Elementary school teachers and wedding planners alike are fond of monarch butterflies. Their metamorphosis is educational, their signature wings are beautiful, and maybe releasing hand-reared individuals could boost the struggling wild population that flaps down to Mexico.
Mounting evidence, however, suggests the latter might not be true. The wing color and shape on monarchs raised in captivity indicate these individuals are less suited for the species’ long migration south, according to new research in the journal Biology Letters. And research published last year found that monarchs raised indoors struggle to orient themselves on their migration route. Put together, it seems the hand-raised butterflies might lack some of the skills needed to complete their important journey.
Though people might want to increase the number of individuals that descend on Mexico every year, the research suggests the good intention might not be panning out.
