Description

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Context:

Over the past 40 years, the number of monarchs overwintering in Mexico has declined by as much as 80%.

About Monarch butterflies

They are one of the group of butterflies from the brush-footed butterflies family (Nymphalidae). There are about 300 species in the group, including the iconic Monarch butterfly.

Distribution:

Most species are found in both the Old and New World tropics (Old World refers to Europe, Africa, and Asia, while the New World refers to North America, South America, and the Caribbean).

However, some well-known members of the group, such as the monarch butterfly and the queen butterfly, live in temperate regions.

Features:

Large, colorful adults have long, usually brownish or orange wings marked with black and white patterns.
They fly slowly and some, such as the monarch butterfly, migrate long distances.
They feed mainly on milk and sometimes the potty.
These plants contain pungent, milky juices that probably make the larva and its subsequent stages unpalatable to predators. This, in combination with the striking coloring, protects them.

Issues:

Their population on the continent has declined by 23-72% over the last decade.
The population of eastern monarchs that migrate from the eastern United States and Canada—a larger group—also declined by 84% between 1996 and 2014.
They have a unique lifestyle as they only breed in one particular Milkweeds plant, but the removal of this plant by farmers has led to a decline in their population.
Farmers also widely use a weed killer to remove milkweed.
Weedicides are known as weed killers or pesticides that are used to kill unwanted plants
Legal and illegal logging and deforestation make way for agriculture and urban development, causing habitat destruction.
Frequent storms and drought are intensifying and disrupting flowering cycles, leading to the killing of millions of butterflies.

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MONARCH BUTTERFLY

Source:

Down To Earth

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements regarding Monarch butterflies:

Monarch butterflies primarily breed on various milkweed plants which contain milky, toxic substances that deter predators.
Their population decline in Mexico is largely due to habitat destruction caused by deforestation and illegal logging.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: a

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Monarch butterflies primarily breed on various milkweed plants which contain milky, toxic substances that deter predators.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The population decline of Monarch butterflies is not solely due to habitat destruction caused by deforestation and illegal logging. Other factors like pesticide use and climate change also contribute.