CHERRY HILL, N.J. (CBS) — Monarch butterflies are not yet an endangered species, but climate change, pesticide use and suburban sprawl are making them more likely to disappear. Negative effects, Reduce the number.
The Camden County Parks Department hosted a party Tuesday night in an effort to reverse the trend.
There was food, face painting, balloon animals, bubbles, music and a call to action to save monarch butterflies.
“We’re here today to save the monarch butterfly, to educate people on what they can do and raise awareness. What we've done as a county” said Lauren Bonus, director of the Camden County Mosquito Commission.
Bonus, nicknamed “Bug Lady” by her colleagues, explained why monarch butterflies are so important.
“They're pollinators,” Bonus says, “and they're beautiful and a real spectacle of the insect world because they're the only butterflies that do this kind of extensive two-way migration.”
One generation of swallowtail butterflies migrates south to Mexico, then three or four new generations migrate north again, she added.
Each participant was given a potted milkweed plant to plant at home, a plant that butterflies need to survive.
“It was awesome to see the butterflies pop out. … It was a lot of fun and good for the kids,” said Brent Rovner of Haddon Heights, who attended the event with his family.
Tuesday night's turnout was so good that talks have already begun to find a larger location for next year's party.