Sailing on south winds, monarchs advanced dramatically during the past week. The migration entered 8 new states and our first Canadian province. Go monarchs! This week, compare a moth's migration to the monarch's. What can we learn from the corn earworm?

This Week's Update Includes:

• News: Alien Crosses into Canada; Identified as D. Plexippus
• Feature: What Can We Learn from the Corn Earworm?
• The Migration: Maps and Journal Page
• Annual Evaluation: Please Share Your Thoughts

News: Alien Crosses into Canada; Identified as D. Plexippus

This news just in from Canadian monarch expert, Don Davis:

"Please be informed that on May 7th, the Canadian border services and CSIS (Canadian Security and Intelligence Service) were alerted to the fact that one D. plexippus had crossed the border into Canada. Just as the RCAF was preparing to scramble their jets, the red alert was cancelled and the intruder was identified as a friendly alien. A statement released by our newly elected Prime Minister Stephen Harper indicates that all such further arrivals will be most happily welcomed across the land!"

Creative Writing: Make the News!
Write a newspaper article to announce the arrival of the first monarch in your hometown. Be creative! (See Journal Page.)

Monarchs Blast Past Latitude 40N
Look at them go! Butterflies broke beyond that latitude 40N barrier across the land, from Nebraska to New York. One jumped all the way to Minnesota, to almost 45N. (See animated map.)

"Scattered" is one word to describe the location of this week's 39 sightings. First-of-the-year monarchs were reported from 17 different states and 1 Canadian province. When the new generation appear in full force, sightings won't be so few and far between.

From Mexico or First Generation?
Where are the monarchs coming from? Those that overwintered in Mexico would be nearly 9 months old by now, so we don't think many are around. Could a Texas-born butterfly possibly be in Minnesota already, for example? Let's think it through:

• The first report of a 1st generation monarch came from Texas on April 16th.
• The Minnesota sighting was on May 10th, 24 days later.
• It's 1,100 miles from Texas to Minnesota.
• If the monarch flew __ miles per day, it could make it from Texas to Minnesota.
• If the monarch flew in 25 mph wind, it could fly 1,100 miles in ___ hours.
• Over 24 days, the butterfly would have to fly for ___ hours per day.

What do you think? Are these flight speeds possible? (Click here to check our math.)

Whoosh! There's That Pattern Again
This temperature map shows a typical day last week. See the bulge of warm air that stretches across the Central United States, from Texas to the Dakotas? Strong south winds were pumping that warm air northward. This wind map shows the pattern. On the ground, here's what an Iowa observer noted:

May 10: Hartley, Iowa
"Saw our first adult Monarch (looking frazzled) today! The wind has been extremely high from the south and south east the past couple days (over 35 mph) and they blew in!"

By the way, these wind maps only show conditions on the ground. The wind is stronger up high where the monarchs can fly.

Whoosh!

There's That Pattern Again

• Annual Evaluation: Please Share Your Thoughts