Monarch
Butterfly Migration Update: April 7, 2006 |
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This
Week's Migration Map and Data |
Use
today's data to make your own map, or print and analyze our map:
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News
from the Migration Trail |
Mike
Quinn must have a crystal ball on his desk at Texas Parks and Wildlife.
He saw the future clearly last week when he said, "By this
time next week, there should be plenty of Oklahoma and even perhaps
a few Kansas monarch reports!"
Take
a look at the map. Sixty six new sightings were reported, 11 from
Oklahoma, one from Kansas, and 54 others from across the southeastern
U.S. |
A
Second Wave Moves Across the Southeast |
Dozens
of observers talked about monarchs streaming by--past windows, over
playgrounds, and into gardens. The migration's leading edge is now
approaching 36N. Who saw them this week?
- Third
grade students at Overstreet School in Starkville, Mississippi,
who have been watching closely and saw a monarch on Monday. "When
this butterfly came flying through the playground area the students
started shouting," said 3rd grade teacher Ms. McCarthy.
- In
Kim Baily's backyard in Georgia, the first monarch appeared on
Monday "exactly one year from when I spotted the first monarch
in my yard last spring!" she noted.
- "I've
seen more monarchs over that past week than I can ever recall
for early April," said Mr. McCord of Charleston, SC. He saw
12 on Wednesday and on 19 Thursday. It is difficult to get a good
read on when monarchs from Mexico get to the South Carolina coastal
area, he added, because some monarchs overwinter here.
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A faded monarch was gliding along the sidewalk about four feet
from the ground as it headed north down Main Street in Jonesboro,
Arkansas on April 3. But in Beggs, Oklahoma Diane McGowen noted
something new: several female monarchs in excellent condition,
flying low and heading north.
Where
did these fresh monarchs come from? Are they the first members of
the next generation on the wing?
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When Will the Next Generation Appear? Discussion
of CQ #9 |
We
challenged students to predict when Ms. Monarch's first child
would become an adult:
"We
think Ms. Monarch's baby will become an adult on April 16 (Easter
Sunday)," said students in Wirtz, Virginia.
This
sounds like a very good estimate! We checked with Dr. Edson. The
oldest caterpillar just entered the 5th instar stage on April
5th, at 24 days old.
"They
are moving at a slower pace through their stages than the normal
30-day cycle we see in the summer. I am not sure if it is because
the room temperature has been in the upper 60's and lower 70's,
or it is because of the artificial diet they have been eating.
Sounds like something to research."
We
will update this calendar regularly so you can keep your life
cycle book up to date. Meanwhile, Ms. Monarch is STILL laying
more eggs!
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Watch the Baby Grow!
Monarch
Growth Calendar
and Life-cycle Book >> |
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Day
21
4th Instar |
Day
24
5th Instar |
Look
at the growth in just 6 days!
2nd, 3rd and 4th instars |
How
Many Eggs Can a Single Monarch Lay? |
First Mrs. Nunnally's 2nd grade class predicted 398 eggs but, after
seeing a monarch's egg-laying behavior last week, they they revised
their prediction to 650.
But
Ms. Monarch is surpassing everyone's expectations. As of noon on
Thursday she had laid 708 eggs!
Here
is her egg-laying calendar, which Dr. Edson is updating it regularly.
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Ms.
Monarch's Egg-laying Calendar
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Speaking of Eggs: A Conversation With
Dr. Lincoln Brower
By Elizabeth Howard |
What do you find most interesting about a monarch egg, I asked Dr.
Brower while talking on the phone this morning. His response was
so fascinating that I asked him to stop. I quickly plugged the phone
into a voice recorder so I wouldn't miss a word. We will have the
full conversation for you next week, but this is how Dr. Brower
began:
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"Monarchs
have to be careful not to lay more than one egg per plant (or leaf)
because, when they hatch, the caterpillar will eat its own eggshell.
The next thing it will do is wander over and _____."
Challenge
Question # 10
"How do you suppose Dr. Brower completed his sentence? Explain
why you think monarchs typically lay one egg on a milkweed plant
(or leaf)."
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Answers from the Monarch Butterfly Expert
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Dr.
Karen Oberhauser needs no introduction to most of our readers. She
is well known and respected among students, teachers, and her scientist-colleagues
alike. Dr. Oberhauser has been studying monarchs for 22 years. Her
education program, "Monarchs in the Classroom," provides
curriculum North America-wide--and over 50,000 monarch caterpillars
to schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
"What
is your favorite question people have asked you over the years?"
first grade students in Glyn Ellen, Illinois wanted to know.
After some thought, Dr. Oberhauser said this: "My favorite
kind of question is one that I don’t know the answer to, because
it makes me think about new things about monarchs! Your question
about how many monarchs are in the United States made me think!"
How many monarchs are in the United States? Read on...
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Wanted: Your Monarch and Milkweed Sightings
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We
can't track migration without your help!
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The
Next Monarch Migration Update Will Be Posted on April 14, 2006 |