Almost There...
June 8, 2017 by Elizabeth Howard
  Migration is almost complete — but keep reporting! The breeding season is in full force now, and monarchs need nectar to fuel their active lives.

 
Monarch Butterfly

"First monarch sighted today, feeding at some garden allium in our backyard. Earliest that I can remember seeing a Monarch. A very pleasant surprise," said Art Ross from Ottawa, Ontario on June 3, 2017.

Monarchs Reach Manitoba
The migration continued to expand into new territory this week. Multiple monarchs were reported from latitude 50°N in Manitoba where the lilacs bloom in June.

"I observed one monarch feeding on my lilac bush," wrote Dorothy Dilay on June 5th from Winnipeg.

Monarchs have been following a nectar corridor of blooming lilacs all spring. People have reported nectaring on lilacs for over 2 months, since early April in Kansas.

Stalled in Northeast
At the northeastern reaches of the migration trail, cold, rainy weather has stalled the migration for almost two weeks.

"When the jet stream plunges south, like this week, the weather often turns cooler and wetter than average. The pattern caused the storm system to stall," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams said.

Let's watch for the monarchs to move north next week...

Report Your First
No matter when you see your first monarch, we want to know about it. Your sighting is important even if other people have already reported from your region.

Nectar and Reproduction
The demands of reproduction require energy. Females are producing hundreds of eggs and flying in search of milkweed. Males are patrolling milkweed plants to find females, and producing energy-rich spermataphores for mating.

For Your Butterfly Garden
Find the best nectar plants for your region. Identify flowering times so you can provide nectar from the time monarchs arrive in the spring until they migrate south in the fall.

"We can't just plant milkweed. We have to plant nectar plants too," said Ina Warren.

Monarch Butterfly Egg Taken by Ant
Got Nectar?
 
Monarch Butterfly Egg Taken by Ant
Energy for Migration
 
Monarch Butterflies Mating
Energy for Reproduction
 
Report Your First
No matter when you see your first monarch, we want to know about it.
Evaluation: Share your thoughts!
Please take a few minutes to complete our Annual Evaluation. With your help, we can document Journey North's reach, impact and value. Thank you!

Journey North Evaluation
Spring Migration 2017
 
Report all monarchs you see — adults, eggs, larvae.
Monarch butterfly migration map Monarch butterfly migration map Monarch butterfly migration map
What to Report Adults
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Eggs
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Monarch butterfly migration map Map of milkweed emergence: Spring 2017 Monarch butterfly migration map
Larvae
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Milkweed
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Other Observations
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Next June 15, 2017