In Mexico, the population of monarch butterflies, which are under threat of extinction, has decreased

The population of rare monarch butterflies wintering in Mexican forests has decreased to the second-lowest level in history. This information comes from data published by the Commission for the Protection of Natural Areas of Mexico and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), based in Switzerland.

The annual study reveals that this butterfly species was observed on only 2.2 acres (0.9 hectares) of forest across several Mexican states. In the 1990s, monarch butterflies could be found in 45 hectares of the same forests, as reported by ThePrint.

Thus, data for 2023-2024 show a 60% decline in the butterfly population compared to previous years. Biologists suggest that this decline may be linked to warming temperatures in insect breeding grounds, particularly in the northwestern United States, including Washington, Oregon, and California. Climate change is reducing the availability of milkweed, the plant essential for butterfly reproduction and caterpillar feeding.

However, the population of this butterfly species exhibits fluctuations over time. A 2021 study found a 35% increase in the monarch butterfly population, covering an area of about 7 acres.