Journey North Monarch Butterfly Spring 2005

Monarch Migration Update: April 1, 2005

Today's Report Includes:

Latest Migration Map and Data
News from the Migration Trail
The Monarchs Are on the Move!
An Afternoon in Arkansas: Chasing Monarchs With Dr. Edson
Challenge Question #9
Louisiana and Florida Sightings Raise Questions
Where Did the Monarchs Come From? What Will Happen Next?
Challenge Question #10
New Butterfly or Old? Discussion of Challenge Question #8
Mass Migration in California: Discussion of Challenge Question #7

Monarch Migration
(Map and Data)

News from the Migration Trail
The monarchs are on the move! The migration made a clear push into northern Texas last week, and has now crossed the border into Arkansas. Reports from observers plot the migration as far as 33 North and 91 West.

3/30/05 Benbrook, TX (32.66N, 97.45W)
On Wednesday, butterfly specialist Dale Clark saw over a dozen monarchs in less than two hours! "These are definite migrants,” he said, There's not a breeding population here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area through the winter."

3/30/05 Texarkana, AR (33.48N, 93.92W)
The same day, from the southwestern corner of Arkansas, Anita Brisco of Vera Kilpatrick Elementary sent the news: "The first monarch of this spring just flew into our Outdoor Classroom. The wings were fairly faded but it looked healthy and was flying strong in an easterly direction."

3/31/05 Monticello, AR (33.58N, 91.79W)
The next day, near the southeastern corner of Arkansas, Dr. Jim Edson saw, "my first monarch of the season fly by my office window at 1:05 this afternoon. I wasn't able to determine if it was a male or female, but it did look faded like those that have spent the winter in Mexico. Oops, there goes another one by the window. Gotta run."

An Afternoon in Arkansas: Chasing Monarchs With Dr. Edson

How many eggs will Dr. Edson's monarch butterfly lay in Arkansas?

With that, Dr. Edson took off with his net. In less than three he was back: “Success! I captured a female at about 4:00 pm. She was nectaring on some vetch in the wildflower plot. Now we will see if she will lay some eggs.”

He even sent her picture! This monarch has been alive for a long time. She survived her fall migration to Mexico, the 5-month overwintering period, and her spring migration as far as Arkansas--over 1,000 miles. She’ll spend the last days of her life in the safety of Jim Edson's lab, laying eggs for the next generation. Consider this:

Challenge Question #9
“How long do you think Dr. Edson’s female monarch will live, and how many eggs do you think she will lay?” Do some research, consider this monarch’s age, and then send us your prediction.

(To respond to this question, please follow the instructions below.)

Louisiana and Florida Sightings Raise Questions
Notice the new sightings in the Gulf Coast states of LA and FL. In both cases, the monarchs appeared to be old. Dr. Gary Ross saw three worn females and one worn male in Mandeville, LA. On the same day in Woodville, Florida, a very pale monarch "appeared to be looking for milkweed, since it landed on every sprig of new growth as it flew."

Where Did the Monarchs Come From? What Will Happen Next?
Look closely at today's migration map. Consider the many questions these Gulf Coast sighting raise (see student handout). Then tell us your prediction:

Challenge Question #10
"In which ten states do you think monarchs will appear next? List the states in order. Explain your reasoning as part of your answer."

(To respond to this question, please follow the instructions below.)

New Butterfly or Old? Discussion of Challenge Question #8
Miss Smith's third graders met in the Science Lab today to learn more about Monarchs. They wrote, "We think that...


Butterfly #1 has wing condition 2 and stayed in Texas for the winter.	Butterfly #2 has wing condition 0 and we think he was recently born in Texas.	Butterfly #3 has wing condition 4 and over-wintered in Mexico.

Great job wing-watching! As to which of the butterflies pictured were truly from Mexico, nobody knows for sure, but you've learned one way to look for clues.

Mass Migration in California: Discussion of Challenge Question #7
We asked, "Do YOU think the massive migration in California this week was of monarch butterflies?"

Ms. Gradowski's sixth graders in Bay City, Michigan were called upon twice to answer this question. They were in class when the telephone rang. It was Ms. G's sister calling from California while she was driving through a swarm of butterflies!

Here's how the students thought through the question, along with links to newspaper stories and comments from experts.

How to Respond to Today's Monarch Challenge Question

1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge-monarch@learner.org

2. In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge Question #9 (or #10)

3. In the body of your message, answer the question above.

The Next Monarch Migration Update Will Be Posted on April 8, 2005