You are correct that according to what scientists believe, butterflies of any type were rare in prehistoric times.
Back during pre-white-man days in the "New World" before the 1500s, I suppose the northeast had its share of fields either in natural glens or the result of broken beaver dams.
I don't regard the historic-populations of Monarch butterflies to be a key issue here. What is - at least to me - is the unecessary eradication of any sort of wildlife. As "smart" as modern wildlife and science experts like to sound - there is ONE thing they have proven over and over. We do not understand all the interrelationships of forms of life on this planet, small or large. The milkweed "shortage" is just one factor in the demise of Monarch butterflies. General deforestation is another. All are tied to humans populating unchecked and trying to maintain a lifestyle as if natural resources are unlimited. I don't have any proposed solutions for long-term except of having better population control for humans - which likely will NEVER happen due to any plan. Disaster? Maybe. Lots of wildlife issues going on besides butterflies. Like the bat and honey bee demise? Lets see how well farming goes when all the bees are gone and we have to pollinate by hand like they do in Japan.
My wife and I certainly do not fit of def. of "tree huggers" used here in my opinion. Do we kill things just for fun or because they propose an "inconvenience? No. Do we live a lifestyle that is dependent on modern science, medicine, and unrenewable resources? Yes. Kind of hard not too.
That all said, I don't buy the idea that we are the only living entity on earth that has importance nor do I believe anyone gave us "dominion." "Stewardship" maybe. If so, that means a "loan" and we are supposed to try to give back what we borrowed in "good shape" if possible.
On a sidenote - someone mentioned the idea of "ripping up a lawn" and planting milkweed - as if nobody would ever want to do it? We did not "rip up" our lawn, but we did stop mowing it over 10 years ago. My wife and I find it kind of amazing how many wild plants have grown since we stopped mowing. We did NOT plant any milkweed but plenty is there. In my fields though, I still use a generic form of Roundup, along with Bicep Lite and Prowl. We tried some "Three Sisters" farming for awhile like the Huron and Iroquois Indians used to do (pole beans, squash, and corn intermixed). Lot of work and doesn't work so great with tall corn. The Indians used short corn that was not so nutrient dependent.
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