More About Monarchs!

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Male Monarchs have a dot on their upper hind wings.

Oh yes, the Monarch Committee can't get enough of monarchs.  While our unseasonably warm weather allowed us to enjoy monarchs this winter, we're watching to see how the great migration of monarchs returning from Mexico goes.  Last year, the reserve got hit by a late season snowstorm.   Excessive snowfall and high winds killed many butterflies and the firs that protect them from the elements.  So far, the weather has been kinder, so we're crossing our fingers.

The article, "Monarchs on the March," mentions more information and videos available at our website.  Here they are:

• Video on YouTube of Monarch Complete Life Cycle - From the egg to the adult butterfly from the Chicago Nature Museum.

• Monarch Butterfly Lifecycle - Graphic showing the stages and their durations in the monarch lifecycle.

• How Does a Caterpillar Turn into a Butterfly?  To become a butterfly, a caterpillar first digests itself. But certain groups of cells survive, turning the soup into eyes, wings, antennae and other adult structures

• Where to See Migrating Monarchs Along the Gulf Coast  March and October are peak viewing months to see the long-distance monarchs migrate.

• Follow their travels wherever you are!  Click on the map to track sightings of monarchs this season and for past seasons.  Read about the monarch journey as it unfolds.  Maybe you'll want to subscribe to the news updates or post some sightings of your own.

And, in case you missed them, here our past postings on monarchs from beginning to the present:

•  Support Your Local Monarchs!  by Mickey Fraser, President, Garden Club of Switzerland

•  Monarchs in Mexico

•  The Monarch's Fate is in Our Hands

•  On the Wing: The Great Monarch Migration Begins!