Its reddish-orange wings laced with black vein like markings  and a black border around its wings dotted with white spots looks magnificient. When the wings wide open it looks like stained glass windows! Yes it is one of the magical species of our earth that is well recognized for its striking beauty and incredible natural history. It is none other than monarch butterfly.

Unfortunately North American monarchs are declining gradually and western monarchs populations now stand at less than 1% of historical levels, and eastern monarch populations range between 20­–30% .Three-quarters of British butterflies are in decline. Reasons being uncontrolled use of pesticides, herbicides and urban development leading to the decimation of their breeding habitats.

Additionally climate change has affected the overall health of monarch butterflies as well as there has been a deterioration of resting sites like trees where they rest for months during winters.

Let us take small steps locally to save this beautiful creature.

We should request our local authority, clubs or municipality to grow pollinator wildflower gardens in the parks etc.

Local farmers should be encouraged to let grow some native wild flowers alongside their farm land or ditches and no chemical spray should be sprayed on them.

Lastly milkweed is very essential for the monarch butterflies to thrive. We should plant more milkweed in our backyard or field.

Monarch butterflies are just not an important part of our biodiversity but also an important element of the food chain. They are prey for birds, bats and other insectivorous animals but it is one of the most ignored species. We need to be an environmental steward for the monarchs in order to maintain equilibrium in our eco system as they are indicators of a healthy environment and healthy ecosystems. Disappearance of these beautiful creatures is not just a loss of vivacious colors on our planet  but it also provide a wide range of environmental benefits, including pollination and natural pest control.

credit - butterfly-conservation.org, national geographic

photo credit -luriegarden.org