Addressing the Decline of the Monarch Butterfly

Population in the Midwest

A Report from Habitat Homemakers for Communication Solutions Inc.

Lindsey Hardison
Julia Paschal
Natalie Swanson

April 5, 2021
Table of Contents
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 3
Research Plan ........................................................................................................................ 3
Collaboration Model ......................................................................................................................3
Deliverable Creation ......................................................................................................................3
Risk Assessment .................................................................................................................... 4
Ecological Risk ...............................................................................................................................4
Cultural Risk ..................................................................................................................................4
Stakeholders ..................................................................................................................................4
Mitigation Methods .......................................................................................................................5
Risk Communication Strategy ................................................................................................ 5
Recommendations ................................................................................................................. 6
References............................................................................................................................. 7
Appendix ............................................................................................................................... 8
Appendix A: Milkweed Infographic .................................................................................................8
Appendix B: Instagram Story Infographic ........................................................................................9
Appendix C: Twitter thread .......................................................................................................... 10

Abstract
The purpose of this report is to acknowledge the consequences of the declining monarch
butterfly populations in the Midwest. Once this is understood, we advocate for the general public
to understand the necessity of growing milkweed plants, or that they identify the plant in its
natural habitat. Our research plan highlights the way our group has collaborated, as well as
communicated this information via deliverables. Within our assessment of risks, we showcase
the ecological and cultural risks of the monarch decline. In the stakeholders and mitigation
methods, we discuss how planting milkweed can offset this issue, which if not handled, may lead
to unwanted societal effects. The risk communication strategy outlines our decisions for the
specific deliverables; they are easy methods of communication in our current social media
generation and are attractive enough to garner attention. We recommend that the general public
engages with local legislation to raise protections for milkweed plants and monarch butterflies, in
order to raise their preservation.

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Addressing the Decline of the Monarch Butterfly
Population in the Midwest
Introduction
Monarch butterflies experience several threats to their survival and their population has
decreased by more than 80% since the mid-1990s (“Saving the Monarch Butterfly”), but they
provide an important contribution to the health of our planet. Part of this loss has to do with their
habitat, centered on the Midwest region’s native milkweed. Milkweed is a native plant that once
grew in abundance; however, with the rise of the farming industry, climate change, and
industrialization, their prevalence has reduced.

Therefore, our goal is to provide tangible steps towards alleviating the population decline of the
monarch butterfly caused by lack of habitat in the Midwest. The purpose of this report is to
synthesize resources and craft deliverables aimed towards a specific target audience with our
primary goal at the forefront. This report will soar through our research, risk assessment, and
communication strategies before flying into our recommendations and attaching our deliverables
themselves.

Research Plan
Collaboration Model
Our group employed a virtual face-to-face collaboration for our first meeting in order to discuss
different risk efforts and create a consensus for goals and work strategies. We then divided our
project proposal into segments in order to use a divided collaboration method for efficiency of
time and to allow individual research. Using Office 365, we are able to see changes as they are
made and easily track the additions from our fellow collaborators in order to minimize the
chance of a disconnect. While we cannot address the whole of global risks, our goal is to provide
information and make a difference in our local communities to minimize the risks monarch
butterflies face in our own corner of the world.

Deliverable Creation
Our deliverables include:
• Milkweed infographic
o Includes information on how and why to plant milkweed
o Can be printed & emailed out
• Instagram story
o Focused for quick reading and easy scan-ability
o Visually appealing to encourage our audience to look over
• Twitter thread
o Generally text-heavy to match conventions of the platform
o Link to local monarch organization included

With three deliverables and three group members, we have divided the initial creation of each
deliverable among us, while we all will have influence on the editing and suggestion process.

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Risk Assessment
Ecological Risk
Milkweed is a native vegetation in decline throughout the Midwest. Once growing in abundance,
their loss can be attributed to the rise of factory farming, climate change, and industrialization,
all of which have reduced the population of milkweed plants (“Saving the Monarch"). As the
milkweed population has declined, so has the monarch population as they depend on the
milkweed plant for every stage of their life cycle. This sole plant is essential for their survival as
caterpillars feed on the leaves and monarchs lay their eggs on them.

Habitat loss in general is another prime factor in the decline of the monarch population. As one
of the more distinguishable pollinators, the decline in monarch butterflies represents loss of
suitable habitats for all pollinators, not just monarchs, which in turn leads to a reduction of crops
(“Question and Answer”). Within the ecosystem, pollinators require nectar flowers to ensure new
growth, and keep the ecosystem running smoothly. Humans are just as dependent on pollinators
as other animals, as we feed on the crops they provide. If the ecosystem is deprived of
pollinators, this ultimately leads to reduced food production in the agricultural industry and less
food for humans.

Cultural Risk
Monarch butterflies’ migration serves as a point of inspiration for populations beyond the
Midwest (“Question and Answer”). Their life cycle is taught in schools to not only educate but
bring awareness to the beauty and importance of the environment (“Question and Answer”).
They serve as a symbol of beauty and resilience and are widely regarded, especially by the
American people (“Saving the Monarch”). Monarch butterflies are also the state insect of
Illinois. A complete loss of monarchs would devastate multiple generations.

Stakeholders
Monarch butterflies serve as a symbol of beauty, and their loss would be devastating. However,
their environmental work impacts society to a more serious degree. As previously mentioned, a
loss of pollinators will lead to a decline in food production. This affects those directly involved
in the agricultural business. Those who are affiliated with crop production, such as farmers or
farm laborers, are dependent on the work of pollinators to ensure steady income. Regarding
mitigation efforts in the Midwest, the Illinois Agriculture Coalition was a part of a conservation
action plan that launched Earth Day 2020 to improve the population status (IL Corn). Those who
are a part of production understand the necessity of monarchs and the risk of losing them.

While decline in food production affects those at the production level, if this issue escalates, the
consumers will ultimately end up disproportionately affected. Increased demand for a low
yielding commodity will cause prices of crops to skyrocket, directly impacting lower-income
citizens. Fruits, grains, and vegetables are all vital to a healthy diet. Raised prices for these goods
will only increase the prevalence of food deserts in low-income communities.

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Mitigation Methods
The easiest mitigation method for the general public is to plant native milkweed. These plants
can be found at garden centers and may be planted in one’s backyard or any plot of land seen fit.
In addition to planting milkweed, community members should also plant native wildflowers, to
provide nectar for monarch butterflies (Illinois Monarch Project).

Most milkweeds can easily be identified for its “milky sap” which appears when one breaks the
leaf in half. However, not all milkweeds do this as there are multiple varieties depending on
location. Community members may seek online resources and garden manuals for further
examination.

Fig. 1. A milkweed leaf (Chandler)

Fig. 2. Milkweed flowers (Chandler)

Community members may also choose to become more involved in the process, opting to save
caterpillars and raise them indoors to increase survivability rates. In order to do this, research
must be performed beforehand to ensure proper care is given during each life cycle stage. This is
a great option for those without backyards as well, as they can keep the milkweed cuttings alive
by placing them in vases of water. Once again, this process requires research, care, and time
beforehand, so a community member must be willing to exercise these three before they begin.

Community members may also simply choose to better educate themselves on the science of
monarch migration and available habitat to better their community (Illinois Monarch Project).
Higher numbers of citizens with these science backgrounds will create safer habitats overall for
monarchs and pollinators.

Risk Communication Strategy

Milkweed Infographic
The first deliverable we chose was the milkweed infographic. This infographic is a direct call to
action for our audience. It gives thorough information on what season to plant milkweed, how to
plant it, and the importance of it. By adding images, it makes the infographic easier to follow.
The language used is easily understandable and shows how anyone can plant milkweed. This
deliverable directly addresses the risks in losing the monarch butterfly by explaining for the
caterpillar to transform into the butterfly, it needs the milkweed and with increased fertilizers and
habitat loss, milkweed can become harder to come by for the monarch. What is so useful about
the infographic is it can easily be printed and emailed to many individuals.
(Reference Appendix A)

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Instagram Story
Our second deliverable is the Instagram story. By utilizing social media, we can reach more
people in a quicker and more efficient way. The information on the story is a condensed version
of the milkweed infographic. This again directly addresses the issue being faced and gives our
audience a direct call to action. We used bright colors that are on the monarchs' wings to catch
our followers’ attention. This infographic as well as the list provides a website at the bottom
where individuals can go to learn more information about the milkweed and monarch.
(Reference Appendix B)

Twitter Thread
Our last deliverable was a Twitter thread, which again has the ability to reach audiences in an
efficient way. This interface values text over photos, although we still included the Instagram
infographic as it is flashy and does not contain too much information, while still maintaining the
integrity of the message. The thread mostly addressed the risk prevention methods, as most
popular threads do. It is also not extremely text heavy per tweet, as users would most likely
scroll past one containing too much information. We made sure to remain relevant and
interesting to our audiences, incorporating emoticons and all caps for emphasis. The thread was
also tweeted from an account with an Illinois-centric follower base, keeping the relevance.
(Reference Appendix C)

Recommendations
Beyond planting milkweed, we highly recommend for the general public to become involved at
the local level, personally and legislation wise. This can be done through:

• Writing to local legislators to raise milkweed protections

• Voting for officials with environmental interests in mind
• Connecting with local monarch organizations (such as the Illinois Monarch
Project) to determine what can be done in one’s area

While there is still a long way to go for protection efforts, with more citizens growing informed
on this topic, the future looks bright for monarchs and milkweeds across the Midwest.

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References
“Be the Super Generation That Saves the Monarchs.” Illinois Monarch Project,
illinoismonarchproject.org/#1586814102143-0ffd3120-be69.

Chandler, Rebecca. “How to Identify Milkweed Plants Quickly and Confidently.” Save Our
Monarchs, Save Our Monarchs, 18 Mar. 2018, www.saveourmonarchs.org/blog/how-to-
identify-milkweed-plants-quickly-and-confidently.

IL Corn. “IL Ag Coalition Submits Statewide Monarch Conservation Efforts.” IL Corn, 28 May
2020, www.ilcorn.org/news-and-media/current-news/article/2020/05/il-ag-coalition-
submits-statewide-monarch-conservation-efforts.

“Monarch Migration.” Forest Preserve District of Will County,

www.reconnectwithnature.org/news-events/big-features/monarch-migration.

“Question and Answer.” MJV News RSS, monarchjointventure.org/faq/why-is-the-monarch-

population-decline-important.

“Saving the Monarch Butterfly.” Monarch Butterfly, Center for Biological Diversity,
www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/invertebrates/monarch_butterfly.

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Appendix
Appendix A: Milkweed Infographic

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Appendix B: Instagram Story Infographic

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Appendix C: Twitter thread

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https://twitter.com/swansonnataliee/status/1378399332995596292?s=20

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