Monarch Butterfly News: July, 2015
By Elizabeth Howard
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It's peak breeding season. The population builds with each new generation and will reach its peak when fall migration begins in August.

Monarch Butterfly Nectaring on Milkweed
Karen Richardson

News: Peak Breeding Season
Monarchs live for only 2-6 weeks during the breeding season. All energy is focused on reproduction. Females search for milkweed to lay the 400-600 eggs they can produce in a lifetime. Males patrol milkweed in search of females for mating.

Four Generations
Monarchs can produce a new generation in about 30 days, resulting in four generations during the typical breeding season. The population grows with each new generation so monarchs become increasingly noticeable as the summer wears on.

The Migratory Generation
This fall, the monarchs that migrate to Mexico will be 4th generation butterflies, the great-great-grandchildren of those that left Mexico last spring. Monarchs born after mid-August will likely be part of the migratory generation. Get ready to watch for signs that the monarchs are on their way to Mexico again.

Monarch Butterfly Egg
Monarch Egg
 
Summer Tracking
Report monarch eggs, larvae, and adults this summer, and tell us how many you see.
Spotlight: Monarch Cycles
Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle Monarch Butterfly Annual Cycle Monarch Butterfly Calender Wheel for Generations
Life Cycle Annual Cycle Count Generations
Conservation News

Brochure to Promote Citizen Science
A beautiful new handout from Wild Ones summarizes monarch-related citizen science projects. Download, print, and promote to people in your network.

How you can help Monarch Butterflies at Sanctuary in Mexico
Maps: Report Your Sightings
Monarch butterfly migration map Monarch butterfly migration map Monarch Butterfly Summer Sightings
What to Report First Adult
report | map | list
Summer Sightings
report | map | list
 
Next Update August 1, 2015