From 2000 to 2020, there was a 22% decrease nationwide in butterflies. A Michigan State University study released Monday reveals that butterfly populations in the Midwest are dwindling even faster, and no butterfly species has increased in that region in the last three decades.

Butterfly populations in the United States are experiencing a significant decline, with a 22% decrease recorded nationwide from 2000 to 2020. Experts attribute this trend to habitat loss, pesticide use, and the effects of climate change, including severe weather events. A recent Michigan State University study indicates that the decline is even more pronounced in the Midwest, where no butterfly species have increased over the past three decades.

This decrease in butterfly numbers is particularly concerning due to their role as pollinators, which are essential for food production. The future presence of butterflies depends on how these environmental challenges are addressed moving forward.

Number of butterflies decreasing across U.S.

We end tonight with the flights of the butterflies. Just where have they gone? Here's Eureka Duncan. I don't like things that fly. I'll be honest with you. Depending on your tolerance for bugs, walking into this butterfly garden can either be calming or a little creepy. Oh, wow. But the future of these creatures is up in the air. Jillian Fazio is the director of New Jersey's Essex County Turtle Back Zoo, which houses more than 1500 butterflies in this tent. What is happening with butterflies in the United States? Butterflies are threatened by habitat loss, pesticides and climate change, which is causing severe weather events. From 2000 to 2020, there was a 22% decrease nationwide, and a Michigan State University study released today reveals that butterfly populations in the Midwest are dwindling even faster. No butterfly species has increased in that region in the last three decades. Why is this important? Pollinators are responsible for a lot of the food we eat. So just at the very basic level, humans rely on pollinators for food. What is it about them that's so special? Because they're harmless and they only land on hills. They almost look like fairies. They almost look like fairies. Okay. Oh, there goes one right there. It's hard to imagine a world without butterflies, but how we respond now could determine whether we see more of them take flight in the future. Jerika Duncan, CBS News, West Orange, New Jersey.

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