After the leading edge of migration stretched north toward the end of April, things have been a little quieter over the first 10 days of May.
With monarchs arriving earlier than usual in states like Michigan and Wisconsin, some monarch enthusiasts expressed concern that milkweed and nectar resources would be limited, and that cold temperatures could freeze eggs, larvae, and flowers.
Our first report came in from Michigan on April 23, along the state’s eastern edge. In the more than two weeks of time that have followed, we’ve only received two photo-confirmed reports of monarchs from the state, both from Lake Orion: a weathered-looking monarch on May 4, which you can see below, and another on May 10.
Moving into Ontario, we’ve received several reports, but no photos so far to confirm that the first monarchs have officially made their arrival. There have been a couple just over the border from Michigan in early May, near where photos confirmed monarchs in eastern Michigan.
In Wisconsin, our first report was received on April 21, but, like in Michigan, there hasn’t been an explosion of sightings in the rest of the Badger State, with only a handful of reports, none confirmed by photo. Only two reports, in Beloit and Walworth, have been received in May, as of this news update’s writing.
Minnesota has had some reports clustered around the Twin Cities, but no photos yet. We'll see what the next few weeks bring in the Upper Midwest.
Where have eggs and larvae been seen?
Eggs have been reported in the Chicago area, as well as near Des Moines, Iowa, and eastern South Dakota. However, there haven’t been sightings in the last few weeks after reports in late April.
“Common milkweed and swamp is just coming up,” a Journey North volunteer in Harrisburg, South Dakota, wrote on April 24. “Today, I see monarch eggs on the common.”
We received two reports in Iowa in April, but none since. We did receive some reports from eastern Nebraska in early May, like Melanie’s in Omaha on May 3. Melanie reported at least 10 eggs.
Omaha is the site of one of our northernmost reports of caterpillars this spring, after an observation of two larvae on butterfly weed on May 10.
Reports have continued from Illinois, including an egg report from Sandy in Aurora, Illinois, west of Chicago, on May 10. Breeding is still occurring further south, like in Shawnee, Kansas, where Marcia reported three eggs on May 9.
“I saw my very first monarch egg! I looked further and saw two more,” Marcia wrote from Shawnee on May 9. “Although I haven’t seen a butterfly yet, obviously a female has been here.”
A few northeastern observations
In the northeastern United States, sightings stalled around the general area of New York City, but a few sightings have come in up the coast to advance the leading edge of the migration, including one near Boston.
“First monarch of the season,” Dana wrote on May 8. “Very early!”
In Franklin Township, New Jersey, Tracy reported four larvae on May 2, writing, “These very early monarch caterpillars are doing well. They are lucky to have ample leaves to eat, as I am a registered monarch waystation. The plants are small but plentiful.”
Our northernmost egg reports were in the New York City area in April, but sightings haven’t moved further north since April 17.
The western edge
In these news updates, we talk a lot about the northern edge of migration, but what about the western edge? Where does the eastern monarch migration stretch to as monarchs funnel out of Mexico?
On May 3, we received our westernmost report in recent weeks, as Allyson in Long Pine, Nebraska, reported a monarch laying eggs on common milkweed. Long Pine is at longitude -99.62, in north-central Nebraska. You can see it just below the South Dakota border on the map below.
Almost straight south, in Mangum, Oklahoma (longitude -99.5), Renee reported an adult monarch on May 5. You can see it on the map below as the darkest dot, just west of the rest of Oklahoma's reports.
If you’re looking for news on the western migration of monarchs from states like Arizona and New Mexico, check out the most recent western monarch news.