Admiring Monarch butterflies during the Fall in Texas should be easy to do.
The butterflies are in the fall migration – leaving the northern United States and Canada and flying south to Mexico.
Along the way, they search for food and shelter, but over the last several decades, that has become increasingly hard to find, harming the population.
The Monarch Butterflies thrive in prairies and grassy areas with abundant milkweed and flowers. With the lack of these habitats, the monarch and other pollinators, such as bees, have declined.
The National Wildlife Federation reports a 90% decrease. A study is underway to determine if the monarchs will be placed on the engaged species list.
Their decreasing population has implications for anyone who enjoys food. These small insects play a crucial role in pollinating fruits like blueberries, strawberries, and peaches.
In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that one out of three bites of food eaten is because of pollinators like butterflies.
Their decline could have a significant impact on food growth.
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Here’s what we can do to help monarch butterflies thrive:
- Plant milkweed that helps during hatching season
- Add plants and flowers to the garden
- Avoid using chemicals like pesticides in your garden.
Send us photos on Click2Pins of any Monarch Butterflies you see around the Houston area!
