Barry Law Environmental and Earth Law Journal

In elementary school, I was taken back by the beauty of butterflies, specifically the monarch butterfly that my teacher, Mrs. Luman, used to teach us about the process of metamorphosis. Twenty years later, I am still just as amazed when I cross paths with the vibrant orange beauties who are bordered with white spots and black lines. The monarch butterfly is a friendly species with distinct markings, making it hard for one to miss. [1] The monarch butterfly once called both North and South America its home, but is now reported to only be found in North America, where it is split into two categories depending on where the monarch migrates: the western and eastern monarchs. [2] Monarchs are known to travel anywhere that they can find warmth, such as Portugal, Spain, Australia, or New Zealand. [3]  Monarch butterflies typically lay their eggs on milkweed plants, the same plants that act as the main source of food for both the monarch butterfly and the sole source of food for the caterpillar that it starts its life as. [4]

In 1997, western monarchs had a population of 1.2 million—by 2014, their population was below 2,000. [5] As a result, in 2014, the monarch butterfly was petitioned to the United States government to be added to the listed species protected under the Endangered Species Act, which prompted a study to be conducted. [6]  The United States Fish and Wildlife Service found that factors such as pesticides and the loss of their winter habitats have contributed to the decline in monarch butterfly populations. [7]

The increased use of pesticides to systematically kill the milkweed plants—the very milkweed that is essential to monarch’s existence—and the use of genetically modified crops hurt the monarch’s chances of survival. [8] Without milkweed plants, the monarchs are left without their main food source, and without a habitat to lay their eggs. This decrease in access to milkweed, coupled with the deforestation of the warm habitats such as California and Mexico that attract monarchs, brings no surprise that their populations are decreasing. [9] In the United States, milkweed has decreased by twenty-one percent from 1995 to 2013. [10]

But why does it matter if the monarch butterfly’s population continues to decrease, or even becomes extinct? Monarchs are pollinators, which means that they help to keep our planet healthy by drinking the nectar of flowers and transporting the grains of pollen from male flowers to their female counterparts. [11] Depending on if a monarch butterfly emerges from its cocoon in spring or winter will impact what the butterfly will do—either begin the process of laying eggs within days, or begin their migration towards warmer climates. [12] The monarchs who emerge at the end of summer or early fall will migrate south towards warmth, sometimes traveling up to 3,000 miles. [13] During this migration, which has been referred to as “the most spectacular [migration] in the insect word,” monarchs will unintentionally act as pollinators to the plants they encounter across their entire 3,000 mile journey. [14]

The impact that monarchs are feeling from the increased use of pesticides, and the decrease in accessibility to warm habitats does not end at the monarch. [15] Pollinators of all sizes feel the impact, and humans too will soon feel the impact if an ecosystem collapse occurs. [16] Insect-based pollinators help to pollinate nearly 75% of the world’s crops, and monarchs specifically help to pollinate apples, chocolate, and coffee for our consumption. [17]

The rapid decline in the monarch’s population warrants protection so that future generations of monarchs can continue to pollinate across their 3,000 mile migration, and so our future generations can marvel at the beauty and intricacy that is the monarch butterfly. Yet somehow every year the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has indicated that while the monarch butterfly is a candidate for the status of being endangered or threatened, the monarch is precluded by nine species with higher priority. [18] But just because the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has not protected the monarchs, does not mean that they are hopeless! You can help your local monarchs by looking into conservation groups in your area. You can help keep your local milkweed plant supplies up by planting milkweed according to your region. [19] The monarch butterfly will be reviewed every year, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has indicated that if by 2024 the monarch still warrants being added to the endangered species list that is protected by the Endangered Species Act, that the agency will step up and propose doing so then. [20]