Monarch butterflies drop ominously in Mexico

[Judi Lynn]

Monarch butterflies drop ominously in Mexico
Associated Press
Posted on March 13, 2013 at 7:03 PM
Updated today at 7:33 PM

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The amount of Monarch butterflies wintering in Mexico dropped 59 percent this year, falling to the lowest level since comparable record-keeping began 20 years ago, scientists reported Wednesday.

It was the third straight year of declines for the orange-and-black butterflies that migrate from the United States and Canada to spend the winter in mountaintop fir forests in central Mexico. Six of the last seven years have shown drops, and there are now only one-fifteenth as many butterflies as there were in 1997.

The decline now marks a statistical long-term trend and can no longer be seen as a combination of yearly or seasonal events, the experts said.

But they differed on the possible causes.

Illegal logging in the reserve established in the Monarch wintering grounds was long thought to contribute, but such logging has been vastly reduced by increased protection, enforcement and alternative development programs in Mexico.

More:
http://www.khou.com/news/world/197876031.html

[narnian60]

1. Very sad.

Whenever I see a butterfly around my house, I silently celebrate because it is such a rare occasion.

[Warpy]

2. GM crops into which BT has been inserted

have been known to be toxic to Monarch butterflies for over a decade.

[elfin]

3. I saw very few last summer in Northern Michigan

The first year ever for that to happen.

[stuntcat]

4. oh no

#humanity #fuckup

Let them fight about the causes all they want. The cause is Humans went from 2 billion to 7 billion in half a century and we're burning up and trashing everything we can.

[lonestarnot]

5. Sadness.