photo credit: monarch-butterfly.com

The Monarch Butterfly—how magnificent! For such a small and almost weightless creature, the Monarch Butterfly has tremendous energy and endurance. Year after year, they travel about 1,000 miles from North America to the same forest in Mexico. The different generations have varying life spans, and no single butterfly lives to make the full round-trip.

According to Greenpeace, in 2014 for the first time the butterflies did not return to parts of the their forest homes, which have decreased from 45 acres to 1.65 acres. Their populations have declined by nearly 90%. Researchers are suggesting that this decline results from the increased spraying of “Roundup,” on farmlands. This herbicide kills all plants including the milkweed, the only plant that Monarch Butterflies lay their eggs on, and one that Monarch caterpillars rely on for food. As a result, Monarch butterflies must travel greater distances and use more energy to lay their eggs, which depletes their body fat and results in fewer eggs…

Click here for more on action steps to take to help the beautiful Monarch Butterfly.