Read “Butterflies are disappearing in Ohio. Here’s what that means for insects everywhere” below to answer the question. Which detail in the section “Why this matters” supports the main idea of the section?

Question

A) But butterflies also act as big, flashy beautiful warning signs for environmental change.
B) Butterflies pollinate flowers, control plant populations by munching on leaves as caterpillars, and provide food for other insects, birds, amphibians, and mammals.
C) “But I think of the situation as, like, death by a thousand cuts.”
D) “I think we know enough now to act,” Wepprich said.

Answer 1

The detail that best supports the main idea of the section “Why this matters” is:

B) Butterflies pollinate flowers, control plant populations by munching on leaves as caterpillars, and provide food for other insects, birds, amphibians, and mammals.

This statement illustrates the importance of butterflies in the ecosystem, highlighting their roles in pollination, food webs, and plant population control, which underscores why their decline is significant for environmental health overall.