Question for Mona Miller

[Pixie]

Hi Mona - I have a question.............A friend of mine gave me a recent conservation magazine that had an article about Monarchs. I noticed one error in the article but there was another that I questioned & want to know the answer before I write to the magazine. My question is - how long does it take for the wings to dry of a wild monarch enclosed outside - I know it takes about 3 hours for a reared monarch's wings to dry, but how long for one that enclosed outside???????? I would appreciate any input on this question..............
Thanks,
Dottie (Pixie)
WS # 252

[Mona Miller]

Dr. Urquhart in his book "The Monarch Butterfly"
Page 43:
"Depending on temperature and weather conditions, the butterfly remains clinging to the pupal skin for a period of two to seventeen hours. Specimens kept in rearing cages could, when alarmed, attempt flight within two or three hours after emergence. The flight, however, was of short duration."

I have not kept as close an eye on emerging Monarchs as Dr. Urquhart, but outside in my tent when my temperature gage reads 98, the Monarch's wings dried pretty fast. Many were flying freely by the end of the day.

[Paul Cherubini]

In the wild in the July & early August, I routinely see newly emerged monarchs taking their first flight at between 9:30 - 11:00 am. So I presume they emerged a few hours earlier - say 7:30-9:00 am

[summerluver]

I hate it when I see errors in published materials. I was looking at a catalog tonight that sells Christmas ornaments of all sorts, and explains what the symolism is to the item featured on the ornament. One had a butterfly, and the explanation included that "as the butterfly emerges from its cocoon........". Oh dear.

[dandjtaylor]

I tend to agree that, as with reared 'flies, wild ones depend on the conditions such as humidity, wind, their exposure, temperature, etc most likely, if both were left unmolested, but monitored, would probably dry and be ready at very similar times.

(How's that, Mona, for keeping the "Reared" at the top of the charts? hehehe)

[Mona Miller]

Reared Monarchs do have it easier. They aren't pested by pests. They don't have to deal with weather. We try to feed them the best host plants. And, more of them make it than in the wild.