The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced their intention to list the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Following a comment period and evaluation of additional information, a final decision will be issued. If listed, protections will only go into place after the final rule is published, about a year from now.
The monarch is no stranger to conservation efforts. They have experienced extreme population declines and the world has taken notice. The last decade has seen millions of people and numerous agencies help by planting milkweed, reducing pesticides and protecting overwintering sites.
Unfortunately, monarchs are still declining and at high risk of extinction in a few decades. Thus, USFWS has decided that they would benefit from additional protections.
The Garden will continue its efforts to study and conserve monarchs, and we will continue to help you conserve them too. One of the biggest threats to monarchs is the loss of habitat, mainly the plants on which they rely. Monarchs lay eggs on milkweed, and it is the only plant their caterpillars can eat. Migrating and adult monarchs need flowering plants that provide nectar. Everyone can help conserve monarch butterflies. This does not change with the proposed listing!
The Garden grows thousands of native milkweeds every year to support all types of habitat projects around the state. You can find our milkweeds now at the Garden Shop.
We will also continue to study monarchs, this year with the support of Arizona Lottery Gives Back which uses ticket sales to fund conservation work in the state. Our partnership supports research projects to explore how monarchs utilize different milkweed species, how they are impacted by our changing climate, and the unique timing and behaviors of monarchs in Arizona. To better understand these iconic insects and how to protect them, we could use your help! Explore our Desert Refuge program to help us track monarchs and milkweed at your home and in your community.
The Garden’s monarch and pollinator conservation work is supported by Arizona Lottery Gives Back, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arthur L. and Elaine V. Johnson Foundation, Monarch Joint Venture with U.S. Forest Service International Programs, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services Museums for America program.
Endangered Species Act protection proposed for monarch butterflies: What can you do?
