Monarch Butterfly Research Report

Mariajose Bazan-Barreda, Josh Hakman, Alexis Tepe

The Design Problem 

The problem that our group is addressing is the habitat loss of the monarch butterflies. These butterflies are going extinct mainly because of the lack of milkweed plants in the forests where they usually live. Milkweed is the host plant for the larvae and the only plant that monarchs use for their nectar. The Western monarch butterflies migrate from Canada and settle in the California Central coast. Due to the local impact, we decided it would be a good animal to focus on. The main reason for such a large habitat loss is climate change. The climate in the regions where the milkweed grows is usually cooler, and due to the high temperatures and droughts throughout California, the plants have been dying.

Another reason for the loss of habitats of monarch butterflies is human change, mainly in the United States, where land changes have occurred in recent years. The natural forest areas are now urbanized, decreasing the spaces where the monarch butterflies can grow from caterpillars to butterflies. The World Wildlife Organization stated that there has been a decrease of 59% in monarch butterflies in central Mexico’s forest in 2024. There are two types of monarch butterflies in the United States, but we will focus on the Western monarch butterfly for this project. Also, although milkweed does grow in the wild, it can be easily planted at home, especially in the central coast climate, so we are targeting the central California coast, as it's a primary breeding ground for monarchs over the winter months.

A couple of initiatives have helped in the past. However, the monarch population is still a quarter of what it was at the beginning of the century, so there is a long way to go before they are no longer considered endangered.

 One of the efforts made is by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife; they have a 50-year Western monarch conservation plan that was adopted in 2019. This plan focuses on the population size and the habitat conservation of the monarch butterflies. Another effort made by the California government is the Monarch and Pollinator Collaborative. This collaborative comprises 13 states and federal agencies focused to “ identify and enact shared priorities to catalyze monarch conservation in the state.” These efforts have helped the monarchs, but there is still work to be done to help their population survive.

Project Background 

Monarch butterflies, recognizable by their distinct orange and black wings, are increasingly at risk in California. Western Monarchs migrate to California every winter, but this incredible migration involving millions of butterflies is now just a fraction of that number. This decline results from continued habitat loss, climate change, and other environmental factors. 

The western Monarch butterfly has a unique migration, which sees them migrate to the trees on the California coast each October, where they lay their eggs on milkweed plants. These milkweed plants are crucial to the Monarch butterfly's survival, as they are the only plant Monarch caterpillars eat. The caterpillar will almost constantly eat the milkweed plant for about two weeks, pausing only to shed its skin before wrapping itself in a cocoon and undergoing metamorphosis into the beautiful Monarch butterfly we all love  (Life Cycle). 

However, habitat loss, climate change, and various environmental factors threaten the Monarch butterfly's existence. Across the United States, Monarch populations have been reported to be declining ever since the 1990s. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, the California Monarch population, around 1.2 million butterflies in 1990, drastically dropped to under 2,000 in 2020. This near brush with extinction was luckily followed by an increase back to about 247,000 the following year in 2021 and 335,000 in 2022. However, the Monarch population in 2023 declined to around 233,000 butterflies, leading experts to raise concerns for the butterfly’s future. 

Their recommendation? Plant milkweed. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, “an international nonprofit organization that protects the natural world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats,” urges coastal California residents to plant milkweed, specifically in the genus Asclepias, to assist in the recovery of the Monarch population. However,  accidentally planting non-native milkweed can cause issues for the Monarchs, and those in the Ventura County area should avoid planting milkweed to prevent disrupting the Monarch butterfly’s natural migration path (Carlson). The Monarch butterfly is an iconic invertebrate that blesses the West Coast, including San Luis Obispo, with its migration every Winter. It is our job to plant milkweed and do our part in saving this beautiful species.

Design Concept

The Message

Our campaign strives to inform viewers of the rapidly growing decline of monarchs due to habitat loss and inspire them to change. Our message is that a single milkweed seed can save at least 300 monarchs and prevent their extinction.

Design goals

We hope our campaign will raise awareness among California's youth of the monarch butterfly’s increasing risk of extinction. To do so, we expect our designs to educate viewers about why the insect is endangered and what needs to be done to change that. Our designs must inspire viewers to enact that change by purchasing and caring for milkweed. We anticipate that with enough purchases across California, we will be able to slow the decline of monarchs and, given enough time, increase their numbers.

Target Audience

In our campaign, we are targeting 16 to 25-year-olds in California. We hope their youthful optimism for the future and independent ability to purchase and care for milkweeds will be a strong foundation for our cause. Additionally, their prime position on the monarch migration allows them to provide these habitats along the way. This familiarity with and fondness for monarchs encourages them to stop their extinction.

Objectives

We hope our campaign will raise awareness of the monarch butterfly’s increasing risk of extinction. We expect our designs to be educational and inspirational to Californians ages 16-25. We hope their youthful optimism, familiarity or fondness for monarchs, and independent ability to purchase and care for milkweeds will be a good foundation for our cause. We anticipate that with enough purchases across California, we will be able to slow the decline of monarchs and increase their numbers.

Works Cited

Carlson, Cheri. “California’s Monarch Butterfly Numbers Drop; Experts Say Storms May Be to Blame.” Ventura County Star, Feb. 2024, www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2024/02/01/california-monarch-butterfly-numbers-drop/72379531007/.

“Conservation.” CDFW, wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invertebrates/Monarch-Butterfly#:~:text=The%20western%20population%20has%20experienced,fluctuate%20from%20year%20to%20year. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024. 

 Eastern Monarch Butterfly Population Declines 59% in Central Mexico, www.worldwildlife.org/stories/eastern-migratory-monarch-butterfly-populations-decrease-by-59-in-2024. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024. 

“Life Cycle.” Monarch Joint Venture, 2024, monarchjointventure.org/monarch-biology/life-cycle. 

‌“Monarch Butterfly.” Biologicaldiversity.org, 2021, www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/invertebrates/monarch_butterfly/#. ‌

“Roadside Habitat for Monarchs: Milkweeds of California | Xerces Society.” Xerces.org, 2024, www.xerces.org/publications/fact-sheets/roadside-habitat-for-monarchs-milkweeds-of-california.