Monarch Watch Forums

by **Jim** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 12:56 pm

Monarch sightings for the West North Central region of the United States (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD) 2004 to 2008.

by **monarchrose** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 10:26 am

After a very slow start, we are finally seeing some Monarch butterflies in southeast Nebraska. For the most part, this has been a cool wet summer and the milkweed is doing very well. We ride our bikes along rural bike trails created on old railroad beds. These trails pass through farm fields, open meadow, and some wooded areas. There are milkweed plants in abundance, but I have not noticed evidence of caterpillar feeding. However, as I said,we are beginning to see some butterflies. In our yard, which is planted with many different types of milkweed, I have gathered 21 eggs, 18 of which are in various stages of caterpillar development in captivity. This week I gathered 18 more eggs which are hatching as I write this!

Website · by **ohiobill** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 11:12 am

Nebraska is north of here, but none so far southeast Missouri. (Shannon County) I have quite a stand of milkweed in the front yard, and usually it's eaten to pieces by now. (In fact this is the first year in the last eight that they've been able to flower and make pods! Usually they get stripped.)

A firend in the next county (Carter) has the same experience, except he grows swamp milkweed and I grow giant milkweed.

Does anyone know of any trends towards scarcity this year? Where are "my" monarchs?

Bill

by **murph372** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 9:23 am

Monarch sightings this year have been slow slow slow. I observed my first one on May 29, but since then it has not progressed like most summers with a steady increase. It might have been the cool days and nights in June and July. It seems there is plenty of milkweed in the ditches and old fields.
Yesterday, 8-1-04, was a fun day as our local monarch population appeared to double. We now have 25 to 50 monarchs out in the garden most of the time. This is about a week behind what we usually experience. Much mating behavior and nectaring. Many larva and eggs now being found. 8-2-04 Goodhue Co., MN

by **monarchrose** » Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:22 pm

As I said, we had a slow summer as far as butterflies go. But late July and early August have been busy. 21 butterflies few away the last week of July, and I now have 15 chrysalides, several large caterpillars, and over 50 tiny caterpillars and eggs. We have also noticed more adult Monarch butterflies when we take our weekend bike rides in the country. We live in Lincoln, Nebraska.

by **pennyb** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 12:16 pm

My butterfly bushes are finally getting "bushy" and are in full bloom. This morning I saw a monarch and two swallow tails feeding on the nectar from the butterfly bushes. This was the first time I had seen either types of butterflies here (Ellsworth, Kansas), but I've been gone a lot this summer.

by **Marianne** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 8:37 pm

I posted the following in the "Illinois" section and probably should have posted it here, so here it is. "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 **Cheri** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 1:19 pm

I live near Cedar Rapids and we usually have them roosting in our trees this time of year but haven't seen any. I found one nectaring an was able to tag it for a butterfly program at our library. I did another program today but could only use pictures.
From the last post, maybe they just haven't come through yet.

by **monarchrose** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 8:46 pm

My husband and I took a bike ride from the 84th and O Street parking area in Lincoln Nebraska to Eagle, NE on the Missouri Pacific bike trail Sunday, September 19, 2004. Along the way, we passed through a wooded stretch of the railroad bed trial cut through a hill. It was quite windy in Lincoln on Sunday. This area was protected from the wind. Perhaps because of this, there were approximately 50 Monarch butterflies along this part of the trail, which we estimated to be about 100 meters in length. We stopped and walked our bikes and saw two roosts, one with about 10 individuals and another with about 5. The butterflies in the roost 'flashed' their wings when approached by another butterfly, which is a beautiful sight. The other butterflies were resting alone on branches or floating back and forth among the trees.

by **meadowlark** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 9:03 pm

On September 12th, while taking a short run through Wabaunsee County (20 miles west of Topeka) and the Flint Hills, I observed only three Monarchs. Today (Sept 20), in South Central Topeka along the Shunga Glenn walking trail I observed 6 Monarchs necturing on thistle flowers. In years past we've observed clustering in this particular area between Sept 11 and 15, but none so far. The Monarch's observed today appeared to be new ones with the exception of one faded.

by **Cheri** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 2:26 pm

I tagged agout 16 butterflies in about an hour today, so they are coming through this area. It is always a thrill to send them on their way, knowing that they are of to Mexico!

by **Marianne** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 7:03 am

Saturday, 9/25, I drove from west county St. Louis to Grafton, Illinois via St. Charles and the ferries across the Missouri and Illinois rivers. I saw thirteen monarchs - all in flight ten to fifteen feet over the ground. All seemed to be in good condition, good color. One flew about six feet right over my head in the middle of the Missouri river! I also saw three in flight in West St. Louis county yesterday, 9/26.

by **Sonibug** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 10:55 am

Monarchs have been slow to appear this summer - very few in area gardens even though we've planted caterpillar foods.

Big change Friday, Sept. 24 - Hundreds of migrating monarchs passed through Wilber, Nebraska. I drove through Lancaster, Saline and Gage counties over the weekend and saw many monarchs heading south/southwest. Parents south of Denton, Nebraska (Lancaster County) have roosts in Cottonwood trees - today dispersed.

by **troot** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 7:39 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 **Lois** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:31 pm

At my farm in southern Davis County ( Grove Township), Iowa, about a
mile from the IA-MO border, in 2003 my husband and I observed a
roost of monarchs on large old Osage Orange Trees ( commonly called
hedge trees). A number of the trees appeared almost an off white
from the folded wings of the butterflies. In stark contrast this
year of 2004, I counted only 12 monarchs on about 40 acres of
conservation land last weekend of Sept. and about 9 or 10 the next
weekend. What I call the conservation land is planted in various
prairie grasses, some slough areas where there are lots of milkweed
plants and several ponds. The butterflies also liked to rest on the
goldenrod plants.

Wish I had better news to report.
--

by **thenomad** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 1:12 pm

I posted this under "Migration and Tagging" but thought that it would also fit under this subject. (Not too sure how this Forum works.)
Today is Friday, Nov. 5th. It is very warm, upper 50's, and bright sunshine after a week of cold and constant rain here in So. Minnesota. I have found and caught another Monarch today. It is a female in very good condition. I don't know if it can make it far enought South on the migration before hard freeze hit again.

by **meadowlark** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 2:51 pm

Observed one older Monarch today feeding on a full bloom Lilac bush in my own backyard, right below my personal weather station.

Lat: N 39 ° 1 ' 34 '' ( 39.026 ° )
Lon: W 95 ° 42 ' 32 '' ( -95.709 ° )

by **troot** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 9:37 pm

In the Twin Cities (MN), monarch sightings were almost non-existent until the beginning of June. The milkweed grew fast and bloomed a lot. And now, for the past two weeks - lots of monarchs! I'm finding new eggs and larva on the many plants growing in my gardens almost every day. I've been trying to establish gardens attractive to butterflies for a couple of years, and finally, this year, things seem to be working. I have swallowtails, sulphurs, and painted ladies showing up, too. Yes! It's very exciting to have created a habitat that works!

by **psi_chemie** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 12:39 pm

Until rain came in today, I've been seeing migration pick up since 9/18. I have North-facing windows at my bench at work, and everyday I could look out the window and in a minute or two see at least a Monarch or two swirling around, hunting thermals and gliding south. It's really cool watching these things so expertly surf the air currents.

They're roosting in moderate numbers in the trees near my lab, about a dozen or so in each of the numerous little clusters. They're very wary- if I stop by the trees in the morning and try and stalk up to them, I get within about 3 feet and POOF! they explode off the branch and you can hear their wings.

I even saw one flying in the rain this morning! Maybe it came down through the cloud layers.

I hope to use 100 more tags before they all pass through. My experience last year was that once they started migrating, you could find them for about a month, in varying concentrations, before they were totally gone.
rate.

by **psi_chemie** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 11:57 am

I'm still seeing them come by the Kansas City area. I've seen about 10 so far today. Unfortunately, my field was mowed or baled or whatever, so they are having to hunt for clover.

by **psi_chemie** » Fri Oct 28, 2005 3:19 pm

I just saw a monarch go by.. talk about late. Looks like it'll be in the 60s though for a few more days. (weather had been only in 50s)

by **paulakcmo** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 4:55 pm

Weather is too nice for this fall!! Salvaged 10 catepillars during a lite frost about a week ago, now indoors all in pupae. Weather warmed up this week and possibly next in 60's thru low 80's!! Today saw two monarchs around my butterfly bushes and the milkweed facing southwest has two catepillars. Paula

by **psi_chemie** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 6:12 pm

Monarchs always suprise me.. I saw another one today. Good thing the weather is unseasonably warm it seems.. He'll make it, if he can do a couple hundred miles by next week! I saw it on clover at 12:45.

by **psi_chemie** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 12:18 pm

I saw my first monarch today. Quite faded, but flying easily against a breeze WNW. I'm 100% sure of this sighting. Anyone else?

by **Paul Cherubini** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 3:30 pm

Here's a April 15 sighting of a Monarch in southern Iowa from the Iowa Butterflies list (yahoo group)

From: credwards@...
Date: Sat Apr 15, 2006 2:49 am
Subject: Early Monarch

Today in Iowa City I was surprised to see a Monarch fly by, as well as a Black Swallowtail and several Cabbage Whites. My previous early record for Monarch was May 2, 1999.

by **Paul Cherubini** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 10:56 am

In early August I drove around Iowa and Minnesota as I have every year since 2002 and found the populations of monarchs and monarch caterpillars to be very low in northern Minnesota, low in central Minnesota, but high in the southern 25% of Minnesota and high in all of Iowa. My guess is that a high population of monarch egg and caterpillar predators (ants, lady bugs, assassin bugs, etc.) in central and northern Minnesota has hurt the mid-late summer breeding populations up there.

by **Paul Cherubini** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 8:20 pm

On Aug. 27-28 I observed hundreds to low 1000's of monarchs in extreme southwestern Minnesota where most of the landscape is covered with monocultures of Bt corn and Roundup herbicide tolerant soybeans. Here are some photos:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/jackb.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/wortha.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/rr.jpg

by **Jay** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 12:53 pm

Over the years we have had MANY Monarchs visit our yard, but this is the first one I saw w/tag (748). We live west of MPLS. and have had Butterfly friendly gardens for 30 years or more.
Since I am new to this how do I mind out where this one was tagged?
Thanks
Jay

by **summerland** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:10 pm

I found this in St. Louis, MO on Sept. 07, 2006. Luckily it was mating on a milkweed plant so I could take images. Is this where I register it??

by **psi_chemie** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 8:08 pm

Today after work I stopped by my usual field and tagged a few monarchs and collected about 6 or 7 4th and 5th instar larvae, and easily could have taken many more. I've got to stop - my cage isn't big enough! The predominant milkweed was vine and there were a couple species of broadleaf. My larvae were collected from vine. Also saw another type of caterpillar, couldn't ID so I left it munching a plant I also couldn't ID. Guess I need to get a digital camera..

Also beginning to see monarchs that are definately migrating south. Not in large numbers yet though I can tag a dozen or so in about an hour on clover.

Some monarchs seem to offer little resistance when netted, like they're "OK, you caught me, I give up" and I assume these are not migratory - usually when I let them go they go right back to a nearby clover.

But others practically take off with the net out of my hands. When I release them, they shoot straight upward and out of sight. Definately migratory..

by **troot** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 8:26 pm

It's been a disappointing migration this year. After a summer of lots of eggs and larvae, the monarchs seemed to have disappeared once the tags arrived. I've had very few in my prairie garden and haven't seen many any where else, too. Oh well...

by **psi_chemie** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 9:51 am

If I look out my south window at work in Lenexa, KS, I can always see at least one, often two or three, migrating monarchs. The temperature outside has not even hit 60 yet. I can't wait to get out and tag.

by **psi_chemie** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:53 pm

Wow, I am seeing a continuous stream of monarchs thermalling their way south. I'm not exaggerating when I say I look out the window at any given moment and see multiple migrating monarchs. Pretty cool. I also tagged about 25 over lunch today.

by **richrhon** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:50 am

I had a continous stream of Monarchs yesterday,Sept.18. About 4:00 PM They started landing on a protected area of a large pin oak out ot the wind and where they got both the evening and morning sun. There were hundreds of them by dark. As soon as the sun hit them this morning they would open their wing and in a few minutes they would continue Southwest on their journey.Some would fly by and circle back to land and others would come in from right angles to the tree just like there was some type of plan or communication between them.We've lived here 37 years in Clay Co. Mo. and never seen this sort of evening grouping.It was quite a sight.

by **psi_chemie** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 9:37 pm

I haven't seen any large clusters yet in my usual spot. I think it's because there is not nearly as much clover as last year. Last year, even I could smell the clover. It pulled monarchs straight down out of the sky. Now I sit in the field and see most of them keep on going. It is a bit harder to tag but I am getting 25 a day with an hour or so of hunting.

I need another spot, because I can see them flying all the time. They just don't all stop in my field this year.

by **psi_chemie** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 8:15 pm

Tagged 70 monarchs in 90 minutes this afternoon in Lenexa, KS. Also collected a few 4th and 5th instar larvae, and saw one J-hooked larva which I left. Returned in the evening to look for roosts, I found no concentrations of monarchs but each tree had several monarchs circling around just after sunset in calm 75-80 degree weather.

by **psi_chemie** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 7:54 pm

Today at Clinton Lake near Lawrence, KS, I tagged 116 monarchs on the trail up to Sanders mound. There were many, many more than that number, as I ran across monarchs that I had already tagged only once or twice. I also saw a roost forming that had at least 100 monarchs at 4:45 PM. I'm sure it was going to get huge but I didn't have the time to wait. Often, there were multiple monarchs per flower. It was quite a sight!

by **Paul Cherubini** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 8:25 pm

troot wrote:It's been a disappointing migration this year. After a summer of lots of eggs and larvae, the monarchs seemed to have disappeared once the tags arrived. I've had very few in my prairie garden and haven't seen many any where else, too. Oh well...

Can you tell us where are you located? I agree that north of the latitude of extreme southern Minnesota, there was a late July / early Aug. population crash. But from extreme southern Minnesota southward, there was no crash and so there has been a pretty strong fall migration in the midwestern States south of the latitude of Minnesota.

by **troot** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 6:05 pm

I'm located in the Twin Cities - 44 degrees 55 minutes N by 93 degrees 05 minutes W. There were lots of eggs and caterpillars all summer long; I raised about 30 (which was the most I've ever found in my yard.) I bought tags, eagerly awaiting the rush of the migration and then - pooh! nothing. Very weird. Any idea why there was a population crash?
Teresa

by TG » Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:43 pm

We had 9 large monarchs on our everlast bush Monday, 09/25, but only 3 on Wed 09/27. Sighted 4 in flight while driving from KC to Ex Spr up 69 HWY, down from over 20 on 09/25.

by **Ladyfox** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 7:59 pm

I saw several groups of Monarch's in the extreme Southeast Kansas - Missouri corner of the world. Mother nature at her best.

by **psi_chemie** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 1:35 pm

I have been seeing monarchs again, after a week or so lull. Today I was able to use up the last dozen tags with ease. I initially thought I would have trouble with 400 but have been able to use them all.

Being a nice day, I've been out a lot. Quite a few monarchs, it seems there is always one going by if you look.

by **AvaBatGirl** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 1:52 pm

On October 2, 2006 I saw my first monarch roosts! There were 100's of monarchs in my neighbors yard (a black walnut and a sugar maple). I wish I knew about the tagging program before! I got a nice picture of the monarchs on a limb that was almost at eye level. Pretty neat!

by **psi_chemie** » Tue May 08, 2007 8:16 pm

I saw my first monarch of the season today, feeding on white clover outside a window at work. I'm pretty sure it was female, and it looked very fresh. I will now have to check for milkweed.

by **tracyjlagrange** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 2:57 pm

Hi, My 1st siting in Bettendorf Iowa was late May, the 1st eggs I collected were the 1st week in June. Since then I have only seen a few monarchs maybe one a week, unless I go out to the country then I see them all the time not in any big numbers only 2 or 3. I have collected quite a few eggs I have 32 right now & I have found an egg on almost every plant that I have gotten for my caterpillars, a lot more eggs then last year!

by **psi_chemie** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 10:22 pm

Hmmm.. that is fortunate. I am not finding many larvae now, and all the local milkweed is infested with other bugs. I need to get out of the area to find some decent milkweed.

by **tracyjlagrange** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 3:53 pm

I am finding more eggs & cats everyday on the same milkweed I have been hand killing pest bugs (I'm assuming all bugs are bad). I just need a better system right now I have the eggs in 1 tin pan w wet paper towels, another tin w 1-2 instars & have a jar (in side good sized rabbit cage) with 2-3 instars & once they are about ready I move them to individual jars. Once they are in chrysalis I'm not sure what to do with them. Any suggestions? I now have 53 total eggs-chrysalis mostly eggs & 1-2 instar.

by **psi_chemie** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 11:32 pm

Hand killing pest bugs! That's devotion. Is your MW whole plant, or cut? I usually cut sections, wash it off, and bring it to indoor cages where the whole life cycle takes place. I only raise a couple dozen or so though. If you're raising a lot, it is best to isolate them to prevent disease. Sounds like you're doing a good job.

by **tracyjlagrange** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:18 pm

I have whole plants in my yard thank goodness there aren't that many bugs to kill. I now have 112 eggs, cats. chrysalis' I am using several tin pans with lids (the disposable kind) I may have to add more. I am still finding eggs & cats everyday I look for them. At my local park I am finding some weird strip colors they are muted real pale black & yellow at first I thought maybe they were soldiers but they only have the 2 sets of tentacles. Any way they are keeping me busy!!!!

by **Bigal_Monarch** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:58 pm

We see Monarchs all the time on the route at the end or this link

http://mavandjen.blogspot.com/2007/07/one-more-morning-celebration.html

This Web 2.0 mapping feature is a pretty good way to keep track of things.

Monarch Watch Forums

Previous Sightings - 2004 to 2008

Previous Sightings - 2004 to 2008

None so far in Missouri, why?

up to my eyeballs in eggs and caterpillars

Monarch sighting

Pipestone sightings

Roosts in Lincoln, NE 09/19/04

Sightins/tagging near Cedar Rapids, Iowa

St. Louis area

Monarch Sightings Update

better late than never

Fall Monarch sightings

Another late season monarch

Spring Monarch

Lots of activity

Kansas City area

still coming

sighting

sighting, kcmo

another late sighting

2006 sighting !!!

April 15 sighting in southern Iowa

Population Crashes in northern Minnesota

Clustering in extreme southwestern Minnesota

tagged Monarch

Local field is crawling with milkweed and larvae

migration gone by

Really coming in now

Re: migration gone by

Excelsior Springs sightings

I saw

second wave?

Roost sighting in Ava, Missouri

New Sighting

Brookings Country SD

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