Monarch Butterflies & Citizen Science
Monarch Butterfly (credit: Xerces Society)
Monarch butterflies migrate from Canada and the USA into Mexico where they winter in mountain conifer forests. Their mass migrations have dwindled from multiple threats: destruction of their food source, the milkweed plants their caterpillars feed upon; pesticides sprayed on agricultural fields; deforestation in their winter habitat; and general environmental abuse. The butterflies are dying from such accumulated stresses.
Monarch migration map (Monarch Watch)
Author and lecturer Mary Ellen Hannibal has an idea that could help save these famous insects: recruit citizen scientists. Hannibal suggests grassroots volunteers are already playing an important role in measuring the butterfly's population numbers. She presented her ideas at a TED conference hosted by Stanford University in Palo Alto,California.
Additional efforts you might consider or schools and community groups could do would add to the recovery of the butterflies. A list of 10 practical ways individuals and organization can help was offered by the Houston Chronicle. The newspaper noted that Texas is one of the primary states along the path that the Monarch's take during their migrations. There are many opportunities to help these valued insects along during their journey. WHB