Need advice for newbie in upstate New York

[Jan]

Last night we had a hard frost. A male monarch hatched in my horse lean to earlier this week and has been hiding under a snow shovel leaning against the wall, covered by shade. I brought him in last night, carried on a sprig of goldenrod. I put some gatorade on a folded paper towel, a slice each of honeydew and kiwi, and a couple of milkweed leaves in a plastic barrel (like pretzels come in) and put him in. I kept him in the laundry room which is a colder room in the house (60's). It was 37 this morning so when it was direct sun and almost 50 I put him back outside by his shovel, half in sun and half in shade. He spread his wings and warmed. About 11:30 he flew off over my head. He has been flitting from aster bunch to aster bunch since warming his wings in the sun, but is staying close. Tonight is "scattered frost", followed by warmer (50's) and possible wet weather on Wednesday. Then a warming trend is predicted with days in the 70's for about 4 days after that. I never saw him eat, but he sure seems happy outside in the sun today. Should I try to catch him again as the sun is setting (I figure he'll be less flighty then) and bring him in until the cold and rain passes or will he have instinct to get out of the patchy frost before his journey? It seems so late, but I want to do the right thing by him since he sought shelter here!

Thanks!

Jan

[Mona Miller]

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1665#p7763
I posted an interested article on how Monarchs behave in cold weather, access the above web site.
Apparently, they are a lot tougher than we think especially the fall migrants, which I've been told have sturdier scales.

If there are nectar sources in an area, the monarchs may stay up to a week after emerging to fatten up before beginning their travel. They also need a good northeast/west wind to carry them south. A south blowing wind usually leaves them stranded in an area until the wind changes.

[Paul Cherubini]

Overnight frost is no big deal because fall migrant monarchs are tolerant of overnight temps down into the mid-20's. Your butterfly should fly away from your yard soon if it is healthy.

[Jan]

Thanks for the information and support! It made me feel much better. My boy flew two days ago and we haven't seen him since. Temps have been warming here and there are still lots of asters and goldenrod around, as well as some morning glories, etc. I was so excited to imagine him flying south and helping with re-population of these beautiful creatures! My daughter saw a dead monarch on the road last week so I'm pretty sure he won't be the only one flying south!

Thanks again.
Jan

[Mona Miller]

Many are flying so high we don't see them. Average flight height is any where from 100 to 1,000 ft., but they have been seen as high as 11,000 ft. Many people who monitor hawk migration see them flying at the heights that hawks migrate. On a good migration day, which is a northeast wind, they will spiral up, up and away. They lock their wings after they get up into the air currents and glide, just like a minature glider. It takes them 6-8 weeks to get to Mexico. They are arriving there around the end of October through November.

[Jan]

You are all so helpful. We have seen many more monarchs!

We found two more chrysalis-es under the lip of a plastic water trough and they are beginning to darken. Tonight is patchy frost and tomorrow is heavy frost so I'll watch to see what happens. Temps tonight s/b in the upper 30's and tomorrow in the lower 30's. Much of the milkweed and the fall flowers are still doing well. I'm hoping for some sunny weather over the weekend so the butterflies will hatch. They must be in diapause this time of year so the question is will they fly or die? Would it make sense to bring them into the basement over the winter (40 - 50 degrees) and release them in the spring?

Just curious.

Thanks again!
Jan

[Mona Miller]

If you find chrysalis outside, bring them in with temps that low. The butterflies can survive lower temps than the chrysalis.

[Jan]

I'll bring them in, having already read the transplant methods, but do I release them if the weather warms or keep them through the winter?

Thanks!

Jan

[Mona Miller]

I don't know if you read about the use of a misting with water to loosen the chrysalis. As soon as it is above 50 degrees and sunny, let them go. A few days of freedom is better than days spent in captivity.

[Jan]

Thanks so much...I agree about the few days of freedom being best. The chrysalises (sp?) are not fully dark yet. They are in a hardware cloth cage on the table in morning sun and as it warms today above 50 I will carry the cage out to the picnic table. I'll continue to do the in/out thing until they (hopefully) come out and then fill them with gatorade, etc and show them the outdoors minus the cage. That's the plan. I did mist the asters and milkweed leaves but will read on misting the chrysalis as well. Thanks so much for your help!!! I have always admired the butterflies on the butterfly bushes and other plants, and have planted to encourage them coming around, but this is the first year I have been able to assist them. It's always a pleasure to help nature along without harming any of the wonderful creatures. I have had lots of success with mammals, but this is the first year of insect rescue! Thanks again!

Jan

[Mona Miller]

Avoid full sun because it is very dehydrating both inside and out. I bought a cheap travel clock that has the temperature. I monitor the temperature in my garden window inside and close the blinds a bit if it gets too hot. Part of the day, it gets direct sun and part of the day it doesn't. Caring for butterflies makes me feel a little bit like mother nature.

[Jan]

Thank you so much, Mona!!! OK, since I'm still the newbie here, is there ever a time Monarch chrysalis will stay over the winter and then eclose in spring? I am under the belief that other butterflies/moths may do that but not Monarchs. Is that right?

Thanks again.

[Mona Miller]

They are not cold hardy. You can delay the emerging by putting them into the frig for several weeks, but you can't keep them there. When the temps go down below freezing they get out of town fast.

Several species of butterflies travel south for the winter, the Monarch goes farther than any other.