25 October 2011
With Dr. Ridlon (Kip) Kiphart as my guide, we conducted a drought research trip through part of southwestern Texas from 10-13 October 2011. We travelled about 100 miles northwest and then west of Boerne, Kendall Co., checking roadsides, ranches, local nurseries and Garner State Park.

The purpose of our research was to assess the potential effects of the severe 2011 drought on the wellbeing of the monarch butterfly. These images bear on our findings, and capture some of the highlights of our trip.

We were particularly interested to obtain samples of nectaring butterflies in order to measure their lipid contents (to be done later in my laboratory). Lipids are stored in the abdomens of the monarchs and serve as the fuel to power their migration to Mexico and also to sustain them through the winter and spring remigration. We made numerous interesting and relevant observations on the nectaring biology of the monarch.

Immediately prior to our trip (on 8 October), local minor rainstorms occurred and we could see evidence of greening in some areas. Overall, this part of Texas is scorched and the native wildflowers and the vegetation along roadsides, in pastures and forests and in the dry riverbeds are severely stressed . However, as we realized, there are nectar havens in bottomland forests along the river floodplains. It is likely that this riverine habitat plays a key role in allowing monarchs to fuel up on their way to Mexico.

Photo Gallery

Acknowledgements
We are extremely grateful to Monika Maeckle and Bob Rivard, Chipper and Carolyn Dippel, Emily Neiman and George Cates, William Collins, Rick Meyers, Ernesto Carino and Ysmael Espinosa for access to their lands; and for field reconnaissance and assistance to Mary Kennedy, Patty Leslie Pasztor, Mike Quinn and Jenny Singleton.