Early
sighting in North Carolina
Spring, 2002
Did
the Monarch Come from Mexico?
People across the continent put their heads together on this one. They
came up with 6 reasons why they thought it?s possible and 16 reasons why
it's not. (See below. >>)
Meanwhile, along came another sighting from North Carolina. This time from Jeff Pippen of Duke University's Biology Department who also coordinates North Carolina's online butterfly network. (Read, He must know what he's talking about!)
March
15, 2002
"I got point blank looks at it for a few minutes as it piddled around
in a short grassy lawn. It was fairly worn, but still flew well. My feeling
is that it managed to overwinter in the area rather than having migrated
up from Mexico. But who knows for sure?" (More...>>)
Dr. Lincoln
Brower shared these thoughts:
"In
mild winters, which this one was, some monarchs get holed up on the islands
off the North Carolina shore. I think they get stranded during fall migration
on those islands along the coast. They don't like to cross water, so reach
a dead end. The Gulf Stream isn't too far off the North Carolina shore
(see map), so it stays pretty warm during the winter. I think the butterflies
hang out over the winter and, if they manage to survive, they probably
move back inland. So in a year like this it's ambiguous whether the butterfly
is coming up from Mexico or if it's one that just managed to survive the
winter."
So, as Dr. Bill Calvert says when nature's patterns don't fit our expectations, "This is so delightfully confusing!" Nobody has the answer--not even the scientists! How would YOU design a research project to shed light on this question?
Students and Others Share Their Ideas:
People across the continent put their heads together on this one. They came up with 6 reasons why they thought it?s possible and 16 reasons why it's not.
Among the reasons why they thought it's possible that the butterfly came from Mexico:
- It might have left Mexico early.
- One might have flown ahead of the rest.
- The recent storm and high wind may have blown a monarch off course.
And the reasons why they thought it's impossible or improbable that the butterfly came from Mexico:
- It might have stayed in North Carolina over the winter.
- Maybe it was from Florida. They left from Florida to go to North Carolina.
- I'm afraid someone hatched it.
- It would be a viceroy. Distinction between the monarch and viceroy has been hard, but a little use of common sense may distinguish between them.
More sightings in North Carolina!
Map as of April 4, 2002
Temperatures
