Monarch behavior

[blazing star]

We camped on our land this weekend. There were typically 4 monarchs in our creek, at any given time. Once one would go try to feed, another monarch would swoop down on the feeding monarch and chase it all over the place. Sometimes, the feeding monarch wouldn't flee but would combat the aggressor. We were trying to figure out of this was a mating behavior, or if they protect a feeding territory. Anyone know the answer?

[freda]

There's no way to know for certain unless you could confirm the gender of the butterflies. I had four females exhibiting similar behaviour for two weeks, in my garden of 400 plants. Since I was able to get close enough to them to confirm they were females I assumed they were competing over territory. They behaved just like hummingbirds quarrelling over a bird feeder. Hope that helps!

[blazing star]

I couldn't get close enough to see of the gender. I never saw this behavior before. We saw the monarch migration along Lake Michigan a few years back. Thousands of them flying over the lake inland. I saw no such behavior but at that time maybe they were more interested in migrating than territory boundary.

[Mona Miller]

Migrating Monarchs become more gregarious. They don't fight and compete. They work together for the greater good.

[dandjtaylor]

Males definitely set up territory and do exhibit aggressive behavior, to other butterflies, birds, dragonflies, etc. we currently have five that claim our Waystation as their territory.

[blazing star]

Interesting. So it seems they were trying to mate, then. I don't get to see that in my small yard where I live so it was a totally new, fascinating experience for me.

[freda]

Interesting. So it seems they were trying to mate, then. I don't get to see that in my small yard where I live so it was a totally new, fascinating experience for me.

I did get an ok photo of a mating pair in my garden, but the four feisty females fighting were definitely that...females. I can get very close to them in my milkweed patch. I'd sure like to have them all back now reproducing! It seems the season is over for us in Kenora, ON. I am en route home from Rochester, MN and have checked about 30 milkweed patches, finding only a few eggs but a lot of predators and hatching holes.

[Mona Miller]

I had a pair of males fight today it looked like a World Wide Wrestling match. One of the males has only about half of his wings left.

[Paul Cherubini]

Interesting. So it seems they were trying to mate, then. I don't get to see that in my small yard where I live so it was a totally new, fascinating experience for me.

I thought you lived near the GMO corn and soybean fields in northern Illinois? If so, then just walk along the gravel roads bordering the GMO crops and you'll see males patrolling the milkweed that's growing along the roadsides bordering the crops like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7owV6o6xNWM

Wait for two males to fly near each other and then you'll see them engage in a territorial "dogfight". While your waiting you may see a female come along looking to lay eggs next to the GMO crop like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKmDId55pfc

[Mona Miller]

FYI, no GMO crops near me. And, boy am I glad.