Declining Butterfly Mystery Solved by Michigan State University Researchers: Wild News Weekly

In this video, we dive into an important environmental issue impacting butterflies in the Midwest. A Michigan State University study has revealed that insecticides, specifically neonicotinoids, are the main cause of the decline in butterfly numbers and species diversity.
This research, published in PLOS ONE, analyzed 17 years of data from 81 counties across five states. They found that neonicotinoid-treated seeds are linked to an 8% drop in butterfly diversity. The study highlights the significant impact of these chemicals on butterflies, including the beloved monarch butterfly.
Butterflies are crucial pollinators and indicators of environmental health. The decline in their populations signals broader ecological issues. Understanding the factors behind their decline helps in developing strategies to protect them and support our ecosystems.
The study also emphasizes the need for better pesticide use data. Vermont has taken action by requiring farmers to get a "prescription" for neonicotinoid use, following a successful model from Canada.
Join us to learn more about this pressing issue and how we can help protect these vital pollinators.
#Butterflies #EnvironmentalImpact #Neonicotinoids #Pollinators #ButterflyConservation #MidwestEcology #MonarchButterfly #SustainableFarming #EcosystemHealth #MSUResearch #PesticideUse #EnvironmentalProtection #WildlifeConservation #PollinatorProtection #Naturescience
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Find out more in the links below:
Michigan State University releases findings of butterfly study
msutoday.msu.edu/news/2024/in...
Study published in PLOS ONE journal
journals.plos.org/plosone/art...
Vermont, New York pass bills to protect bees
www.nrdc.org/bio/daniel-raich...

[@willpanos1916]

Don't worry the pesticide industry with help from the EPA is working on a study to disprove all of this!

[@WildNewsWeekly]

Which is why it is even more important to share news like this. ;)

[@raraavis7782]

Well, it's not just the USA. I'm in Germany and it's the same here. Butterflies have become so rare, I consciously notice whenever I see one. And it's not very often. All gone in a span of maybe 20 years.

[@calamityjaycantebrigge]

You should look at the larval food plant distributions too. Most butterflies will only lay their eggs on one species of plant. If that plant species is being eradicated by industrial weed killers, then there's your double-whammy of causation. In the UK, we are turning to regenerative farming. One of the simple wins for nature is farmers restoring hedgerows and also letting field margins grow wild, but in a managed way. I don't know if you folks in the US are much into regenerative agriculture?

[@WildNewsWeekly]

Will definitively bee looking it up. Thanks!

[@philliplamoureux9489]

Very good! Thank you!

[@WildNewsWeekly]

You're very welcome! Thanks for tuning in.

[@donatoferioli7426]

The UK banned Neonicotinoids in 2018 unless there is a danger to crops. Then their use is allowed for emergencies.

[@WildNewsWeekly]

That's pretty much the law just passed in Vermont and New York (and previously in Canada). Hopefully this will catch on in the more agricultural states.

[@azsqa6286]

Who woulda guessed.

[@Yosetime]

So if we could just teach the butterflies how to smoke cigarettes, they'd be all good with the nicotine in pesticides. lol

[@maddem4104]

Discovering the obvious.... Now? After more than 50 years of making the money of the big industries.... Farmers: wake up! We should help you.

[@patrickday4206]

I bet cars are killing large amounts of insects also

[@samchickensandwich23]

"Neo nicitinoides"? So "new nicotine compounds?" Thats disgusting!

[@WildNewsWeekly]

Like, turning butterflies into chain smokers I guess.

[@paijobejo4849]

Well if they don't morp to caterpillar it won't be a problem, but caterpillar really destroy farming

[@calamityjaycantebrigge]

Only if the crop being grown is their sole larval food plant, ie. the ONLY plant the butterfly will lay eggs on. Andeven then, there are ways to mitigate against it in a managed way.

[@paijobejo4849]

@@calamityjaycantebrigge well it's easy to find caterpillar outbreak in some place so yeah they kina pest now,

[@MerkleAkrunphleuphle]

Lets get stickers and shirts and posters made. They are killing probably all beneficial insects but so far proven are butterflies and native bees.