of action is to pick it up with a fallen leaf and guide it into the bushes.
By learning and staying informed everyone can take part in protecting this exquisite population of Butterflies.
Sources:
https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/troubling-news-for-monarch-butterfly-populations
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/monarch-butterfly
https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/asclepias_syriaca.shtml
