America Lost 22% of Its Butterflies Within Two Decades (cbsnews.com) 38
Butterflies "are vanishing from U.S. landscapes at an alarming rate," reports CBS News:
A comprehensive study, published Thursday in the journal Science, found that 22% of butterflies in the United States disappeared between 2000 and 2020... The researchers behind the Science study used data from more than 12.6 million butterflies spanning 342 individual species, drawing from 76,000 surveys across 35 nationwide monitoring programs. Funded by the U.S. Geological Survey, the study was the first to integrate such a vast dataset, its authors said.
The findings revealed that 33% of butterfly species have experienced significant population declines over the past two decades, with 107 out of the 342 species examined losing more than half of their population — including 22 species that declined by more than 90%. Meanwhile, only 3% of species showed population increases...
Ultimately, the butterfly decline is part of a larger global trend of insect population loss, with insects declining by about 1-2% annually, the study's authors said. Butterflies play an essential role in ecosystems, pollinating flowers, crops, and other plants. Their decline could have far-reaching impacts on plant reproduction and the health of ecosystems.
Just three months ago the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said America's western migratory populations of monarch butterflies had declined by more than 95% since the 1980s, putting them "at greater than 99% chance of extinction by 2080." (America's eastern migratory population were estimated to have declined by approximately 80%.)
This latest study found that one factor is climate change, according to CBS News, which reduces food sources, disrupts breeding cycles and increases habitat stress. (Another factor is pesticide use, which fortunately can be adjusted with various policy interventions and farming practices.)
And one of the study's co-authors tells CBS News that "the things we do in our own backyards actually make a difference." They recommend allowing backyard to "grow wild" with native plants (and reducing pesticide use) — even creating "habitat spaces" for insects like small piles of brush. "Even simple actions — like leaving a strip of wildflowers or planting species that support pollinators — can provide crucial resources for butterflies and other insects."
The findings revealed that 33% of butterfly species have experienced significant population declines over the past two decades, with 107 out of the 342 species examined losing more than half of their population — including 22 species that declined by more than 90%. Meanwhile, only 3% of species showed population increases...
Ultimately, the butterfly decline is part of a larger global trend of insect population loss, with insects declining by about 1-2% annually, the study's authors said. Butterflies play an essential role in ecosystems, pollinating flowers, crops, and other plants. Their decline could have far-reaching impacts on plant reproduction and the health of ecosystems.
Just three months ago the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said America's western migratory populations of monarch butterflies had declined by more than 95% since the 1980s, putting them "at greater than 99% chance of extinction by 2080." (America's eastern migratory population were estimated to have declined by approximately 80%.)
This latest study found that one factor is climate change, according to CBS News, which reduces food sources, disrupts breeding cycles and increases habitat stress. (Another factor is pesticide use, which fortunately can be adjusted with various policy interventions and farming practices.)
And one of the study's co-authors tells CBS News that "the things we do in our own backyards actually make a difference." They recommend allowing backyard to "grow wild" with native plants (and reducing pesticide use) — even creating "habitat spaces" for insects like small piles of brush. "Even simple actions — like leaving a strip of wildflowers or planting species that support pollinators — can provide crucial resources for butterflies and other insects."
So (Score:2)
Who's going to deflect that hurricane now?
Re: (Score:3)
They don't deflect hurricanes. They CREATE THEM! They've been killing us all along! It's a secret war, I tell you!
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Eco agit prop
Here's some more sweetness for you to enjoy
either plant flowers or let weeds grow-who cares? (Score:5, Insightful)
Eco agit prop
Why are you offended people are asking you to plant flowers or let some of your yard go wild? Who gives a shit? If you're lazy, just don't mow a spot. If you're a cunt who demands a meticulous lawn, plants some flowers. There are tons of no/low-maintenance perennials that look good and are a feast for butterflies.
Stop the anti-science contrarian bullshit...or is this a conspiracy from "big home improvement" to get you to plant some shit? You get some pretty flowers and pretty butterflies.
For the non-incels, flowers are beloved by wives and daughters and butterflies are beloved even more. In my household, it's something my little girl loves.
The only thing "agit" is your bullshit...which ironically if were literal shit, would nicely fertilize some flowers for your yard and your local butterflies. Make Your Yard Great Again...you fucking clod.
Re:either plant flowers or let weeds grow-who care (Score:4)
Why are you offended people are asking you to plant flowers or let some of your yard go wild? Who gives a shit?
It could be a problem in neighborhoods with a nosey HOA. In some communities you're obligated to maintain your yard to a specific standard whether you like it or not. Plus, a lot of people who don't have the time to deal with keeping up with yard work will hire a company to do it for them. Good luck getting the lawn company's workers to remember that you actually want part of your yard to be a sanctuary for bugs.
Personally, I live in one of those neighborhoods with an obnoxious HOA, for lack of other affordable options. Can't do anything except thoughts and prayers for the declining butterfly population.
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
milkweed can grow pretty well in a pot and its got the name "weed" in it for a reason, they're actually pretty hardy with a moderately deep pot and some sandy soil
i only have 3 plants and i have "raised" half a dozen generations of monarchs at this point, probably about 50-60 individuals.
if anyone has even just a sunny patio give it a try, it's like a middle school science experiment
Flowers are an option (Score:2)
It could be a problem in neighborhoods with a nosey HOA. In some communities you're obligated to maintain your yard to a specific standard whether you like it or not. Plus, a lot of people who don't have the time to deal with keeping up with yard work will hire a company to do it for them. Good luck getting the lawn company's workers to remember that you actually want part of your yard to be a sanctuary for bugs.
Personally, I live in one of those neighborhoods with an obnoxious HOA, for lack of other affordable options. Can't do anything except thoughts and prayers for the declining butterfly population.
All HOAs allow flowers and there are dozens of popular varieties for even the shittiest climates that are "set and forget". While they require cold-strafing butterfly flowers, or milkweed, produce some very beautiful flowers and in most climates are low-maintenance perennials. Hydrangeas are also popular. Marigolds and morning glories are annuals, but weeds as well. My cold city is not a great climate for butterflies, but we've gotten quite a few..as well as bumble bees in a very tiny flowergarden with
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In most HOA's you can grow most anything you want in your fenced backyard as long as it isn't a visible eyesore from the street. And even in the front yard you can have a flowerbed of butterfly-friendly plants, might require approval.
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Personally, I live in one of those neighborhoods with an obnoxious HOA, for lack of other affordable options. Can't do anything except thoughts and prayers for the declining butterfly population.
My condolences. Here in Canada HOAs aren't nearly as common as in the US, and as far as I can tell ours are nowhere near as powerful. My wife and I actually belong to an HOA, and while it's occasionally annoying it's not overly intrusive. But I can definitely see the potential for tin-pot dictators with no lives of their own to make life hell for their neighbours.
I see lots of YouTube horror stories about US HOAs. Many of them have a strongly fictional vibe; when a phenomenon becomes its own revenge-fiction
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https://www.nrdc.org/bio/danie... [nrdc.org]
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Even if it's true that today, in 2025 the bees are doing better does not mean a crisis never existed?
By that logic the ozone hole was just "eco agit prop" since it's not there now. Oh the past 3 decades where the entire world agreed to take measure to help mitigate it? "Black hole in time my friends, nothing happened there therefore because i need to propagandize and that's inconvenient"
Maybe if the bees are doing better it could be because the crisis pushed people to improve practices and undergo more con
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By that logic the ozone hole was just "eco agit prop" since it's not there now.
Actually it is there now, and has likely been a thing for a long, long time. How much is natural and how much is man-made is debateable, but I think it is understood now that at least part of it is the former.
https://www.dw.com/en/large-oz... [dw.com]
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Ok, I agree, the hole is still there. Does that adjustment make the honeybee problem "agit prop" IE "made up" or the Montreal Protocol ineffective or that the ozone hole was never a problem to begin with?
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Also just to be clear I was wrong to say it was gone, it would be more accurate to say reduced in size, I just want to make that clear, it's important to acknowledge I said something not true.
Re: Just like the Honey Bee problem (Score:2)
It's kind of interesting that if bees are actually doing better, they are doing so in spite of climate change
If that is the case, then the bees are improving because of interventions irrelevant to climate change.
This indicates a couple of things. That there may be other factors not related to climate change that are more injurous (like pesticide use, loss of habitat, or predators) that might negatively affect an insect population more substantially and directly. And that even in the face of climate change i
Re: Just like the Honey Bee problem (Score:1)
How are you posting from 1965?!
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Let those illegal loser butterflies stay in Mexico!
Maybe ... (Score:1)
They're just resting. :-)
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Well, he's...he's, ah...probably pining for the fjords.
Can't let the yard go wild. (Score:1)
There are guidelines on how much (potentially, while it's still alive, and actually after it dies) flammable material you are supposed to have around your house here in the western half of the country -- and that basically is "none". Sorry, what they're asking for is in direct contradiction to what the fire services are (rightfully) demanding of us. Most of us in the suburbs simply can't set up a wildlife sanctuary in our yards. A large part of the habitat loss is probably down to us changing our surroundin
Re: Can't let the yard go wild. (Score:2)
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No HOA would really complain about a butterfly garden. Unless, as GP suggested, your garden became a fire risk.
The problem is real, but (Score:5, Insightful)
https://agracel.com/113-just-h... [agracel.com]
I consider myself an environmentalist, but green types are prone to exhibiting this type of childish, naive thinking. They desperately want to make a difference, so they look for “things I can do to help”. Put up a flowerbed to help the butterflies. Buy an efficient car to help global warming. Anything to make myself feel better about the problems.
As far as psychology goes, it’s effective. Basically a form of therapy. That sort of stuff is also good for educating kids as to the importance of the world around them. All good. But, as solutions to the real problems they’re utterly meaningless.
No amount of voluntary individual action is gonna help the butterflies, or any endangered species, or global warming, or anything like that. You know what would? Laws that prevent the use of the worst pesticides, laws that establish large protected wildlife refuges, mandate changes in agricultural practices, accellerate changes to how we get energy and do agriculture, mining, manufacturing, heavy industry, etc. etc. But these are hard and actually cost money. Sooooo much easier to leave a small pile of brush in your backyard and feel good about yourself.
If my whole neighborhood is on fire, I don’t grab a bucket of water from the nearest creek, toss it into the inferno and mutter “at least I’m doing something”. That’s stupid. I call 911 and move my car out of the street so the fire trucks can get there ASAP. Many problems are simply too big for individual action.
So I think most of us are old enough (Score:4, Insightful)
These are things you're not really supposed to think about. Go back to sleep. Isn't the new Ford SUV amazing?
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https://www.wdsu.com/article/l... [wdsu.com]
You mean those bugs?
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
It is also known as the honeymoon fly or double-headed bug. During and after mating, matured pairs remain together, even in flight, for up to several days.[3]
Easy to spot if your partner cheats on you that way I guess...
Milkweed (Score:2)
Over the past couple of years at least, I've noticed our local Extension office (part of the state's Agriculture department) asking people to collect milkweed pods (and thus seeds) because monarch butterflies pupate on milkweed plants. As someone who grew up in rural America, it seemed like in the 70s farmers would have loved to kill all milkweed, so that's a bit of a change for them.
Re: Milkweed (Score:2)
Large scale farming with monoculture crops is a considerable factor. A farm today is basically depending on just a single crop or animal in a large scale operation. This cuts down a lot of the habitats for insects like butterflies.
Farms also use pesticides to get rid of weed and unwanted bugs so the loss of butterflies and bees is just a collateral damage.
Versus everything else? (Score:2)
A number in a vacuum doesn't explain much.
Butterfly environments... did those expand or shrink in quantity and/or area?
What eat them? What do they eat? Do they provide much utility in the ecosystem (I can't remember anymore)? Etc
All your butterfly are belling to us (Score:1)
22%? (Score:2)
Confounding variables (Score:1)
Electromagnetic navigation? EMF bacterial changes? Pesticides? Other pollution? Climate change?
What test design can isolate these confounding variables?
Butterflies are not RoundUp-Ready (Score:2)
I hope they have good lawyers for a class action suit though.