Monarch Butterfly Migration | Journey North Citizen Science Project Tracks Spring and Fall Monarch Butterfly Migration

Monarch Butterflies

Monarch Butterfly News: May 22, 2014
By Elizabeth Howard

Please Report
Your Sightings!

Sightings doubled this week as monarchs sailed into the Upper Midwest. Dr. Chip Taylor is watching for prospects of recovery.

News: Migration Moves into Upper Midwest
Spotlight: How Find Milkweed?
Maps: Report Your Sightings
Evaluation: Share your thoughts!

Image of the Week

Female monarch butterfly in New York City

City Monarch
David Jakim

News: Migration Moves into Upper Midwest

"We may be seeing the first wave," predicted Laura Walter of Iowa's Waverly-Shell Rock High School. Indeed, a sudden explosion of sightings occurred this week as the migration spread across Iowa — and into Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Ohio.

Prospects for Recovery
Dr. Chip Taylor is assessing the chances for this year's population to rebound.

"The progression of monarchs northward has been slower than normal due to the cold weather. Monarchs need to arrive north of 40°N in good numbers before the end of May for the population to have any chance of rebounding. If the arrivals are few — or mostly delayed — until the first 10 days of June, the chances that the population will increase this year will be greatly diminished. I'll be watching JN very closely for the next 22 days." May 19, 2014

Citizen Scientists Needed
Help assess the status of the monarch recovery by counting monarchs this summer.

Monarch Larva Monitoring Project

Midwest Monarch
Paul Mugan

Year-to-Year

Finding Milkweed

Spotlight: How Do Monarchs Find Milkweed?

Explore the combination of visual and chemical cues monarchs need to detect milkweed.

Slideshow and Journal

Maps: Report Your Sightings


What to Report	First Adult report \| map \| list	Milkweed report \| map \| list

First Egg report \| map \| list	First Larvae report \| map \| list	Other Observations report \| map \| list

Evaluation: Share your thoughts!

Please take a few minutes to complete our Annual Evaluation. With your help, we can document Journey North's reach, impact and value. Thank you!

Journey North Annual Evaluation

Next Update May 29, 2014