WXVU MAINLINE NEWS MINUTE FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 24

By: Gabriella Raful

A colorful orange and black insect commonly seen flying through gardens in the Keystone State is now closer to extinction. In recognition of Earth Day, experts are calling attention to the dramatic decline of the migratory monarch butterfly population. Chris Kubiak with the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania says depending on the weather patterns, monarch butterflies should be seen in Pennsylvania by early July, where they look for milkweed to lay their eggs so the monarch caterpillars can feed from it.

:15  “They’re important pollinators; they pollinate a lot of specific plants. They’ve got, I think you would say, a symbiotic relationship with milkweed, not just the fact that certainly they need their caterpillars. That’s the only species that they can lay their eggs on, but they do a ton of the pollination.”

 Kubiak says the decrease in monarch butterflies is due to the loss of habitat. He adds that in Pennsylvania, changes in agriculture and climate change are definitely impacting the survival of the monarch butterfly in the state because they’re all killing off milkweed.

As part of the continuing planning and design for the Radnor Trail Extension east of Radnor Chester Road, the township’s design consultants will be conducting soil testing near the termination of the existing trail at Radnor Chester Road. The drilling is scheduled for Tuesday, May 9, and Wednesday, May 10.