Michigan's butterfly population fluttering as habitat disappears

[marmar]

Michigan's butterfly population fluttering as habitat disappears
Maureen Feighan/ The Detroit News


Disappearing habitat is clipping the wings of Michigan's beloved butterfly population.

Experts say the population is declining as the prairies, wetlands and woodlands on which butterflies depend are developed. Changing weather, pesticides and invasive plants also affect the population, some say.

"There's less and less habitat every year," said Dwayne Badgero of the Michigan Lepidoptera Survey, which documents butterflies, moths and skippers in Michigan. Skippers are smaller butterflies that have a hook on the end of their antennae.

Local counts at at least two southeastern Michigan parks this summer found fewer butterflies this year than last year, likely in part because of the unusually wet, cold spring. .............(more)

The co: http://detnews.com/article/20110716/METRO/107160360/Michigan’s-butterfly-population-fluttering-as-habitat-disappears#ixzz1SMmCwk54

[MichiganVote]

1. K&R

[Tanuki]

2. We can all help

by planting some butterfly-friendly plants in our own yards and avoiding the use of pesticides. As the article notes, even a container on a patio or balcony can serve a role. For the last several years I have made planting for wildlife a priority, and it is a joy to see the butterflies visiting the buddleia bush outside my dining room window.

[jwirr]

3. My milk weed and hollyhocks are doing great and the new butterfly

friendly plant I planted is starting to crawl the fence. So far I do not see any butterflies but I think it is still early. The plants grew so tall I had to take a rope out and tie them up I am thinking about a fence next year around them.