Monarch Butterflies, 59% down in 2024

After visiting the Monarch butterflies in the high mountains of Mexico in 2023 I often reflect on what was an amazing experience that really left it’s mark on me. A true spectacle, and while threats have been reported for some years it did appear that the Monarch numbers had stabilised at sustainable numbers. The lowest numbers on record (back in 2016) were hopefully history.

So it was with concern that I heard from friends I made in the area and then reported in the national press that numbers were 59% down on the previous year and the 2nd lowest numbers on record.

For some time the concern of illegal deforestation drew attention, while not irradicated this is now reported as much less impactful and damage to the forests is being addressed by the local community. The bigger issue appears to be the impact of commercial farming. The reason this impacts the Monarchs so badly is that Monarchs only lay eggs and breed using the milkweed plant, it is this plant that gives the monarch their natural toxicity and protection from most predators. Milkweed is seed as a weed and has been systematically removed from the landscape of arable farming in the US. The de-naturing of the environment has meant the butterflies have nowhere to breed.

The continuation of the ‘milkweed issue’ coupled with unseasonably warm weather is to blame for this years drop in numbers.

Given a chance, nature has a way of bouncing back, so it is with hope that returning numbers in late 2024 return to more optimistic numbers.