BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE

The Wonder Dog and I were sitting on our porch at the farm yesterday enjoying another amazing Texas sunset when a Monarch butterfly drifted by.  A few minutes later another did the same and I realized that the annual fall Monarch southern migration had reached North Texas.  Over the last few years I’ve also noticed that there are far fewer in the migration than there used to be.  More on that in a moment.

The Monarch butterfly is a remarkable animal.  First of all it is a migratory insect.  While not unheard of this trait is rare in the insect world. But what makes the Monarch truly unique is that its migrations are multi-generational. Each spring the eastern population of Monarchs explodes out of central Mexico where they have overwintered in the millions.  The first adults travel as far as northern Mexico and Texas before mating, laying eggs, and dying. It takes two subsequent generations, each living between 4-6 weeks, to complete the journey to Southern Canada. Think of what this means.  Each generation is born with the knowledge of where they are in the cycle, and the need and ability to continue north, encoded in their DNA. Unlike the first three, the fourth generation lives between 4-6 months and completes the journey from Canada back to Mexico on its own.

The Monarch butterfly is completely dependent on the Milkweed plant to make its journey. They only lay eggs, and the larvae only consume, leaves of the Milkweed.  And herein lies the problem. Entomologists estimate that the population of Monarchs has dropped over 90% since 1995.  It is no coincidence that this decline corresponds to the introduction of glyphosate (Roundup) resistant GMO crops in North America. The widespread cultivation of “Roundup Ready” crops has virtually eliminated the Milkweed plant from the American plains as farmers spray their crops to maximize yield. The Midwest has become a massive food desert barring the Monarch from its journey north. The second generation arrives in the Midwest only to be confronted with millions of acres devoid of suitable habitat. The generation subsequently dies and the northward migration ends. For those that do make it, suitable nectar-producing wildflowers are needed to complete the return journey south.

Our agricultural practices have hit the Monarch where they are most vulnerable; their dependence on a single plant to complete their life cycle. Depending on your perspective this dependence is either evidence of the co-evolution of plant and animal or the hand of God. Either way we, as humans, have brought another species to the brink of extinction for no other reason than increased efficiency. To the theists I would ask, were we not called to be stewards of God’s creation, even the lowly butterfly? To the secularists I would ask, do we have the wisdom to remove yet another strand from the web of life of which we understand virtually nothing?

While we ponder the larger question of the use of GMO crops there are things you can do to help. First, be careful how you use herbicides around your yard.  If you see a Milkweed plant in the spring leave it alone! You might be treated to a Monarch chrysalis. Also, think about planting a butterfly garden full of brightly colored, nectar-producing plants for the Monarchs to feed on during their southward journey. Who knows, you may be treated to regular visits by hummingbirds as they migrate through your area as well.

Finally, consider your responsibility to the rest of the creation that we are part of.