CINCINNATI (WKRC) - A new study found that butterflies are disappearing from the United States at an alarming rate, with most species showing significant population decline in recent years.

The study, published in the journal Science, examined butterfly populations in the United States across the 21st century and found that the total number of butterflies decreased by 22% between 2000 and 2020.

"Losing one out of every five butterflies over 20 years should be a big wake-up call to people," said one of the study's co-authors, Dr. Eliza Grames, who is also an assistant professor of biological sciences at Binghamton University. "These declines are not stopping."

The study specifically analyzed butterfly populations in the lower 48 states of the United States, and found that the populations had been decreasing by an average of 1.3% every year.

Although nine species of butterflies saw an increase in population, 114 saw significant decreases. Some species, like the iconic monarch butterfly, may soon be placed on the threatened species list as their populations dwindle. Monarch butterflies had an estimated population of 1.2 million in 1997. Last month an annual survey counted an all-time low of only 10,000.

David Wagner, an entomologist at the University of Connecticut who was unrelated to the study, shared the researchers' fears about the ever-shrinking bug population.

"In just 30 or 40 years we are talking about losing half the butterflies (and other insect life) over a continent!" Wagner said in an email to CNN.

"The tree of life is being denuded at unprecedented rates."

The researchers said that multiple factors contribute to the population issues, like shrinking habitats, rising temperatures, and the abundance of pesticides. They also warned that the decrease in butterfly population isn't just an aesthetic issue, but could greatly affect the pollination cycle that keeps the country's crops thriving.