Do all monarchs go to Mexico to overwinter?
Monarchs west of the Rocky Mountain Range overwinter in California along the coast. There are many roost sites along the California coast. The coastal forests provide a similar microhabitat to the mountains in Mexico where the monarchs east of the Rocky Mountains overwinter.
How many eggs do monarchs lay?
Female monarchs can lay over 1,000 eggs in their lifetime. However, in the wild they probably lay an average of about 400 to 500 eggs.
How long does the monarch live?
The first three or four generations of monarchs have a 2-6 weeks life span and the 4 or 5th generation, called the Methuselah Generation that will migrate to Mexico will live 4-6 months.
How do the wings unfold?
The wings have veins that fluid is pumped through which inflate the wings to their proper shape and size. The butterfly waits until its wings are dry to fly. If the butterfly cannot hang upside down while its wings are inflating and hardening, the wings will not form properly and the butterfly will not be able to fly.
Do monarchs sleep?
Monarch butterflies are diurnal, which means they are active during the day. They need a body temperature of 84 degrees to be able to fly, and the sun also helps them find their way. At night, butterflies find a place to roost in trees or shrubs. They don’t technically sleep, at least the way humans do, but they rest in a state called torpor.
How can you tell a male monarch from a female?
Males have a dot on the vein on their hindwing. The dot is not coloration; it is made of specialized scales. In related species, the male produces a scent called a pheromone that attracts females. The male and female also have differently shaped abdomen, and the female’s wing veins look slightly wider than the males.
How do they communicate?
Their process of communication uses colors and scents. Chemical discharged from the rear wing glands help the males to attract its mate.
Why is a monarch caterpillar eating my dill/parsley?
It is not a monarch! Monarch butterflies only lay eggs on milkweed species, and caterpillars only eat milkweed species. That’s is what makes milkweed the monarch’s host plant.
However, swallowtail caterpillars look similar to monarch caterpillars — they are both black, white and yellow — and swallowtails feed on anything in the Apiaceae family, which includes parsley, Queen Anne’s lace, carrots, celery, fennel and dill.
What are the threats to the monarch?
One of the many effects of climate change will be wetter and colder winters. If they are dry, monarchs can survive below freezing temperatures, but if they get wet and the temperature drops they will freeze to death. Because hundreds of millions of monarchs are located in such a small area in the Sierra Nevada of Mexico during the winter, a cold snap there could be devastating.
How likely is it that monarchs will go extinct in north America?
Without emergency help, it’s almost certain that the western population of monarchs will collapse within 50 years. For the eastern population of monarchs, there’s up to an 80%-chance they’ll collapse within 50 years.
How can I get monarchs to come to my flower garden?
Any flowering plants will attract monarchs, which will nectar on the flowers. Planting milkweed in your garden will assure that monarchs will be present and will give you a close-up look at their eggs and larvae.
How can I help monarch population?
Plant natives! There are plenty of milkweed varieties, read about them here, that are beneficial and also beautiful in landscaping.
Cut down on pesticide use. Neonictinoids are considered harmful to pollinators, and many other chemicals that have widespread usage are not only deadly to bugs people don’t want around but they are deadly to everything. That means chemicals that kill mosquitoes also kill pollinating bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, ants and other beneficial insects.
Advocate. Make sure to talk to your friends, your neighbors, your family about the importance of pollinators and taking small steps in our own yards that will help bring back our populations.