Thanks to the sheer determination of our Internet Field Team, we have new monarch sightings to report this week. Spotting monarchs is not easy this spring! In today's report, Dr. Lincoln Brower compares this spring's migration in Florida to the 1995 migration. As he explains, instead of seeing up to 30 adult monarchs in an hour as he did in 1995 he is seeing between zero and three adults this year.
No News is News
Notice that Dr. Brower keeps track of the number of monarchs seen during his one hour census. He also keep track of the monarchs he DOESN'T see. This information is equally important! Your monarch sightings are especially important this year AND we encourage you to report the monarchs you are NOT seeing this spring.
Here's How:
1) Find out when monarchs normally return to your region. Call a local nature center, city park or wildlife refuge and if they have this information.
2) When monarch season has arrived, watch for them on a regular basis.
3) Report your sightings (and lack of sightings) to: jn-report@learner.org
4) In the comments section, tell us the date monarchs are usually seen in your region. If a local nature center or park has records of previous year's monarch sightings, please include this information. (Perhaps these people will also notify you when they sight monarchs this spring.) Also describe the condition of milkweed (food for monarch larvae) the availability flowers (whose nectar is food for adult butterflies) and the condition of the monarch's wings.
Why the Wings?
This short discussion about monarch life history contains clues which will help you answer Challenge Question # 84:
"Why do you think it's important to collect information about the condition of the monarch's wings?"
(To respond to this Challenge Question please see the instructions at the end of this report.)
Last August, about the time you were heading back to school, monarch butterflies hatched across North America. With cool fall temperatures approaching, this generation of monarchs migrated to warmer places. Those east of the Rocky Mountains headed to Mexico and those west of the Rockies went to the Pacific Coast.
These monarchs went into a state called "reproductive diapause". This means that, unlike the butterflies of summer, this generation of monarchs did not mate or lay eggs. These monarchs were unusual in another way. During the summer months, monarchs normally live for only 4-6 weeks. In contrast, the aging process is slowed during reproductive diapause. The monarchs that wintered in Mexico and California were able to live for up to 8 months.
In March, they shifted back into a reproductively active state--they mated and the females began to lay eggs. The clock began to tick as the aging process began again. With just a few weeks left to live they have been in a race against time. Their goal is to head north and lay the eggs of next generation. Timing is critical. If they arrive too early, milkweed might not be ready and they could die before laying their eggs. If they arrive too late, spring temperatures in the southern U.S. could be too warm for the eggs, chyrsalis and caterpillars to develop properly.
The timing of this migration--and the journey itself--are guided by instinct alone. Remember, none of these butterflies has ever taken the spring trip before. So, when you see your first monarch butterfly this spring, congratulations are in order!
Good luck in answering this week's Challenge Question!
REPORTS FROM OBSERVERS
Date Location
March 8 Cantonment, Florida (just north of Pensacola)
April 12 Auburn, Alabama
April 13 Hattiesburg, Mississippi
April 13 Tuskegee, Alabama
April 14 New Orleans, Louisiana
April 14 Versailles, Kentucky
April 16 Baton Rouge, Louisiana
April 17 Fredricksburg, Texas
From FLORIDA:
March 8,1996
Just refound your address concerning sighting of Monarch
butterflies. I want to report that our one and only sighting to
date was on March 8 at the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center in
Cantonment, Fl. (just north of Pensacola). It was about 10:00 am,
headed in a southwesterly direction as it flew over our wildflower
meadow. It appeared to be in very good shape, no torn wings, etc
and bright in color. This one individual is the earliest one we have
seen. We don't get too many of them because we don't have a
suitable habitat. However those individuals we do see are usually
not seen until the May-June time frame. After that time we begin to
see maybe 2-3 individuals a week. I can report the next ones we see
if you are interested. Daniel Freeman, Director Roy Hyatt
Environmental Center FREEMAD@mail.firn.edu
From ALABAMA:
April 12,1996
I sighted a monarch in Auburn, Alabama on April 12 at 3:30 PM
Central Daylight Time.There was good wing condition with a low-flying
altitude. This is the blooming season for nectar plants. Auburn is at
32.35 north and 85.26 west.:)
Mrs. Carol Rogow, library media specialist
Carol D Rogow rogowcd@mail.auburn.edu
From MISSISSIPPI:
April 13,1996
David Aborn, the ornithologist at the University of Southern
Mississippi who's writing weekly weather forecasts for songbird
migration, saw a monarch on April 13 on campus in Hattiesburg, MS
From ALABAMA:
April 13,1996
A monarch was sighted in a neighboring town, Tuskegee, Alabama, on
Saturday, April 13, about 5:30 p.m. The wings were in good condition.
The latitude and longitude of Tuskegee are 32.25N and 85.40W.
We are sixth grade students at J.F. Drake Middle School in Auburn, Alabama.
Sam Candler, Emily Caudle, Grace Hannifin, and Curt Pitts
Mrs. Carol Rogow, library media specialist
Carol D Rogow rogowcd@mail.auburn.edu
From LOUISIANA:
April 14,1996
I saw 2 monarchs in Jean Lafitte National Park which is south of
New Orleans. I saw no milkweed in the park but there were plenty of
flowers in bloom to provide nectar. We have planted some milkweed that
is about 8 inches high in our butterfly b garden (I imported from St. Louis)
but have seen on evidence of ant eggs or caterpillars. Last year I think
we saw butterflies within a week after they left Mexico on March 17. I'm
not sure of the exact dat. My students are really concerned that the
milkweed that froze is just beginning to come back. We planted our
butterfly garden last week with plants, and we're keeping our eyes open.
We thought we might have seen one last Friday but it was too far away
to make a definite identification. Please keep us posted about the
progress of the migration.
Janice Catledge and third grade class
MAWSE@jazz.ucc.uno.edu
From KENTUCKY:
April 14,1996
I am from New York and on my vacation in Versailles, Kentucky I saw
one monarch butterfly. On a bush. Adult. Wings in perfect conditon.
15 seconds in same place. Chased away by a dog.
Jeremy Frank van der Heiden
Glen Head School, New York
nsghs@linet01.li.net
From LOUISIANA:
April 16,1996
Monach sighted at 2:55 PM in Baton Rouge
Jessica SJA3@aol.com
From TEXAS:
April 18,1996
Update from central Texas (Austin,Buda,San Marcos area) - I have
located several species of milkweed in the central Texas area
(specifically the Austin, Buda, Kyle & San Marcos area). At this
time I have found a fair number of eggs and have begun our spring
process of caterpillar rearing. Yesterday two monarch butterflies
were observed in the Fredricksburg area. Both were faded and
somewhat tattered. We were able to determine that one was indeed a
female. Her behavior indicated that she was either looking for
nectaring plants or for milkweed for egg laying. Our school,
Pleasant Hill Elementary in Austin, hopes to raise and release a
fair number of butterflies this spring. We will keep you posted.
Cindy Stanford cindy4@tenet.edu
How to Respond to Challenge Questions # 84 :
1. Send an e-mail message to: jn-challenge@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line write: Challenge Question # 84
3. In the Body of your message, answer this question:
"Why do you think it's important to collect information about the condition of the monarch's wings?"
The Next Monarch Butterfly Migration Update Will be Posted on April 30, 1996
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