The monarch butterfly is one of the most well-known pollinators in North America, found from Canada to Mexico. It is also in danger of disappearing.
Monarch overwintering sites in Mexico and California have seen numbers decline for years, this past winter more sharply than ever. In fact, sites along the California coast recorded up to a 99% decline during the 2018-2019 season. Reasons for the decline include neonic pesticides, deforestation, and fewer milkweeds, the plant that monarch caterpillars depend on.
I spent this summer hunting around my area for both adults and caterpillars, and finally came away with some photos. These are included in the article I just published, along with research into how to help monarchs. I’m also excited to try out Medium as a publishing platform. Come check it out and leave a comment!
https://medium.com/@jessicamyscofski/vanishing-royalty-monarchs-and-milkweed-9a2e9e94ff0a
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