Date: 10/12/2023

Number: 1

While picking milkweed to feed my cats I ran across a fairly large cat, maybe a week behind mine. I released mine when they eclosed at the very edge of the cut off date for release, 9/31. Then, it got cold, and its development stalled. At every stage it took days longer than it should as temps remained in the 50’s. It was released on the driest, warmest, day I could find that week, after bringing it in for a few hours to warm up. When it began moving I placed it back outside on a butterfly bush. I think these late monarchs are a product of global warming. They are laying eggs later and later every year. It’s a progression of adaptation to new, warmer, temperatures.

Wyoming, MI

Latitude: 42.9 Longitude: -85.7

Observed by: Sena
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