Monarch butterflies, or more precisely the lack of monarch butterflies, is cause for grave concern in the scientific and entomology circles that monitor them.
not winning this year
© Michel Tremblay/courtesy of Space for Life
The monarch butterfly population has been declining for 20 years, but this year’s numbers in north eastern Canada are unprecedented. Sightings have become rare events in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
Maxim Larivee, Head of Research and Collections at the Montreal Insectarium, says friends and colleagues have been looking and they’ve seen 3 or 4 where they would have seen hundreds in the past.
The severe changes in weather patterns are thought to be to blame. Last year’s summer drought in the United States made the migration back to Mexico very difficult. And this year’s cold and wet spring made the trip back north a challenge.
The smallest population ever documented in Mexico last winter
The Insectarium is part of Montreal’s Space for Life, and Maxim Larivee is encouraging people to take part in citizen science initiatives by both reporting sightings of the beautiful creatures, and by planting a ‘monarch oasis’ if possible. Such an oasis would consist of milkweed plants and nectar-producing plants.
Carmel Kilkenny spoke with Maxim Larivee, Head of Research and Collections at the Montreal Insectarium, to find out more.
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