Emerging in Diapause
Monarchs change dramatically at this time of year, in physiology and in behavior. Adults are in diapause when they emerge from the chrysalis. They are full grown — but not reproductively mature. Their reproductive development will be on pause until February. These monarchs will not begin to mate until next spring in Mexico.

Becoming Migratory
Watch for signs of migratory monarchs:

• flying in directional flight
• roosting in clusters overnight
• nectaring intensely

Appearing in the South
Beginning in late July, we suddenly received many reports of reproductive monarchs in central and southern states. Where are the monarchs coming from?

• Are these early migrants coming down from the north and breeding or...
• Have monarchs been present all summer but not in numbers large enough to detect?

If the monarchs originated in the north, their offspring are likely the 5th generation of the year.