Hi, Butterfliers (especially our Texans),
It looks like the drought in the Southwest/Texas area is really affecting our Monarch populations.
I just received this e-mail from Chip Taylor of Monarch Watch thru the Ohio Lepidopterist List Serv.
He gives this report on the 2009 Migration:
As many of you know, the fall monarch migration is well underway. In July when I wrote the text for the Premigration Newsletter (available for download at http://monarchwatch.org/tagging) it was already clear that the fall migration would be modest and certainly no larger than the migrations we have seen for the last several years.
It is now clear that the migration this year will be smaller than any seen since the fall of 2004, a migration that resulted in an all-time low overwintering population in Mexico of 2.19 hectares. The overwintering population this winter will probably be less than 4 hectares and could be much less if the long term drought that has persisted in much of Texas and northeastern Mexico doesn't abate.
Monarchs are highly dependent on nectar and sources of water to fuel the migration through this region in October and November and, if the drought persists and nectar resources are scarce during this period, the number of monarchs reaching the overwintering sites will be reduced. There have been some recent rains in Texas but it is not yet clear whether these rains have been sufficient or widespread enough to provide the fall flowers needed by the monarchs. - Chip (Taylor from Monarch Watch)
Monarch Watch Fall Migration: only modest numbers for 2009
I am not surprised. I think I saw only about a half dozen Monarchs this year.
So okay...I guess it would help if Texans start providing more nectar plants. I'll have to get some at the nursery...been absolutely brutal this summer, plants dying all over! Don't know how much it'll help, but southcentral area of Texas is getting rain!
Yes, it sounds like TX is having an horrifically hot and dry summer.
We haven't had the monarchs in any normal numbers here either. But the opposite seems to be true here: too cold and wet.
Weird weather this year.
I haven't seen a single Monarch yet. Usually they're everywhere!
It has taken way too much out of me to keep what I have alive. I am now just limiting to doing everything I can to keep the milkweed alive for the Monarchs but that does not leave them any nectaring plants. I have a few still left but most everything has burnt completely up.
So sorry to hear about the burnt butterfly gardens in TX. I know it must be difficult to keep them going in this heat.