ST. LOUIS — September is here and that means monarch butterflies begin their remarkable migration through Missouri, heading towards their winter homes in Mexico.
This year, the peak in monarch numbers seems to be occurring later than usual in many Midwestern states. While some monarchs have already begun their southward journey, many observers are still seeing eggs and caterpillars, even in northern areas. While the sight of these migrating butterflies is still common, continued habitat loss threatens the future of this natural phenomenon.
Monarch butterflies are currently considered a vulnerable species. This status, updated in December 2023, reflects ongoing concerns about their population. While not as severe as their previous “endangered” classification, the change doesn’t indicate an improvement in monarch numbers. Instead, it results from a different method of assessing their population over the past decade.
Eastern North American monarchs travel south from Canada to central Mexico each year. They fly during daylight hours and rest at night, often choosing pine, fir, and cedar trees for their evening stops. These trees provide suitable shelter from the elements.
The full article is available at ozarksfirst.com.
(Story by Joe Millitzer, ozarksfirst.com)
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