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Higher temperatures may make monarch butterflies more vulnerable to parasites,according to new research.
Monarch infections with the parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha have skyrocketed, more then tripling since 2002.discovered in the 1960s, this parasite can cause smaller wingspans, lower weight, and shorter lifespans in adult monarchs. Infection also affects the insect’s ability to complete its annual migration.
The study found that monarchs exposed to elevated temperatures were 22% less tolerant of infection.
“what does tolerance of an infection mean? If you have the flu, it’s the difference between being in the hospital or just having a stuffy nose,” says Sonia Altize.
