Moths

[Bud]

I used to collect Lepidoptera when I was a kid, I put it on hold in my junior year since I got busy with sports.
The most prized possession is 'HAETERA' ....its still in my old room in my parent's house in Boston.

[Phal-lover]

I didn't see any monarchs this year, and normally hundreds flock to our yard! (That may only be because our milkweed died recently) But all I've been seeing are zebra longwings, black swallow tails and the ever-present gulf fritillarys. Sometimes I'll see one of the latter, and get excited because I think it's a monarch. But, they just mimic them. *sigh*

[Tindomul]

Only 3 million survived the summer, you are not alone in seeing how few there are this year.

[NYCorchidman]

I have never seen Monarch butterflies in person, but I have seen them in documentary. It was amazing how far they travel!!!

So, how did North Americans kill them??
Habitat destruction?

[Paul]

Some beautiful photos, Cesar! The Beautiful Wood-Nymph truly is lovely.

NYC, decimation of food sources is one issue. (And in fact is an issue for many of the large moths like the sphinx moths (tomato hornworm and others). Another cause is the use of genetically modified crops -- in particular corn. Corn in many areas has been modified to carry genes making them toxic to caterpillars that infest corn crops. Unfortunately, those genes are also present in the corn's pollen. Corn, being a grain, is wind pollinated. As a result, a great deal of that pollen winds up on the leaves of other plants -- even those miles away from where the cornfield is. When a bit of that pollen lands on the leaf of another plant, like a milkweed, and a caterpillar -- like a monarch caterpillar-- ingests those few pollen grains, the caterpillar dies.

[orchidsarefun]

the corn pollen theory may have been debunked in favour of roundup killing milkweed plants, and probably other "weeds" too. I don't know if there is any current research on this.

Researchers: GM Crops Are Killing Monarch Butterflies, After All | Mother Jones

[Tindomul]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

I have never seen Monarch butterflies in person, but I have seen them in documentary. It was amazing how far they travel!!!

So, how did North Americans kill them??
Habitat destruction?

Hi Paul, sorry to hear you never noticed the Monarchs. They used to be everywhere at the right time of year.

As to why, Paul and Orchidsarefun pretty much summed it up. Also, with all the corn being grown for ethanol, we are pretty much destroying wild fields with their food sources in favour of corn monocultures. Miles and miles of just 1 plant, corn.
In the end, ethanol just decreases the car engines efficiency, which leads to people having to buy and use more oil.

[ronaldhanko]

Great photos and sad about the Monarchs. Saw some of the same information recently.

[Tindomul]

Thanks for Looking and commenting Ron! Nice to see you back on Orchid Board.

[NYCorchidman]

Thanks!

Hmmm, now I wonder if it is safe to eat corns.
I think had some today and now I feel stomachache. lol