Endangered Butterfly Species
Butterflies are endangered in Germany, because their living space is restricted by an increasing population. Because there is less green in our towns, caterpillars cannot find enough food plants.
Caterpillars mostly prefer so-called “weeds” that are expelled from our gardens and public parks. Therefore exotic plants are very popular, but not accepted by caterpillars. A further problem is, that caterpillars are mostly monophagous, that means, they only accept one food plant. If they cannot find it, they are bound to starve.
A further reason that leads to loss of biodiversity in butterfly species is agricultural and private use of herbicides and pesticides. Caterpillars become contaminated and die. Also the endangered butterfly species have more natural enemies because of the disturbance of their biological balance, the loss of their food chains and in some cases an increase of butterfly populations. As a result they are more often the victims of birds and other animals.
Effects of global warming on butterfly populations
Global warming causes a change in soil fertility that leads to a degeneration of plants including important food plants so that butterfly species have to look for a new habitat. A lot of species are victims of extreme weather conditions such as heat waves, cold or storms. Our regional species are threatened by the climate change like the Monarch butterflies in North America have to suffer from climate change because their winter habitat in Central Mexico is changing drastically.
In Germany an organization has been founded under the leadership of the Ministry of Environment to deal with the problems caused by climate change. Protective measures against flooding and emergency plans for expected heat waves, hurricanes and thunderstorms are developed and plants that can exist under the changed conditions are researched for agricultural and forestry purposes. This leads to a loss of plant diversity which makes it impossible to save threatened butterfly species over a longer term.
Help endangered butterfly species to survive by welcoming them to your garden and providing the necessary food plants. To support threatened butterfly species alternative energies and a reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases have to become an international priority (www.umweltbundesamt.de/klimaschutz).
Compare the results of the workshop on "Climate Change in Future" under the leadership of Dr Hartmut Graßl under this link.
How to design your garden in a butterfly-friendly way you can find out under "Nature Garden Planning". You do not have a garden but want to help butterflies? No problem! You can find ideas and tips for helping butterfly species under "Project Ideas and Hints".
