Bees And Monarch Butterflies Dying Out--Could Have Devastating Effects On Life As It Exists!

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Monarch Butterflies Dying Fast – What It Means for Life on Earth

At one time, Monarch butterflies were one of America’s most common insects with millions upon millions making their habitat in the United State’s open plains.

In fact, at one point they were so prominent that nearly 25 million Monarch butterflies would migrate thousands of miles across North America and spend their time in Central Mexican forests where they covered nearly every visible inch for 45 square acres.

Today, they only cover 1.5 square acres.

Over the past 50 years, the decline of Monarch butterflies has been rapid and devastatingly high.

In California, the population of these animals is down 80%. And many independent studies have shown that the Monarch is nearing extinction unless something is done to alter their present population levels.

There are two reasons this is so tragic.

The first is because Monarch butterflies are one of nature’s most efficient pollinators. Many flowers and many American crops depend on the Monarch for reproduction. Without these butterflies it will become increasingly difficult to bring food to market.

The second reason isn’t just the fact these beautiful butterflies are disappearing, the problem is what their disappearance tells us about the world we’re living in.

As reported by USA Today:

“Monarchs are pollinators, which makes them important for plant reproduction. They also share habitat with small birds and animals, which feed larger birds and animals, Taylor said. Monarchs reflect ecosystem health and biodiversity.

‘Monarchs are symbolic of what’s happening on a larger scale,’ [founder and director of Monarch Watch, Chip] Taylor said. ‘You eliminate monarchs, and you eliminate everything else that shares that habitat.’”

If Monarchs disappear, it means other animals will, too. And when they begin to die off, it’s an indication that the health of planet earth is declining.

Monarch butterflies are disappearing in rapid numbers because of the increased use of herbicides and pesticides as well as the elimination of Milkweed which is the only plant the Monarch uses for reproduction.

As Milkweed is eliminated, so is the ability of the Monarch to reproduce.

The more Monarchs we lose, the more plants that we depend on for food will die off as well.

Therefore, the more plants we lose, the harder it’s going to be for humans to survive.

And so the story goes.

This is frightening for a few reasons…

For one, it shows that the same chemicals we’re using on our crops are killing the animals we depend on to pollinate these plants.

Correspondingly, it shows us just how harmful these chemicals can be to all life forms. And worse yet, it shows us how our attempt at controlling the environment is actually far more detrimental to the well-being of the planet than we could’ve ever imagined.