AUSTIN (KXAN) — Central Texas is an important part of the Lone Start State for monarch migration because it is a principal breeding ground for the butterflies. They come north from Mexico in both the fall and the spring.

There has been a decline in the number of monarchs. Disappearing green spaces in favor of development are part of the reason. Monarchs need a suitable habitat providing host plants for breeding and flowering plants that provide nectar for the adults.

Unfortunately, development eliminates milkweed plants, thus eliminating the butterflies’ breeding habitat.

Why milkweed? For starters, it’s the host plant for the monarch butterfly. Without it, the larva would be unable to develop into a butterfly. They use a variety of milkweeds. Without the milkweed plants, the monarch butterfly, or caterpillars, will have a difficulty time reproducing.

In 2022, the number of monarchs counted was 335,000. That is more than the 2,000 counted in 2020. However, scientists estimate that the number was down over 90% from historic numbers in the 1980s and early 1990s when millions of monarchs counted.

Rich Segal speaks with Dr. Adam M. Baker, a research entomologist with the Davey Institute. He talks about the declining numbers of monarchs and how locals can assist in trying to increase the number of monarchs.