Is it me or are'nt there alot of monarch butterflies around?

Question

I know its nearly winter and the season is not in anymore

But even in summer there are not alot of them around.

I Love these butterflies i look after them I have made 18 hatch this summer and all were successfull.

I just think that global warming and the change of weather is destroying their exsistence. Is this true?

Answer 1

I totally agree.

There used to be heaps around when i was younger, and now i only see, maybe....one once a year. That's shocking.

I think it is global warming that's affecting them.

Answer 2

I didn't see anything to indicate that a serious problem was afoot.  But given that this species migrates, it is imperative that habitat is provided at both ends of their journey.  Loss of habitat or of the milkweed they depend on would dramatically impact the species in either range.

Answer 3

I noticed what appeared to be an unusualy low population of monarchs when I visited Natural Bridges State Beach last Fall.

Study Predicts Loss Of Monarch Winter Refuges

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/200...

All current climate models predict more storms in places where monarchs spend the winter, said Oberhauser. When the already cool Mexican forests become wetter during the overwintering period, the increased moisture will result in more frequent storms, pushing the climate outside the range of conditions necessary for monarchs to live.

"The conditions that monarchs need to survive the winter are not predicted to exist anywhere near the present overwintering sites," said Oberhauser. "The temperatures won't change much, but the combination of coolness and increased rain will hurt."

Emory Study Finds Monarch Health Tied To Migration

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/200...

"...monarch migration in eastern North America is threatened by several environment factors such as habitat loss at wintering sites, climate warming trends and an increase of tropical milkweed species in milder climates. "

Answer 4

That is probably one of the reasons. I was disappointed last year when in Pacific Grove , Ca. The migration numbers seemed very low.

Answer 5

I think it had to do with their migration points being colder this past year. They thrive in warm weather that's why they migrate from the Northern hemisphere to the Southern hemishpere and vice versa.

Answer 6

From www.ivyhall.district96:

"The largest threat to the monarch butterfly is human activities within their wintering grounds. While widespread on their summering grounds, the butterflies are highly concentrated and vulnerable to threats in wintering areas. Habitat destruction and changes caused by logging are a constant threat. The Sierra Madre wintering sites of the monarch are close to Mexico City in an area under heavy development pressure. Since 1986, several of the sites occupied by the overwintering monarch butterfly have been protected by the Mexican government, but even though they are supposed to be protected, some forested areas have been logged. Of the five protected areas, one has already been seriously damaged by excessive logging, and the monarchs do not seem to form their colonies there any more.

In California, where many western monarchs overwinter, the effects of tourism and poorly planned management and development are a problem, and at least seven of the 80 known monarch sites have already been destroyed. Milkweed is widespread and abundant in Canada and the United States, and is often considered a weed. Some researchers have expressed concern that the spraying of pesticides for weed control are killing milkweed plants and may be endangering the habitat and food source of the beautiful monarch butterfly."

Answer 7

i think that it's too cold for the butterflies to migrate back to USA due to global warming