Monarch Watch Forums

by **Jim** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 12:55 pm

Monarch sightings for the East North Central region of the United States (IN, IL, MI, OH, WI) - 2004 to 2008.

by **donna0** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 12:40 pm

We had seen no adults here in Midland, although we found 4 eggs on June 25 (usually have seen and found eggs early June) of these only 2 pupated on July20 --others disappeared inspite of protective netting.

I saw one adult checking our milkweed on Thurs. 22 of July but still have seen no more eggs. :shock:

by **Sarah Dalton** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 2:06 pm

Finding a few eggs now, few and far between though.....
I did hit the jackpot the other day and found 15 at one site, probably all from one female, I imagine....

by **8babycaterpillars** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 10:40 am

Im in michigan and I have seen two adults butterflies one on the road

I think a car hit it not sure and then one in my yard and then I found 2 eggs which one has emerge and is a tiny baby caterpillar

8babycatepillars

by **dawnm** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 9:01 am

Here in Petoskey, MI we normally start seeing adult monarchs around the second week of July. Didn't see our first one until July 22 and a second sighting on July 27th. Have been monitering our usual milkweed stands only to see one large caterpillar. They seem to be very sparse so far.

by **8babycaterpillars** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 4:25 pm

are other egg has emerged and is a baby caterpillar of 2 days old and the other is 4 days old...

8babycaterpillars

by **Sarah Dalton** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 5:00 pm

Now I know where they are ---- SWAMP MILKWEED!!!

Just went out and got 40 eggs in two hours -- checking both common and swamp milkweed -- the common is growing pods and is already starting to yellow and I found very few eggs on it --- but OH! the swamp milkweed is in full bloom and they are laying on the little tiny plants down in the grass! Saw two females working my Little Turtle plot and I even followed one for a while, grabbing her eggs as she laid them!

by **lwk776** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 2:15 pm

I live in Albion...halfway between Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo...and I have a bumper crop of milkweed plus wildflowers and nectar this year, and I have not seen one adult or found one egg. Last year, I was raising several caterpillars at this time....are other people experiencing this? Does it have to do with the wet, cool summer we've been having? My husband and I are disappointed!

by **8babycaterpillars** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 6:07 pm

I forget to post this last week ...We saw a nice female monarch butterfly, she wasnt checking out milkweed that I can tell...just fluttering by next to our house.

And then today, on our way to a family reunion, in Clare county, I saw a
monarch fly over our car as We drove on to our destination.

8babycaterpillars

PS how long does a monarch lay eggs...What month do they not lay eggs.
just curious

by **monarchlady** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 3:58 pm

Sad to say that in Joliet, IL area, I have seen only two monarchs this summer. Other Species, but not monarchs. This area usually has a good number of sightings over the summer. This past week, I went to several prairie habitats- good breeding areas-and looked under milkweed leaves of MANY plants in MANY areas - not one egg - really hard to believe. But, a friend just came back from weekend in St. Louis area and said she sighted a good number of monarchs. - Where are they??? I will be receiving 15 'babies' this week from monarchwatch - so I'll be getting some out there for their journey to El Rosario!!!

by **Sarah Dalton** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 1:03 pm

Finding more adults and eggs now... coming up with some general rules to find good places

A. nectar plants - Always more eggs in the immediate vicinity of these --- here they are ironweed, thistle, mint (!), - (I am now taking butterfly mixed seeds along to scatter in locations that don't have any)
B. Tops of hills - better than bases or slopes
C. Mowed edges facing the prevailing winds --- particularly where the milkweed makes a "wall" to the butterfly's progress. (I even bend plants out into the mowed area as that makes them really attractive - 8 eggs on one plant once!)
D. (I think) more eggs being found on patches that run NS (blocking the prevailing winds) than on patches that run EW?
E. Wet ditches with swamp milkweed --- WADE the creek and check all leaves on the creek side.
F. Sandvine sticking up out of low grass, even in hot seemingly inhospitable places like old gas station gravel lots.
G. More eggs found on the upwind side of patches than downwind (?)

by **homefire** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 1:05 pm

I am getting concerned.

We have enjoyed raising monarchs very much the past two years, but this year we haven't seen a single one yet. Our milkweed patch, as far as I can see, is untouched. Not a caterpillar, not an egg, nothing. My son thought he saw an adult once, but we're not sure. Certainly nothing like last year when we raised almost 2 dozen! Did they all get wiped out in a storm or do I just need to be patient?

There are lots more great spangled frittilaries, silver spotted skippers, and painted ladies than usual--maybe just not a good year for monarchs, though?

by **Mona Miller** » Tue Aug 24, 2004 8:18 pm

I think migration is starting here in Herndon, Virginia. The geese are forming their triangles and honking as they fly over. I have seen a few Monarchs crossing intersections. A fresh male was in my yard today and a few days ago, a female laying eggs on even tiny tropical milkweed plants. The aphids seems to be a part of fall, too and they are all over the place. I was brushing them off some leaves with a watercolor brush inside and I think I'll try that outside tomorrow. Flushing them off the plants with water is creating a lake in my yard.

by **carolv** » Wed Aug 25, 2004 4:29 pm

We are in north west IL and usually I have collected over a hundred eggs/larvae for my students to raise. This year we had about 30, but many of the larvae die, unlike previous years. Could the cool weather have something to do with this? #-o

The good news is we have had one Male butterfly, tagged and released; we now have 2 chrysalids and this morning 4 J's. My student teacher and some students watched one go from a J-Chrysalis the other day, such excitment nature provides!

This summer I have spotted 12 monarchs in my garden, and one driving home. This is more like a weekend count on previous years.
Carol

by **dawnm** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 8:49 pm

Well, it is reassuring to read that some of you are seeing some monarchs. They have been few and far between here in Northern Michigan. Even our milkweed stands haven't been up to snuff. One location my sons and I dubbed "The Milkweed Jungle", an area about 20x30' that is usually chocked full of plants standing 3 1/2 to 4 feet high, was a huge disappointment. We can usually collect 12-20 caterpillars in that area at a time. This year, the area contains only about a dozen plants that are 2' tall. We've had an uncommonly cool and wet summer. Either the conditions have not been favorable for the milkweed, or the rains have come down so hard and heavy that it has knocked down the plants. We're still :shock:

by **Sarah Dalton** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 5:01 pm

Just checked up on my records and found that, though I looked at 20% more milkweed stems than last year (10,000+!), I found only 25% as many eggs/cat/bflys as last year.

I suspect the figure would be even lower if I could separate out the ones I found on swamp milkweed, as I concentrated on it this year and had really good luck on it.

Seems they are way down....

We would have had trouble supplying the schools that depend on us except I managed to catch two breeding females early on and get lots of eggs from them.

I do have a pair out in the tent breeding now and hope to get more eggs from them. I'm finding very few eggs out in the wild now, mostly its big caterpillars ---- and they are HUGE this year since our milkweed is in GREAT shape --- some is higher than six feet!

by **Marianne** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 10:10 am

I was in Pipestone, Minnesota, on September 5th visiting Pipestone National Monument. I was very impressed with the site but the REAL treat was the population of Monarchs at the creek there. I personally have never seen so many Monarchs in one place. I tried to count them but there were too many and they moved too much. At one point I could count eight at rest on one tree with two or three or four on every tree near me. Of course, one would leave one tree and another one or two might settle on it. As I stood there I could see through the trees around the creek and watch more butterflies flitting over the creek and around the bushes. There were butterflies along the entire 3/4 mile walk. It was a humid day, wind out of the south (unusual for them) and in the high 70s. The Rangers said the Monarchs come through every year but had not seen them that day so could not compare the count with other years. They also mentioned that at nearby Blue Mound State Park there was a large population every year on trees on the Burr Oak Trail. One Ranger reported hearing a sound like raindrops under the trees due to the wings of the Monarchs that covered these trees. The Ranger there reported that the Monarchs love the trees on the south face of the trail because it's out of the wind. A brisk wind out of the south was blowing that day. I only saw one Monarch on the trail. I saw six Monarchs in flight over 74 South in Illinois between Davenport and Peoria on the 7th. I also saw three Monarchs flying near wild flowers at a local park in Washington, Illinois, on the 8th.

by **froglegs** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 9:23 pm

I have spent 20+ hours over the last 7 days at 3 prairie restoration sites
and have seen perhaps 50 monarchs total. Managed to tag my first on 9/8 and my 15th yesterday. The general (informal) consensus is that the
population is down 50% from last year. Does anyone have any idea at what point (early, middle, late) Chicago might be in the migration timeframe?
Thanks

by **froglegs** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 7:16 pm

I have tagged a total of 21 in the last two weeks, and have about given up for the season. Would appreciate any info on sites in Chicago area that might be good prospects for next year. Hopefully I can tie into a discussion I am doing for a second grade class.

by **Sarah Dalton** » Sun Sep 26, 2004 3:22 pm

Caught 16 monarchs on 9/18/04, a perfect day here for migration - NW winds and perfect sunny flying weather.... haven't seen many before or since but that day- wow!

by **troot** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 9:17 pm

The season has been very slow in the Twin Cities, but Saturday, after two weeks of no new sightings, we had a monarch land on some cosmos.
We were able to catch it and tag it. There never seemed to be a distinct migration this year - but the monarchs are slowly heading out.

by **carolv** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 11:52 am

Wed. Oct 6 I was surprised to see a lonely Monarch flying around the garden, the night before had been 27 degrees F! Generally I see them along the roadsides as I travel to and from work, and in my flower gardens, however this year I saw very few; at most 3 at a time in the garden during the warm days of Sept.

by **karen** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 9:18 am

... here in Door County, WI. We usually raise several dozen cats, but had only a handful this year. Monarch sightings were few and far between. The best single day this season was Sept. 22, with a large number of monarchs moving along the shore of Lake Michigan, nectaring on goldenrod. That was my only successful day for tagging. Very frustrating! I hope next year shows improvement.

by **ButterflyLady_IL** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 10:20 am

Sat. Nov. 6, was beautiful sunny day, temp. at 65'.

Upon looking out to the raised bed of nectar plants still blooming. ......Wonder of Wonders I saw A Monarch! (Along with Red Admiral, Painted Lady and Sulfurs.)
Pincushion, Cosmos, Blue Salvia, and Marigolds are still blooming.
I was in awe, hadn't seen a Monarch for three weeks.... and already submitted 2004 data sheets as well as returned tags to U of KS.

Sure hope this lone adult makes it farther South.

by **ohiomonarchmama** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 11:55 pm

I was very excited to see my first monarch of the season this week on June 22, 2005...it was a female and landed on the milkweed in my garden in Cleveland, OH area.

by **ButterflyLady_IL** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 8:58 am

I have not actually seen an Adult Monarch yet--- however have found 8 caterpillars and now have 8 chrysalis. 6/12 first formed- last formed 6/18. So they are very close is age. I did use a sleeve to contain them and keep them safe while we watched them progress.
No signs of any others on the other milkweed plants I can keep track of. Due to the heat I am checking plants very early mornings.
It is a very hot dry early summer here... Very dry- instead of 4 inches of rain in May we had .5" So far in June have only had .1", usually have 3-4". Temps this week low to mid 90's - again hotter than usual. Wondering how this will effect the Monarchs.

by **Kelly** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 1:04 pm

It's 6/26 and I have yet to see either an adult or any eggs or even any evidence of cats. My milkweed in my butterfly garden is still untouched. I have 3 types blooming right now, common, swamp and butterfly weed. I"ve talked with others in the area and none of them have any butterfly's either. I volunteer at a nature center out in Lapeer county. I was out there most of the day Saturday and their big butterfly garden was very quite also. Very unusual. Sure hope the one in Cleveland heads this way.

If this trend continues this will be the second year we've had no monarchs at our garden. Last year we at least had giant swallow tails but there have been very few of those this year also. Very frustrating

, sure hope things pick up soon.

Kelly,

Royal Oak Michigan

by **froglegs** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 10:54 pm

Saw my first Monarch of the season 6/30 in a prairie restoration area.
Last year I tagged 5-6 at this site, but am hoping for better results this year since there are now over 100 purple milkweed blooming.

by **wpherrmann** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 8:28 pm

Saw two monarchs on July 1. First of the season. Much earlier than last year. Saw a female laying eggs on milkweed in herb garden on July 2. Isn't that exciting! East Central IN.

by **Pacco** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 4:14 pm

First monarch sighted this year at 2:35 P.M., July 8, 2005, in Plymouth, MI., even though the fine milkweed crop is already putting forth its beautiful pink blooms, and filling the air with a marvelous scent.

by **Kelly** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 12:09 pm

Finally had 2 monarch's on our milkweed today in Royal Oak Mi. At least one of them is sticking around and laying eggs. I hope a bunch of her friends show up, I've got plenty of milkweed to go around this year.

by **MILW** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 9:56 pm

My first adults will be eclosing tomorrow; the past week has been pretty productive here in central Wisconsin, I'm finding 10-12 eggs per day on most days, just on the plants by my house.

by **wpherrmann** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 6:01 pm

Helped with a butterfly count on Sat., July 9 at Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary in Connersville, In. Among others, saw 8 adult monarchs and 2 eggs. Eggs in my yard are now caterpillars. Continue to see adults in yard also.

by **SWAMPMILKWEED** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 7:34 pm

We have seen at least 2-3 dozen adults, mostly females in the past 2 weeks. We have had 35 plus eggs on the swamp milkweed and common milkweed. This is a major plus for us and the nearby vicinity! Something is definitely working in our little urban neighborhood - West Toledo, Ohio. A certified waystation.

by **butterflylover** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 9:29 pm

Thursday July 21st and I have to date found 85 eggs in Garrettsville Ohio, took a while for them to arrive here just saw the first butterfly this last week. But boy have they discovered my milkweed garden now :shock:

. I found 35 eggs today alone. Have never found this many so early, maybe I just haven't tried as hard to find them in the past. I am going to break my record this year :cheesy:

as I am already past it if all eggs hatch. It has been really dry here most of June and July. I was afraid that was going to affect this season. Got a good rain last night finally.

Butterflylover
Debbie Moore
Garrettsville, Ohio

by **Joaniesgarden** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 8:20 pm

At State Farm park in Kettering Ohio. I took pictures of the vine they kept going to. It has to be in the milkweed family? I've had it come up in my vegetable garden and take over everything. The pods look like milkweed with tiny clusters of white flowers. Does anyone know the name of the plant?

by **Teresa** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 7:23 pm

Must be a big year, I have tons of cats and eggs.

by **ohiomonarchmama** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 10:20 am

Posted this on the tagging section of the forum, but thought my OHIO friends might miss it...local Metroparks expert here in Northern OH said tagging here can start the 3rd week of August, so get ready! I have had a good year so far, but there has been a "lull" in finding eggs this past week or so. Seems like most of the butterflies I've released have been males! :roll:

Good luck to all! Julie

by **Teresa** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 7:31 am

My first were born yesterday

I tagged and released 5 and i'm expecting 6 or 7 today. 90 some to go

by **SWAMPMILKWEED** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 9:44 am

I continue to find eggs on swamp milkweed and common milkweed in my urban backyard, certified waystation. Last 3-4 days I have found 5-12 every evening. Fortunately, a friend who works at the Toledo Zoo conservation dept took several eggs to raise last evening - I've run out of room! We have tagged 8 wild/reared this week with plenty more to come. Been a busy monarch season in West Toledo! So wonderful to see....

by **Paul Cherubini** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 11:25 am

The corn and soybean monocultures of south-central Minnesota
are the most reliable areas to find large numbers of monarchs
in Minnesota in mid-late August in my experience:

http://www.saber.net/~monarch/gaylrb.jpg
http://www.saber.net/~monarch/rf.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/m ... olivia.jpg
http://www.saber.net/~monarch/gaylra.jpg

The corn and soybean monocultures of northern Iowa are also
supporting a spectacular outbreak of Painted Lady butterfllies
right now:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/m ... h/gilc.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/m ... h/gila.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/m ... h/gilb.jpg

by **Teresa** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 12:45 pm

Oh what I wouldn't give to witness that!!

by **John Beaulieu** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 1:58 pm

Fantastic photos Paul!
Is this the normal time that the Monarchs start gathering?

by **Stripe** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 2:23 pm

We have seen a ton of monarchs in the last week here in Champaign, IL. My mother-in-law in Minnesota has not being seen too many. Have they began moving South?

by **froglegs** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 7:52 pm

Chicago area: just had the most unreal experience. According to guidelines on migration, peak here should be early Sept, so I waited until after Labor Day last year to tag despite seeing large numbers in late August. Visited Wolf Road Prairie (largest intact prairie remnant this side of Mississippi River) this afternoon and easily saw 50+ in a 20 square yard area, decided to start tagging early to avoid leftover tags like last year.
Others have described seeing several dozen Monarchs during late August here, but this was a first for me. Its truly special to see Monarchs everywhere you turn, spiralling above, coating every available flowering thistle, sometimes 4 to a plant, even one mating pair.

by **ohiomonarchmama** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 2:09 pm

Happy days! I have had about a dozen monarchs at a time on my butterfly bush the past 2 days. I had thought I'd only tag the reared butterflies, but decided it would be interesting to see if the wild ones had any better luck ending up on "the list". I am feeling a little guilty because they seem so frantic to escape the net. I am following the tagging directions, but still afraid of bending a wing by mistake, etc.
I've had quite a show today! At one time, I had 12 monarchs, 2 tiger swallowtails, a couple painted ladies, some silver-spotted skippers, a few cabbage whites, and what I think was a red-spotted purple. Beautiful!

by **Teresa** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 6:13 pm

I know what you mean by feeling guilty about netting them but they are always fine for me and they go about their merry way

I hope those are mine that I released and got confused and went north. hehehe

by **SWAMPMILKWEED** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 8:19 pm

We've tagged about 30 monarchs both reared and wild. Still have about 40 reared left to come. I haven't seen any eggs or 1st instars on the swamp or common milkweed in the last 3 days. They must be done?We've seen dozens of monarch in urban areas, but funny enuf, monarchs in the neighboring, native Oak Openings area are not so abundant. Only counted 5 monarchs at Kitty Todd Preserve, Nature Conservancy, today. Heavily nectaring on rough blazing star. Swallowtails are not as abundant as well as the fritallaries - saw both in large numbers this summer. Eastern Tailed Blue, Pearl Crescent, in abundance as well as cabbage whites. Alas, butterfly season is on tapering off....

by **SWAMPMILKWEED** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 8:21 pm

Oh my!!! I found 2 more eggs tonight on the swamp milkweed and a 2nd or 3rd instar on some common.... EEEKKKKK!!!!! Back in biz... thought we were done. Isn't it getting late for these guys?... We've had 80 plus degree weather and lots of sunshine over the past several days and more in the forecast. I haven't found any eggs in days and here we go again! We've tagged 55 and reared 70 so far...alot for us. Last year we had 30 reared, total. I think its been a really good summer...we see them everywhere. So much fun!!!

by **Teresa** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 6:14 am

Your kidding! I'm in central Ohio and haven't seen eggs in some time now. Guess i'll have to start checking again.

Monarch Watch Forums

Previous Sightings - 2004 to 2008

Previous Sightings - 2004 to 2008

few sightings in Mid-MI 2004

Ohio

Central Ohio

Michigan...

Central Ohio

Sightings

few sightings/eggs

Petoskey, MI

Monarch Statistics

Sightings in Minnesota

Chicago area

Chicago area

Ohio - Finally!

Better late than never...

A terrible year...

Late Indian Summer Day

Hot Early Summer

first monarch of season

Lots in Wisconsin

8 adults

Abundant....!

Spotted my first two today...

FYI: Ohio tagging can start 3rd week Aug.

Eggs continue

Monarchs Clustering August 15

Monarchs in Champaign, IL

More on the way....

More eggs!!!

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