Dr. Leong & Sheila Boone Copyright Boone Productions
Mac Sehat Photoghaper
Monarch butterfly population is still on the decline
( first reported Feb 4, 2005 )
Development, pesticides, pollution, and the decline of protective groves all
contributed to a decline in the number of migratory monarchs visiting the Central
Coast last year. This season, the trend continued, with a 10 to 20 percent drop in
numbers, according to Dr. Kingston Leong, a biologist and professor of entomology
at Cal Poly who studies the monarch butterflies.
In the last year, he said, the Central Coast has lost a few monarch habitats to development,
though he's under a court order not to say where those developments are.
" If they don't have a place to stay, it will affect them quite a bit, " he said of the
monarchs . " That's the problem on the Central Coast. We're slowly losing winter
groves. "
Before the monarchs reach the Central Coast, he explained, They develop on Milkweed
on Milkweed plants in the northern states. Development in those areas is also affecting
the population of Milkweed plants, and in turn, the numbers of adult monarchs.
Last year, infestations threatened the trees the monarchs nest in-pitch canker for the
pine trees and red gum lerp psyllid and the eucalyptus. Leong reported that the eucalyptus
trees are slowly recovering after the introduction of helpful parasites, but the pitch canker is still
as much a problem as it was before.
One year ago, local activist Sheila Boone was fighting for the monarchs through her efforts to
establish a butterfly habitat on the Central Coast; the Daniel Boone Butterfly Palace. Her main goal now
is to find a site to build the palace, despite the price and scarcity of suitable land.
In the meantime, Boone has poured energy into the Free as a Butterfly Western Monarch Awareness Program,
donating educational materials to local schools. Boone has also been successful in establishing Feb 5 as California Western Monarch
Day. The bill for the holiday passed on April 4, 2004.
Join thousands of teachers and students who are " Monarch Heroes" !
