First, here is the cautiously good news. The number of Monarchs at this winter’s aggregations in Mexico is higher than last winter: https://monarchjointventure.org/blog/eastern-monarch-population-2024-2025
However, the same cannot be said for aggregations on the west coast of North America: https://xerces.org/press/western-monarch-butterfly-population-declines-to-near-record-low
And the really bad news is that a recently published analysis of results from butterfly monitoring programs in North America suggests dramatic and disturbing declines in butterfly populations in the last two decades: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/06/declining-butterfly-populations?CMP=share_btn_url
Butterfly enthusiasts need to ramp up effort to create good butterfly habitats and gardens, to contribute to programs studying butterflies (like butterfly counts), to post observations on eButterfly and iNaturalist, and get people informed and excited about butterflies!
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Experience the enchantment of the Monarch butterfly migration in
the serene mountains of Michoacán, Mexico. Amidst the tranquility
of the forested landscape, witness the graceful dance of millions of
monarch butterflies as they flutter through the air. While the terrain
may pose challenges for some, we have a solution that ensures
everyone can enjoy this natural wonder. For those seeking a more
leisurely exploration, we offer the option to glide through the trails on
horseback. Our friendly guides will lead you on a gentle ride, allowing
you to savor every moment of the journey. 8 Days, 7 Nights.
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Eight butterfliers participated in the 2024 annual fall count at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum on Saturday, 14 September. This fall count began in 2007, so this was the 18th. Three teams tallied butterflies seen at six areas: Grounds of BTA, Picketpost Trailhead, Queen Creek near the airport, in the town of Superior, Upper Devil’s Canyon, and Oak Flat. In total 820 individuals were tallied in 27 identified species. This was more than expected given how little monsoon rain there has been this year, although 662 of the individuals counted were on the grounds of the Arboretum. The wilder desert areas were another story. Many thanks to the counters! Here are the count tallies by species.
Pipevine Swallowtail 52, Giant Swallowtail 1, Two-tailed Swallowtail 2, Checkered White 3, Orange Sulphur 1, S. Dogface 4, Cloudless Sulphur 55, Mexican Yellow 1, Sleepy Orange 109, Dainty Sulphur 7 (pictured), Gray Hairstreak 4, Western Pygmy-Blue 4, Marine Blue 6, Ceraunus Blue 18, Mormon Metalmark 2, American Snout 162, Gulf Fritillary 1, Common Buckeye 1, Viceroy 1, Empress Leilia 18, Queen 347, Northern Cloudywing 1, Golden-headed Scallopwing 1, Arizona Powdered-Skipper 3, Funereal Duskywing 5, Common/White Checkered-Skipper 1, Erichson's White-Skipper 1. Unidentified: Sulphur sp. 3, Blue sp. 3, Butterfly sp. 2, Duskywing sp. 1.
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