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Monarch butterfly populations in U.S. west are down an order of magnitude

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Re: Monarch butterfly populations in U.S. west are down an order of magnitude

#11
post #9

If the pesticides were banned, how fast would their population be replenished? Or do they persist, akin to CFCs?

>This year’s steep drop is probably due to extreme weather, at least partly resulting from climate change. Late rainstorms in March, as well as an intense, extended wildfire season across California, have battered the species. The state’s forests have yet to recover from the record-breaking drought stretching from 2011 to 2017.

Re: Monarch butterfly populations in U.S. west are down an order of magnitude

#12

This seems like part of the insect apocalypse story, and bee colony collapse disorder. All probably caused by overuse of insecticides. Note that if we don't find a way to correct this, it can be catastrophic on a timescale that makes the most alarmist climate change predictions seem like nothing. There must be some percentage of normal insect population density below which population of frogs and birds and what not w…

You're assuming that's just due to insecticides. Insects are exposed to multiple stressors. One of them also happens to be global warming. Others are habitat loss, insecticides, invasive species, etc.

In fact the researchers measuring the loss of insect biomass in puerto rico rainforests attributed it primarily to climate change since the other factors do not apply there.

Re: Monarch butterfly populations in U.S. west are down an order of magnitude

#13

This seems like part of the insect apocalypse story, and bee colony collapse disorder. All probably caused by overuse of insecticides. Note that if we don't find a way to correct this, it can be catastrophic on a timescale that makes the most alarmist climate change predictions seem like nothing. There must be some percentage of normal insect population density below which population of frogs and birds and what not w…

> This seems like part of the insect apocalypse story...

For those who aren’t aware what they’re referring to by insect apocalypse, a story came out a few days ago about some seemingly very important insect research:

NYTimes: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/27/magazine/insect-apocalyps...

HN Discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18541536

Re: Monarch butterfly populations in U.S. west are down an order of magnitude

#15

Any news about the pesticides killing off bees and butterflies? Have any been banned yet?

The main neonicotinoids were banned in the EU in 2018. (Partial restrictions were put in place in 2013.) [1] In the US, there's been basically no action. (The Fish and Wildlife Service has reversed an Obama-era ban on their use in wildlife refuges.)

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neonicotinoid

Re: Monarch butterfly populations in U.S. west are down an order of magnitude

#17
post #4

I planted milkweed in my front yard. These plants don't come cheap, between 10-20$ at the nursery for a young plant. I never was able to grow them from seed. Anyways, the plants did attract a few monarchs late summer/early fall. I counted two. I planted nine total. I got a code violation warning last month for not mowing my front yard and having overgrown "landscape weeds".

You have inspired me, thank you. Thanks to your inspiration, I'll be planting as many milkweed plants as I think will grow here, in addition to my usual off-grid food planting. Little by little, I am nursing this overgrazed plot into a complex microcosm.

The plot is in a major migration route and this is the first year I'll be actively be supporting Monarchs, other than planting my usual garden herbs. They seem to like carrots and parsley. You have inspired me, thank you, trgn.

Re: Monarch butterfly populations in U.S. west are down an order of magnitude

#18
post #4

I planted milkweed in my front yard. These plants don't come cheap, between 10-20$ at the nursery for a young plant. I never was able to grow them from seed. Anyways, the plants did attract a few monarchs late summer/early fall. I counted two. I planted nine total. I got a code violation warning last month for not mowing my front yard and having overgrown "landscape weeds".

I planted milkweed seed about 3 years ago. Had my first plant that sprouted and survived in the spot I planted just this past summer. Give it some time, you never know. Some seeds have to go through a freeze/thaw cycle or two to sprout properly.

Thanks, I didn't know that. I'll stick with it and try again.

Re: Monarch butterfly populations in U.S. west are down an order of magnitude

#19

This seems like part of the insect apocalypse story, and bee colony collapse disorder. All probably caused by overuse of insecticides. Note that if we don't find a way to correct this, it can be catastrophic on a timescale that makes the most alarmist climate change predictions seem like nothing. There must be some percentage of normal insect population density below which population of frogs and birds and what not w…

I have a bad feeling that the "insect apocalypse" will spare cockroaches, fire ants, Asian stink bugs, etc, etc.
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