What do I do with my crysalis in SE Wisconsin?

[butterflyhaven]

I thought i just posted this but it disappeared somehow.

I have a crysalis that should be emerging during the night tonight. Only problem is that we have freeze and frost warnings tonight and the weekend is supposed to be raining, cold (40's high), windy and cloudy. The next 10 days appears to be much of the same with a few days of partial sun.

I have the crysalis in a large mesh tank right now. Does this soon to be butterfly have any chance at all? Should I contact Milwaukee museum to see if they would like him/her for the butterfly exhibit during the winter? I'd hate to do that if there is a chance, but I cant even put this poor butterfly out for the next few days because of the freeze warnings and rain, etc.

I wish I knew someone driving south....

Help!! Thanks! Jane in Milw. WI area.

[Mona Miller]

http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Entomolo ... venson.htm
Environmental and Human Impacts Affecting Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) Survival During Migration
Abstract
First paragraph, line 9:
"The supercooling point was raised from -8.2 to -4.7 degrees when external moisture was present..."

The key is the wetness. They can withstand temps below freezing for several days if they are dry.

[summerluver]

But will they be able to get their flight muscles warm enough to migrate with temperatures that low?

[Mona Miller]

Temps need to be in the 50s for flight, but I saw a monarch sailing over hawk ridge, in pa when the temps were 37 in the parking lot in early November. I have no idea how it got going and how it continued. There is much that we do not know.

[Paul Cherubini]

Temps need to be in the 50s for flight, but I saw a monarch sailing over hawk ridge, in pa when the temps were 37 in the parking lot in early November.

I agree that monarchs can fly even if temps are in the high 30's on a sunny day. I even saw mating attempts here in Calif. at an overwintering site on a cold, but sunny December day when the shade temp was only 40. Perhaps the Ph D's who claim "temps need to be in the 50's for flight" base that judgement on lab observations rather than real world field observations.

[butterflyhaven]

Well, I decided to give her a chance. I was going to my parents yesterday which is 1 1/2 hours south of me in the SE corner of Wisconsin on Lake Michigan and brought her with. It was cloudy, cold and was set to freeze last night with a low of 28 through the night. So, we left her in the mesh enclosure all day yesterday and put a bunch of flowers in her tank and kept her indoors last night as to avoid the freeze. She quickly took advantage of the butterfly bush in her enclosure. So, this morning around 11:00 a.m. my parents put her outside on the butterfly bush and she quickly flew up and did three circles and landed up high in a tree. It was only in the 40's but sunny. Rain and cold expected tomorrow (not freezing though) and then 50's during the week. I'm glad I gave her the chance to be free. I wonder if the late year monarchs are somehow stronger than the summer monarchs? My dad said when she flew away her wings seemed stronger and she soared immediately rather than flutter for awhile like most do in the summer when they first fly.

Please watch for her coming through Texas in about a month. I'm hopeful she's gonna make it.
Thanks for all the info.
Jane, Wisconsin

[Mona Miller]

The Monarchs that migrate in the fall are stronger and they are able to put on fats to help during this long journey and during the winter. They nectar along the way whenever they can find nectar sources. The river of bidens (in the sunflower family) at Assateague refuge was incredible.