Minnesota Monarchs!

12 years ago

We are 2 days later than last year, but I have finally seen the first monarch flying around our yard today.

There have been reports of monarchs here since the 11th but I hadn't seen any fluttering about.

Our common milkweed is more than ready for eggs so I'm hoping they don't start laying on the tropical plants.

Our first visitor has been nectaring from the salvia coccinea, so I'm glad we made that addition!

Still no signs of the swallowtails as I heard Miss Sherry mention recently. We had our first swallowtails in MARCH last year. Where have they gone?

signed, finally something to talk about in Minnesota :)

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Comments (15)

KC Clark - Zone 2012-6a OH
12 years ago
I've been looking at my milkweed because of you but finding nothing. My son doesn't buy that Minnesota gets monarchs before we do. :)

Had my first BST of the year eclose today so I have giant, tiger and black swallowtails flying around here. I guess I'll trade those for May monarchs.
MissSherry
12 years ago
Congrats, congrats on seeing a monarch - 'nothing like a butterfly to brighten things up!

Sherry
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Hi Bev, the chrysalis will eclose in about 10-14 days. IF it's healthy and hasn't been parasitized, or perhaps found by a predator and eaten, or some other hazards that could befall the chrysalis. However, it's already beaten enormous odds to make it to this stage (as you've noticed - lots little cats, not many make it to pupate). Perhaps next year you can help them along and bring some in to raise? :-D Monarchs are a tropical species. They can't overwinter in a temperate climate. They can't even fly below approx. 50 degrees F (10 C). In North America, there are 2 primary over-wintering locations - along the coast of California, and some fir forests in the mountains of central Mexico, where they are occasionally exposed to harsh weather, but many still manage to survive. Black Swallowtails, on the other hand, ARE a temperate species, and many of the chrysalises that I have in my tank right now will probably over-winter with me (in the garage) and eclose next Spring. Amazing that they can survive snow, ice, and freezing temps outside! (PS. We are pretty smart on this forum, but the real knowledge about b-flies is on the Butterfly forum! :)
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Thanks, Larry. I have not had that happen to me before. I clicked on the link during "Preview Message" to make sure it worked. Sure looks like it knew I had a link at one time.
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Minrose- yes, such a beautiful today. will try to remember it in the coming months! Terrene- I thought maybe the last female generation would be more playful than the others since they didn't have to focus on egg laying, but the one female that eclosed around October 3 wanted nothing to do with the males, and nectared in seclusion on the other side of the yard before abruptly leaving. There is still ONE male in the yard nectaring. He has been around for the last two weeks. He is quite large and his wings appear "wrinkled". I'm sure he'll head south, but guessing he won't be making the magical migration to Mexico. The sky is dark and it's starting to rain. monarch season has come to an end in Minnesota...to have it until mid october has been a blessing! Tony
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October 1st Update- Hi everyone, the "last Minnesota Monarch" chrysalis is still hanging on my kitchen ceiling and is just starting to turn darker in some spots. This means the straggler will hatch Oct 2 or Oct 3 at latest! Although the high temps are on the cool side this weekend(and the lows are down right frigid!), our weather is sunny and nice through Oct 8. Maybe the monarchs knew something we didn't? http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/55431 Jodi- thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures...that liatris is a powerful attractor! Garnet- Keep scolding the monarchs...this weather can't hold out forever :) we still have blooming mexican sunflowers, asters, tropical milkweed, and showy goldenrod so the baby should be well nourished before the long trip. will post again soon, Tony
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minrose
12 years ago
So glad to hear you are seeing Monarchs finally! Last year by May 25th I already had 30 eggs or small catepillars. By May 31 I had 107! So far this year, I have not found any eggs and I have been looking quite a bit. I am finding milkweed pop up quite a bit now! I discovered my milkweed patch has alot of coming up, I am so excited. Now for the Monarchs to come and discover it!
Tony G
Original Author
12 years ago
KC...This is actually the latest I have seen them in the past 3 years. It has been unseasonably cool but that all ends tomorrow when we enter a string of 70's and 80's...YES!!!

I was running today on trails around the Mississippi and saw my second monarch on this lukewarm low 60's day so tell your son I'm not crazy! ;)

This could be the latest I've gone without seeing a swallowtail though...

Minrose, I had a ton of eggs by this time last year too but my visitor sadly left none.

Start looking this weekend though since our weather will be more butterfly friendly.

Miss Sherry, it's been a long winter but your butterfly stories and pictures have kept me hopeful. Thank you!

Tony
ericwi
12 years ago
Here in Madison, Wisconsin, it got down to about 40 last night, and we have had considerable rain lately. Great weather for emerging perennials like milkweed, and the lawns have greened up nicely, but still too cold for monarchs. I am checking every day, but no eggs yet.
KC Clark - Zone 2012-6a OH
12 years ago
I went out today to check my milkweed. Some animal (I figure the deer) chewed off all my common milkweed at around 9" tall. They are in a sea of ash seedlings but it looks like the milkweed is the only thing that got chewed.
Tony G
Original Author
12 years ago
I didn't think deer liked milkweed! Sorry to hear about that KC. hopefully you have other types of milkweed?

Eric, the warm weather is on it's way...it is supposed to be 86 here on memorial day and then a week straight of sun with 70's and 80's. sounds like good egg laying weather to me! ;)
KC Clark - Zone 2012-6a OH
12 years ago
Saw my first monarch of the year. It was getting some nectar from my neighbor's flowers. Spent about a minute here and moved on. I guess it had places to be besides my butterfly paradise :(

Something was chewing down my swamp milkweed last night. Same height as the common milkweed so I'm still blaming the deer.

KC
KC Clark - Zone 2012-6a OH
12 years ago
The monarchs decided NOT to pass me by. Found 7 eggs on my Sullivant's milkweed today.
MissSherry
12 years ago
That's great, KC!!

Sherry
butterflymomok
12 years ago
KC, that's awesome! I've heard that Sullivan's MW is a good host plant. I've got some I planted last year (grown from seed), but it seems to take forever for these plants to get very big. Any hints on growing them? They are native here--just not plentiful.

Sandy
Tony G
Original Author
12 years ago
Congrats KC! Tell your son you guys won this year. ;) the weather has been so strange in Minnesota this spring. First it was never ending rain and cold. Then for the last few days it's been sunny with hurricane force winds...ok, I'm exaggerating a bit but definitely too windy for the butterflies. Today is finally better butterfly weather. This is my latest monarch year in recent memory. I hope it picks up soon. Enjoy your butterflies! Tony
bananasinohio
12 years ago
Yea KC! Is your Sullivants from Ohio? I know some folks down here who have some but I have yet to avail myself. Oh and MY monarchs have already pupated :). I have 28 chrysalises. Phew...
Cheers,
Elisabeth
minrose
12 years ago
So far I have found 5 eggs, but tonight went I went looking I found a ton on some milkweed, it was getting late though, will pick them in the morning, probably will be adding about 10 or more to my collection.
KC Clark - Zone 2012-6a OH
12 years ago
I got mine from Prairie Nursery.
http://www.prairienursery.com

Sandy,
This is year 2 for mine. I bought 7 plants last year. Planted them in clay. Some did not make it. Some struggled. None of them really did well. Really skinny leaves seemed to be a common problem. They did attract mama monarchs last year but I think I moved all the eggs to swamp and common.

So far, I have 13 coming up this year so I cannot complain about their multiplication. Most already look better than last year but I have 3 with the skinny leaf syndrome (my term for it).

As you probably guessed, I'm fresh out of hints on how to get better growth out of them. I'm just glad their growing.

KC

Minnesota Monarchs!

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