Monarch Migration Update: June 13, 2013
Please Report
Your Sightings!
Report Your Sightings
Migration tracking continues as the monarchs advance into the Northeast and Canadian Provinces.

This Week's Update Includes:

Image of the Week
Monarch or Viceroy?Monarch or Viceroy?
News: Slowly but Surely...
More Numerous in the North
People in the northern tier of the breeding range are finally seeing their first monarchs. Amazingly, six monarchs were sighted on Tuesday in South Dakota:

"I have seen at least 6 monarchs today, the first I have seen this year. It has been a very cool, wet spring and I was beginning to wonder if we were going to see any."
June 11, 2013 Branden, SD

Late Southern Sightings
To the south, several people reported their first-of-year monarchs last week too. From North Carolina:

"The wait is over! I spotted my first monarch this morning as she was flying around, hopefully laying eggs on our milkweed. This year's first sighting comes two months later than 2012."
June 11, 2013 Yanceyville, NC

These late southern sightings help explain the profile shown on the graph. Notice the surge in sightings during the past two weeks.

Dr. Brower's Annual Census
In Wisconsin, Dr. Brower has conduced an annual census since 1984. This year had the fewest monarchs and the latest milkweed he's ever seen.

"We think the cold spring is the culprit, but the paucity may also reflect the low numbers of overwintering monarchs that made it back from Mexico into the US this past spring. In either case it is not auspicious because it will likely mean there is one less summer generation produced in the north country." Full article

Monarch butterfly in Tamaulipas
Six in a Day
Image: Debby Radio
 
Monarch Butterfly eggs in New Jersey
Sightings per Week

 
Dr. Lincoln Brower's Annual Census
Annual Census
Explore: Monarch or Viceroy?
Viceroy butterflies look like monarchs to the untrained eye. How can you be sure which species you're seeing?

Article
The Migration: Maps and Journal
  • Please report your monarch and milkweed sightings.
Monarch butterfly migration map Map of milkweed emergence: Spring 2013 Journal Page
Journal

Monarchs
(map | animation | sightings)
Milkweed
(map | animation | sightings)
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Next update June 20, 2013