WKEI AM 1450 recently issued the following announcement.
Butterfly migration biggest since 2006-07, representing a huge rebound from recent lows.
Monarch butterflies roost in a McDonough County maple tree in September. The insects roost overnight in trees to stay out of the wind. (Photo courtesy of Colby Hunt, FarmWeekNow Crop Watcher 2.0)
Monarch butterflies roost in a McDonough County maple tree in September. The insects roost overnight in trees to stay out of the wind. (Photo courtesy of Colby Hunt, FarmWeekNow Crop Watcher 2.0)
Experts report a 144 percent increase in the population of monarch butterflies wintering in central Mexico compared to last year, according to the Associated Press.
The butterflies are occupying 14.95 acres in the mountains of Michoacan and Mexico states, according to the Mexican government. That's a 6.12-acre increase from a year ago.
In September, Greg Spyreas of the Illinois Natural History Survey told FarmWeek 2018 was good for monarchs. “Driving around Illinois, there are huge numbers (of migrating monarchs),” Spyreas said at the time.
Millions of monarchs migrate from the United States and Canada each year to forests west of the Mexican capital. Their population is measured by how much surface area they cover.
Wednesday's report said this year's is the biggest measurement since 2006-07. A low of just 1.66 acres was recorded in 2013-14.
“We are pleased to see that population numbers have increased this year,” said Lyndsey Ramsey, Illinois Farm Bureau associate director of natural and environmental resources. “While there are many factors that influence the number of monarchs that make it to Mexico over the winter, farmers are doing their part to protect monarchs during their time in Illinois and give them the best chance of success during their migration. That includes creating habitat on the farm and encouraging milkweed and other wildflowers to flourish.”
Original source can be found here.
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