Midwest Mary

On the Edge of Extinction

Monarch royalty
a realm threatened to expire
for human “progress”

Butterflies are some of the most beautiful wings of summer, and the wings of those butterflies are currently on their way to warmer climates.

We don’t have to be a lepidopterist, an entomologist specializing in the study of butterflies and moths, to recognize a monarch butterfly. Most of us claim this once common insect as our favorite. Like stained glass, the bright orange and yellow splashes are outlined in black, as are the white spots along the edges of their wings.

Monarchs’ exquisite design serves more than to offer us a sweet creature to observe fluttering in our gardens. The colors and design on the wings are actually vital to survival. For example, the orange and black colors attract mates, and yet, these colors also warn predators that monarchs are poisonous. In addition, the design offers camouflage in some environments.

Researchers believe that the white spots on these butterflies’ wings may interact with sunlight, resulting in subtle temperature differences that can alter airflow and ease their long-distance flight. The larger the spots, the more likely the butterflies are to reach Mexico.

We have more than 20,000 diverse species of butterflies alive today, and all descended from a single moth species. More than 20 of these butterflies and moths are endangered.

Monarchs are one of these butterflies that are threatened to become extinct in the near future. The Western population of monarch butterflies, which migrates to California, has declined by 90%. The eastern population, which migrates to Mexico has declined by 59% since the 1980s.

Land development, pesticides, and the lack of milkweed threaten their existence. If we want these signature butterflies, we must offer them the only plant their caterpillars feed on and a welcoming, healthy environment.

For more information on monarch butterflies, go to the Monarch Waystation Program, Learn About Nature, Save Our Monarchs, and White Spots on Monarchs. To watch the monarch’s life cycle, check this video.

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Looking for a gift for a hostess, friend celebrating a birthday, or someone who is sick? Bring that special person the uplifting book, Tranquility Transformation Transcendence. The Enchanting Gifts of Public Gardens.

©Mary K. Doyle, 2025