Our prettiest pollinators are getting pushed closer to extinction. Monarch butterflies, the orange and black beauties who float from flower to flower through spring and summer, have been classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). That designation, the second most severe conservation status, is the result of years of a steep decline in the monarch butterfly population in the last 40 years.
The species that is landing on IUCN’s “red list” is specifically the migratory monarch butterfly, a subspecies of the beloved butterfly that is known for making the long journey across North America during its breeding season. That travel produces some spectacular visuals as thousands of these delicate winged insects take to the skies together. It is also great for the planet, as the butterflies spread pollen and help cultivate a healthy ecosystem.
