simplify the life cycle/migration for me?

[freda]

Our Monarchs showed up on May 27th this year. I found eggs on June 5th. The first larvae I saw was on June 14th. We were away several days in that period so the dates may not be accurate other than my calendar.

Our 86 crysalids should start producing emerging Monarchs soon. Then what happens to them? We're in central Canada. We've never seen second generation Monarchs here, so what do our released and naturally emerging butterflies do? Last year I found a few eggs after we witnessed some emergences but never saw any larvae result from them. And the Monarchs just "went away."

Given our location, what is the likelihood that we can expect a second generation? If our released Monarchs DON'T deposit more eggs what does happen to them? I would think it's way too early for these guys to be migrating! We have a good Monarch book but it isn't specific about this issue. Has anyone in the northern part of the country had experiences which may help us understand this better?

[freda]

We have one chrysalis left to go. We've released 155 to date and they're GONE. No more eggs, no more Monarchs flitting around. I haven't been able to find any information on this site relative to our area and the chance of a second generation, but I can only assume that we have bred fliers in our area (central Canada, north of Minneapolis) and they've headed south. I'd like to be more sure of this as our 'production' has spawned a great deal of interest in our town and I'd like to have accurate information to pass on to interested friends. I've explored all of Monarch Watch as well as hard covered books we've bought and borrowed...again, very general information, non specific to our area. How would I sort out this migration question? Any suggestions?

Freda

[Paul Cherubini]

You are located at about the same latitude as Winnipeg. In Winnipeg there is definately a 2nd generation and the 2nd generation monarchs emerging from their chrysalids after about July 27 are mostly in reproductive diapause and have an "instinct" to migrate South. But a small percentage continue to be reproductive for much of August and these can actually produce a 3rd generation.

In extreme northern Minnesota most of the monarchs emerging from their chrysalids after about August 1 are mostly in reproductive diapause and have an "instinct" to migrate South and cluster in the evening. Here are some in diapause I saw clustered on August 5 at Grygla, Minnesota
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/gryglc.jpg

[freda]

Thanks, Paul for your response. You’re right, we’re 200 km directly east of Winnipeg. Our last Monarch emerged on August 8th and was gone on the second day. This was from an egg brought back from the Winnipeg area on a leaf collected to feed our cats and at that time we had no more eggs being deposited in our garden. Two days seems to be about the hanging-around time for all our releases. Somehow we must be missing that FIRST generation for our area as May 27th was the first Monarch siting in our garden. I first found eggs on June 5th but we had been away for 2 weeks. The first larvae I found on June 14th. Extrapolating those dates, the first emergence SHOULD have been around July 5th, right? In fact our first emergence from eggs collected mid-June, along with some 1st and 2nd instars, was July 11th. Not a great discrepancy. After July 1st I documented all steps and stages. We were still seeing only 4 Monarchs and they didn’t seem to be depositing any more eggs. July 3rd we had 9 chrysalids. July 11th, the first emergence, we had 110 chrysalids and had been finding only a very few additional eggs. I’m not sure on which ‘end’ of our production we would have experienced another generation. But for sure they’re all gone now! Next year I’ll collect the FIRST eggs I find. This year we didn’t begin until we had found hundreds of ‘hatching holes.’ That may well lead to a 2nd generation in our garden.

Thanks again, Paul, I’m adding your comments to my documentation for next year.

[freda]

"On the southern migration they started coming the first week of July and I raised over 350"

This is a quote from a southern contributor and I'm really interested in the "southern migration" actually reproducing. What am I missing in my interpretation? I thought that our guys from Canada, one 'brood' headed straight south and didn't stop except to feed. It's exciting to think that there is another generation possible in this travel, but I haven't read about it before.

I am really anticipating early egg collection next year to assure two generations...thanks for the timing information.