Monarch Butterfly Update: March 17, 2011
Please Report
Your Sightings!

Here they come! The mass migration from Mexico is underway, and monarchs are appearing on the breeding grounds to the north. Three cheers for the monarchs that survived the long winter in Mexico! During spring migration, each female monarch leaves a trail of eggs behind her as she travels. As you track monarch migration this spring, think of the hope embodied in tiny eggs.

This Week's Update Includes:

Image of the Week

Monarch Butterfly Egg

Little Egg, Big Hope!

News: Here They Come!

Leaving Mexico's Winter Sanctuaries

"The massive migration has indeed started!" came the word from Mexico on Monday. Butterflies were everywhere as Estela Romero drove to the sanctuary—drinking, mating, flying, and ascending into the sky, apparently leaving their winter home.

"All along the main road, at every moment, it felt like little Rocinante and I would crash into butterflies as we drove along the way. Everywhere I turned my head, I could see monarchs! So do not despair. Monarchs are on the move and soon they will be there with you, birthing a new generation."

Monarch Butterflies Drinking Water Before Spring Departure

Monarch Butterflies Drinking Water Before Spring Departure

Thirsty butterflies preparing for their journey north.
Photos courtesy of David Hind

Monarch butterflies leaving winter sanctuaries in Mexico

Good-bye Butterflies!

 

Filming in Monarch Sanctuary

IMAX Film Coming

Sightings on the Breeding Grounds

"Saw our first faded monarch at 1:05 today!" wrote Mr. Aschen from the Texas Gulf coast on Sunday. This was the sign he had been waiting for. He had seen fresh-winged monarchs earlier this month, but Sunday's faded monarch was a first, and probably came from Mexico.

People have reported 65 monarchs since March 1st. These early March sightings raise a key question:

Where Did the Monarchs Come From?
Look at the migration map. Notice where monarchs were sighted during the winter months (red triangles). Look at recent sightings, reported since March 1st (dots). At this time of year, it's impossible to know the origin of the early monarchs sighted.

  • Did the monarchs come from Mexico?
  • Or did the monarchs come from the Gulf coast region?

Wings Tell a Tale
Observers are paying careful attention to the condition of the monarch's wings for a clue about the butterfly's origin. Faded-winged butterflies may have come from Mexico. (Those butterflies would be at least 6 months old!) Fresh-winged butterflies may be offspring of monarchs that bred in the Gulf coast region during the winter months.

Monarch butterfly on Milkweed Plant

Finding Milkweed in Texas
Image: Lawrence Mayra

 

Wings Tell a Tale
Image: Harlen Aschen

Slideshow: A New Generation: The Cycle of Life Continues

Spring is a critical time for monarchs. As one generation reaches the end of its life, a new generation begins. This slideshow introduces the essential questions about spring migration and prepares students to predict the path monarchs will travel based on the butterflies' biological needs and habitat-readiness in springtime.

Essential Question: When and where will monarchs travel to find what they need this spring?

 

The Migration: Maps and Journal Page
Pre-migration map: Winter monarch butterfly sightings (January or February) Map of milkweed emergence: Spring 2011 Journal Page
Monarchs
(map/sightings/home)
Milkweed
(map/animation/sightings)
Journal
Traveling Out of Mexico:
Where Will the Monarchs Go?

Let's find out when and where monarchs and milkweed appear this spring.

The next Monarch Migration Update will be posted on March 24, 2011.