When monarchs are like corn

17 May 2022 | Author: Chip Taylor

I received an email this past week (

Filed under General | Comments Off on When monarchs are like corn

Monarch Puzzle Wrap Up

22 April 2022 | Author: Chip Taylor

I want to thank all of you who participated in the puzzle. I challenged you to come up with the same possible explanation I did for why first-generation monarchs appear to stop directional flight on specific dates in June at ...

Filed under General | Comments Off on Monarch Puzzle Wrap Up

Monarch Population Status

22 April 2022 | Author: Chip Taylor

I have looked at a lot of monarch and weather data over the years in attempts to understand the factors that influence the development of the population. These factors include the number of monarchs returning to Texas from Mexico, whether ...

Filed under Monarch Population Status | Comments Off on Monarch Population Status

Monarchs, milkweeds and O. e.: It’s time for a more holistic approach

19 April 2022 | Author: Chip Taylor

There have been many papers written on the relationship between monarchs and their neogregarine parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha, hereafter referred to as O.e. These papers have covered a number of topics including, infection rates, how spores are distributed by infected adults, ...

Filed under Monarch Biology | Comments Off on Monarchs, milkweeds and O. e.: It’s time for a more holistic approach

Western Monarchs

6 January 2022 | Author: Chip Taylor

My father was a Certified Public Accountant, and had I demonstrated a facility for numbers, I might have become a CPA as well. Instead, I became a biologist which I naively assumed would mean that I wouldn't have to work ...

Filed under Monarch Biology | Comments Off on Western Monarchs

How many hectares in 2021-2022?

6 January 2022 | Author: Chip Taylor

Each year, at about this time, I administer a test – to myself. I have one question. How big, in term of hectares*, will the overwintering population be this year? Technically, I fail the test every time and expect to. ...

Filed under Monarch Population Status | Comments Off on How many hectares in 2021-2022?

Some notes on the sun angle at solar noon (SASN) and the passage of the migration

17 August 2021 | Author: Chip Taylor

Linking the timing, pace and duration of the migration to the sun angle at solar noon (SASN) was only possible because thousands of volunteers tagged monarchs from the time monarchs emerged in late summer until the end of the migration. ...

Filed under Monarch Migration | Comments Off on Some notes on the sun angle at solar noon (SASN) and the passage of the migration

Monarch Population Status

17 August 2021 | Author: Chip Taylor

The migration is underway! EASTERN MONARCHS As you may remember, earlier I offered that the recolonization this past May and early June of the summer breeding area was quite favorable. Monarchs generally arrived on time and in good numbers leading to a ...

Filed under Monarch Population Status | Comments Off on Monarch Population Status

Monarch rearing, tagging and releasing survey

6 July 2021 | Author: Chip Taylor

INTRODUCTION In the middle of Covid-19 last June, we conducted a survey of those who rear, tag and release monarchs. Life has been interrupted in many ways over the past year, and we are just now getting around to summarizing the ...

Filed under Monarch Biology | Comments Off on Monarch rearing, tagging and releasing survey

Monarch population crash in 2013

11 June 2021 | Author: Chip Taylor

What contributed to the monarch population crash in 2013? The text below was written at the time the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was evaluating evidence of all aspects of the monarch population prior to determining whether the monarch should be ...

Filed under Monarch Biology | Comments Off on Monarch population crash in 2013