MONARCH BUTTERFLIES

A recent Associated Press article on monarch butterflies is quite disturbing (“Feds to delay seeking legal protection for monarch butterfly,” Dec. 16). I believe emergency action is required to protect them in view of the drastic fall in numbers as described. It would be a shame to lose the dramatic migrations of these beautiful creatures.

The article says that 90 percent of the monarchs are in North America. It would be relevant to know where the other 10 percent are. I am familiar with the related African monarchs which do not form such massive migrations. They do, however, depend on the milkweeds for food as do the American ones.

One difference is that in Africa there are members of the milkweed family which lack the milky latex from which the plant family receives its common name. I have observed caterpillars of the monarchs in Botswana feeding on Stapelia (carrion flowers — from the stinky flowers) which are succulents with a clear sap. This is an interesting difference because the monarchs are said to derive protection by being poisonous due to the latex ingested as caterpillars. This is emphasized in a bit of information I learned about the lack of monarchs in England. Storms do occasionally blow them across from Europe, but they do not survive. I was curious as to why and then learned there are no milkweeds in England!

— Bruce J. Hargreaves,

Bakersfield

PRISONER RELEASE

I have a suggestion for the judge in Orange County who decided to release the prisoners. There are many convicted criminals up for release because of COVID in prison. Now that we have a vaccine, give them a shot and let them stay behind bars where they belong. Where are they gonna live? Who’s going to take them in? How long before they commit the same crime and go back to “three hots and a cot”?

— Linda Feist, Oildale