helping monarchs fly south

[stacey16]

Has anyone ever transported monarchs further south to release them in warmer weather? Is it ever just too late in the year to release them?

[Mona Miller]

I mailed them to VA Beach. You don't have to have a permit to mail them within your state.

[stacey16]

Is there a link as to how to mail them somewhere?

[Mona Miller]

Basically, you take a plastic container. Put the butterflies into glassine envelopes. Put them into the container (the container must be tall enough to accommodate the glassine envelopes), close the lid. Take a small box. Put a freezer pack (Polar ice type) on one side of the box. Put newspaper around the ice. Put the plastic container on the other side of the box. Put some newspaper or packing material on top of the newspaper and container of butterflies (I'd also put some newspaper around the container)--you don't want the contents shifting around. These must be sent overnight. Not 2 days delivery or they may die in transit.

http://www.bioquip.com/Search/default.asp
I don't know if this search (glassine envelopes) will come up. The best size for Monarchs is:
1130C Glassine envelopes 3-3/4 x 5" (95 x 127mm)

[Paul Cherubini]

You don't need glassine envelopes. Ordinary paper envelopes will be OK. Just put 2-4 monarchs per small sized envelope and put the envelopes in a Priority Mail shipping box for video casettes you can get free at the post office. Then put that small box inside a small FedEx Express box you can get free at a FedEx Kinkos shop (also called FedEx Office) or FedEx shipping station and ship standard overnight (if temperatures at the destination are cool or warm) or Priority overnight if destination temps are hot.

[chanceychelsey]

I had to go to Niagara Falls today to pick up a table. When I was 1/2 hr into my trip I realized just how dumb I can be sometimes. I was driving two hours southwest and did not even think to take my 5 releases for the day and give them a head start. What a wasted opportunity.

On the upside-on the trip back, we saw no less than 150 monarchs on their trip south! What an exciting trip home it was for us!! My husband was a good sport with all my, over there!!- now look up there at all of them!! , look over there!!! etc..

Tomorrow, I am going to drive my final 4-hopefully 5 (if the last one emerges overnight) at least part of the distance I travelled today, to the area where I saw most. Any extra help I can give them will be well worth it!

Waystation 927
Tottenham, Ontario

[terrene]

I thought about taking a trip closer to the coast (about 30 miles) to release some of my last Monarchs, as a back up plan if the weather was cold. Fortunately, we are having warm weather so far this fall and the Monarchs I've been releasing are fine. My last chrysalis ecloses today! And it's supposed to be sunny and 80.

Since I try to be conscious of how much fossil fuel I use, I would weigh how much energy and $$ are involved with driving long distances to release butterflies, that have evolved over thousands of years to adapt to the vagaries of nature, and apparently can fly up to 200 miles a day under favorable conditions. They might be tougher than we think!?

[Mona Miller]

They are pretty tough. 3,000 miles from Canada and 2,000 miles from plenty of places in the USA.

In November one year, I mailed butterflies to VA Beach. Some had wintered over there in 2005.

[Nancy Werner]

One thing I thought about doing (haven't done yet) was showing up at the airport with them and finding some nice person/s flying somewhere like California to take them with and let them go. Don't know if airports would allow them or that-something to check out, though. Would be VERY interesting to try, though.

[Mona Miller]

Other than the butterfly flying across state lines, it is illegal to walk, fly, mail, or drive butterflies or moths across state lines.

http://www.insectnet.com/usda.htm
Information on Permits

[jillians]

My last 2 latecomers just emerged to cold & wet conditions. They are currently indoors in a pop-up habitat. We are looking at highs in the 50's, lows in the 30's for at least a week. It's entirely possible for Austin to have more 70-80 degree days (in fact it's highly likely). Is it better to hold them until the weather improves or look for a way to transport them? I still have milkweed flowering, so food isn't an issue.

[Mona Miller]

They can withstands temps down to 18 F, if they are not wet. If they are wet, they can only withstand temps down to 34 F. But, flying in the lower 50s may be a problem. I'd keep them for a week to see if the weather gets better or if you know someone going further south in TX, I'd get them a ride.

[Paul Cherubini]

You should let them go. Highs in the 50's and lows in the 30's are NORMAL for the overwintering sites in California and Mexico, so those temps are fine. Plus monarchs cross the high altitudes of the Rocky Mountains and California Sierra Nevada Mountains in October when daytime highs are only in the 40's or 50's.

Being indoors inside a home unhealthy for the butterflies and will lead to an early death or irreversible health problems like brittle wings.