Catch up on how North American monarchs spent their summer vacation. They are officially in migration mode, which means anybody along their flight path should have the "table prepared" for these hungry long-distance fliers. That means plenty of nectar-laden plants. Right now, the emphasis is not so much on finding milkweed on which to lay their eggs, as it is to consume enough fuel to finish the journey to Mexico's wintering grounds. Click the map image to the left to see the summer and fall monarch sightings recorded at The Journey North's Monarch site.Monarch News July 2016 - It's peak breeding season and the monarchs that will soon hatch are the children of the returning migrating monarch, that will soon die. These children will have children and grandchildren, and finally their great grandchildren (born after mid-August) will be the long distance travelers who will head out for Mexico in the fall. Of course, almost none of our Florida monarchs will take that long journey.
Monarch News August 2016 - In mid-August the "traveling generation" is born. How do they "know" when to leave, and how is this generation physiologically prepared to travel rather than to breed?
Monarch Migration News September 2016 - Monarchs in Canada have started the long journey south. This is the generation that will do the entire flight across the US, overwinter in Mexico, then begin the northward journey to look for places to breed with milkweed to lay their eggs on before they die. As they stop to nectar along this journey, observers are waiting for the tagged individuals to show up. By tracking where each butterfly lands, scientists hope to gain a complete picture of this remarkable migration feat!
Monarchs in our area do not generally join this great migration. We can expect to see them here for at least the next two months. In mid-October, however, consider cutting back your tropical milkweed, which will not die back on its own just yet, to encourage them to move south to warmer grounds.
