Monarch Butterflies

Why in the News?

The Migratory monarch butterfly has been classified ‘endangered’ in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

Key Points:

About Monarch Butterflies

• Monarch butterflies are native to North and South America.
• Famous for their seasonal migration, these migrate from the United States and Canada south to California and Mexico for the winter.

What threats do they face?

• Habitat destruction
• Climate change
• Deforestation

Significance:

• Monarchs, are important pollinators and provide various ecosystem services such as maintaining the global food web

News Source: Down to Earth