ENVIRONMENT REPORT - Monarch Butterfly Deaths in Mexico

By Cynthia Kirk
ENVIRONMENT REPORT - February 22, 2002: Monarch¹ Butterfly Deaths in Mexico

This is the VOA Special English ENVIRONMENT REPORT.

A severe winter storm in central Mexico last month killed hundreds of millions of monarch butterflies. It is the
largest number of monarch butterflies killed at one time. However, scientists say the loss is not expected to
threaten the species². The butterflies froze to death in two of the largest protected areas for monarch butterflies in
Mexico.

The Rosario and Sierra Chincua colonies³ are in the mountains in the state of
Michoacan, west of Mexico City. Most of the butterflies in the two colonies were
killed in the storm.

Researchers say the butterflies froze to death after heavy rain fell in the area, followed
by freezing temperatures. Monarch butterflies can easily freeze to death if they
become wet and the temperature drops to freezing. Scientists say the temperatures

following the storm were the lowest recorded in the area in the past twenty-five years.

During the year, monarch butterflies fly long distances, or migrate⁴. They are one of the few kinds of insects to
migrate. This has made the monarch popular among nature lovers⁵.

The monarchs⁶ spend the winter in Mexico. Each spring, the butterflies fly north after they mate⁷. The females⁸ stop
to lay their eggs in the southern United States. The adults die soon after. The monarchs that develop from those
eggs continue the flight. They return to the same areas in North America where their parents lived. By summer,
the butterflies can reach as far north as Canada.

During the autumn, the monarchs return to the same forests in the mountains of Mexico. They like the oyamel
tree the best. These tall trees are sometimes completely covered with butterflies.

Some scientists have suggested that the loss of forests in the mountains of Mexico led to the die -off of monarchs
last month. They say the remaining forests may no longer provide enough protection to keep the butterflies warm
and dry. Every winter, millions of monarchs die in the high mountain forests.

However, scientists note that the species is not in danger of disappearing. That is because there are other, smaller
populations of monarchs in the United States that did not migrate to Mexico. Scientists say they will know after
more study if the monarch populations in Mexico will be able to recover from the die-off.

This VOA Special English ENVIRONMENT REPORT was written by Cynthia Kirk.

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1 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。

2 species   

n.物种，种群

参考例句：

• Are we the only thinking species in the whole of creation?我们是万物中惟一有思想的物种吗？
• This species of bird now exists only in Africa.这种鸟现在只存在于非洲。

3 colonies   

n.殖民地( colony的名词复数 )；（侨民等）聚居区；（动植物的）群体；（来自同一地方，职业或兴趣相同的）聚居人群

参考例句：

• They amassed huge wealth by plundering the colonies. 他们通过掠夺殖民地聚敛了大笔的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• But throughout the colonies, people relied primarily on small farms and self-sufficiency. 但就整个殖民地来说，人们主要依靠小型农场，过着自给自足的生活。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

4 migrate   

vi.（候鸟等）迁徙，移居（国外），迁移

参考例句：

• Many birds migrate south for the winter.冬天时，许多鸟类迁徙南方。
• The rich people often migrate in winter to Florida.有钱的人常在冬季搬迁到佛罗里达州去。

5 lovers   

爱好者( lover的名词复数 )； 情人； 情夫； 情侣

参考例句：

• They were off-screen lovers. 他们是真实生活中的情侣。
• Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet 罗密欧和朱丽叶这一对莎士比亚笔下命运多舛的恋人

6 monarchs   

君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Monarchs ruled England for centuries. 世袭君主统治英格兰有许多世纪。
• Serving six monarchs of his native Great Britain, he has served all men's freedom and dignity. 他在大不列颠本国为六位君王服务，也为全人类的自由和尊严服务。 来自演讲部分

7 mate   

n.伙伴，同事；配偶；大副；v.(使)交配

参考例句：

• Where is the mate to this glove?这副手套的另一只在哪儿？
• She has been a faithful mate to him.她一直是他忠实的配偶。

8 females   

n.雌性动物( female的名词复数 )；女人

参考例句：

• The male birds are more colourful than the females. 这种鸟雄性比雌性更加色彩艳丽。
• The males in the herd protect the females and the young. 兽中的雄性动物保护雌性动物和幼崽。 来自《简明英汉词典》