A second Mexican conservationist active in protecting monarch butterflies has been found dead within days of each other, authorities said.

The body of Raul Hernandez Romero was found on Saturday in the central-western state of Michoacan, where Homero Gomez Gonzalez was found at the bottom of a well last Wednesday, two weeks after going missing.

Hernandez Romero showed signs of "blows to different parts of his body and a head injury caused by a sharp object," the local public prosecutor said on Monday.

He had been reported missing by his wife on January 27. Gomez Gonzalez, 50, had gone missing on January 14.

Both men were active in the protection of the monarch butterfly and worked in conservation sanctuaries.

Other conservationists in the region said Gomez's death could be linked to his opposition to illegal logging in Michoacan, where monarch butterflies often spend their winter.

Michoacan is home to several crime gangs and their presence has helped prompt the formation of self-defense groups in recent years.

Monarch butterflies travel up to 4,500 kilometers (3,000 miles) each year from Canada and the United States to establish colonies in the temperate oyamel and pine forests of west-central Mexico.

The butterfly (Danaus plexippus) faces threats from deforestation, the use of herbicides -- which targets the milkweed on which monarchs lay their eggs -- and climate change.

Related Links
Darwin Today At TerraDaily.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Weather radar records drastic drop in mayfly populations
Norman OK (SPX) Feb 04, 2020
At the beginning of each summer, mayfly larvae emerge from bodies of water and shed their skin to become full-fledged mayflies, similar to how caterpillars become butterflies. Then, all at once, a swarm of these insects simultaneously takes flight to reproduce, acting as an important component in the food chain for birds. Researchers at the University of Oklahoma, the University of Notre Dame and Virginia Tech applied radar technology - the same used for meteorology - to quantify the number of may ... read more