Where are all the Monarch Butterflies?
23/11/2014 6:39pm
> From the WeatherWatch archives
Wasps, an unsettled spring and fewer swan plants are believed to be the main reasons we’re seeing so few Monarch butterflies this year.
Numbers are noticeably smaller than usual, but Monarch experts say it’s not too late to help fix things.
Butterfly lover Jacqui Knight says there are lot of factors affecting Monarch populations, but a few swan plants in the garden can make a difference.
“Looking out for social wasps, the wasps that come and eat the caterpillars and then we can track the wasps to their nests and destroy the nests.”
– Newstalk ZB
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Before you add a new comment, take note this story was published on 23 Nov 2014.
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Guest on 24/11/2014 1:31am
What is the difference between a “social wasp” and the rest?
I thought they all contributed to the pollenation of plants, but put me right if incorrect.
I’ve read much that wasps?bees are on the decline due to the use of pesticides on crops etc.
I know Butterflies are beautiful and have their place, but what is more important, the pollenation of our crops (food), or a good looking Butterfly?
I don’t mean to sound crass.
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sw on 24/11/2014 7:35am
the paperwasps are social wasps,theres the common yellow and black ones the asian paper wasps and the less common brown one they have nests on stalks on bushes and fences,theyre easy to kill and not as agressive as the nastier german and common wasps that have nests underground.You must kill the wasps early in late winter or early spring to get on top of them as theyre queens then,after that time its the workers then hard to control due to numbers.
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