Why Are Monarch Butterflies Important?
Well monarch butterflies are pollinators. Pollinators are very important to our agricultural society. As bees decline in numbers, other pollinators become extremely important. This is because bees account for 1/3 of our crop pollination. Since we are losing bees at an alarming rate, other insects like the monarch will be more important. This isn’t all they are worth though. Monarchs provide food for other creatures, such as birds, small animals, and other insects.
Can’t We Just Use Other Insects?
Good question, but the answer is no. See, monarchs are like a proverbial canary in the coal mine. They are losing habitats to reside in and therefore are dying, but they also live with other pollinators too. Since the monarch has no home, no other pollinator does too and so they are an alarming sign that we could be in big trouble. When one species dies off, it sets off a chain of events in motion that have very far reaching consequences. We must look into those before we damn a species to extinction.
So What Can I Do?
You can go take a look at our “Get Involved in B/CS!” page or “Educator Resources” to find some ideas on how you can get involved and help save the monarch butterfly and other pollinators!
If you’d like to read more on the importance of monarchs, click on the links below: