Plant It and They Will Come 4 Monarch Pollinator Life Cycles

Judging by the wing veins I think yours is a female.

Awww thanks Greenthumb! A little girl Monarch! :-)

How can you tell??

okay, here she is just before she flew away a little while ago! :-) 3 more look like they'll probably eclose tomorrow.

so, how does one tell male from female Monarchs?

I just found this: http://adver-net.com/monpics.html

I have 6 chrysalises now.

thanks, Muddy--very interesting!

6 chyrsalises--very cool! were these eggs or cats that you found? Are they all Monarchs?

I can't believe how quick they've been--only 12 days! The BST chrysalises have been slower.

Yes, all Monarchs....Coleup brought them to the swap.

Glad you get to enjoy them!

It's fun to watch them...well, not so much now that they're hanging upside down motionless!

LOL! Yeah, the waiting game. :-)

Here are my 4 remaining Monarch chrysalises this morning, plus you can see one of the BST chrysalises. Waiting now for the 3 to eclose, then just one more Monarch left! It's been really fun. Can hardly wait to do it again next year! :-)

Where's the BST chrysalis?
Putting a plant in the tent is a great idea! I might have to dig up a Solidago 'Little Lemon' because those are the only short bloomers I have.

Muddy if you look just to the left of the farthest left Monarch chrysalis you'll see the BST chrysalis!

Oh, I thought was a part of a plant. Now I see. The BST chrysalises are so different from the Monarch ones.

I put a baby cat in a jar tonight on a leaf. I might take it to the library and if it is not too crazy, might have a chance to show it to a couple kids.

Playing catch up here.

Catmint, congratulations on your first eclosure and release of a beautiful Monarch mama! Aren't the colors intense?!! So lovely! Maybe by next year we can tag them to trace where they go from our releases. Thanks for helping to raise the migration numbers. Do you like the new rearing cage from Greenthumb?

Muddy, did your cats take to their switch in diet to Swamp Milkweed? When they crawl away from their catered feast to find a place to pupate I like to watch as they weave their silk pad and how they spin around fully extended in all directions to ensure their chosen spot leaves planty of room for new wings to plump out without bumping in to something. No need to dig up 'Little Lemon' or any plants for yours that eclose. Just give them 5 hours to harden wings and 3 hours of sunshine before release Did you get to see any halfway between cat and chrysalis? One nice feature of the rearing cage is that it can be used horizontally and vertically! Vertically it could house a fairly tall MW plant or cuttings.

Jan, how are yours doing? You should be getting some of the Migrators now in your area so hopefully your four will be flying to Mexico in good company! No one knows whether or not the GPS coordinates of milkweed patches or release sites are genetically encoded somehow or not, so let's just say, Plant It and They Will Come Back!

Goes for you, too Speedie! Have you taken yours to work?

And kudos to you Sally! One of the best ways to ensure we all have a Monarch Migration is to get kids up close with our creepy crawlies! And there are some great childrens' books, too. The three cats that came with the MW plant from you are just now chrysalises...I plan to return them to you for release and perhaps another 'show and tell'!

Jeff, those zinnias have been winners for me, too, and so much less prone to powdery mildew than other varieties. The orange ones really seemed to attract the Monarchs.

Greenthumb, how did your native plant sale go? And what's the good word from Loudoun County? Thank you so much for bringing the rearing cages and books to the Swap and for sharing your seeds! I hope to become a much better milkweed grower by next season as I found it a challenging plant to grow well in my situation which has no full sun ...sigh

Got a call yesterday from my 7yo grandson in Vermont. He excitedly told me that he had just seen a Monarch butterfly and that he was sure it was headed my way. Then he described it in great detail so I would know it was the one he had seen when it gets here! I love kids! And I hope the desendants of the ones I have been privileged to help raise will make their way up to Vermont and beyond next year and the milkweed patches will begin to fill in and prosper all along the Migration routes and many will make it to Mexico and encourage all those who work so hard to maintain that critical piece of habitat! Viva Mariposa.

You can track the Fall Migration and make and read reports here:
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/maps/monarch_peak_fall2014.html

Found this report to be interesting:

Date: 09/07/2014 Location: Kent Island, MD
39.20, -77.33
Number Sighted: 36 Time Observing: 00 hours 20 minutes
Comments: 9/7, Kent Island, MD (just across the Bay Bridge from Annapolis) Terrapin Park had plentiful nectar sources in their planted meadow and along the beachfront trail. A tickseed sunflower (Bidens sp.) was in full bloom and was luring in red admirals, painted ladies, American ladies, pearl crescents, grey and red-banded hairstreaks, orange and clouded sulfurs, sleepy orange, sachems, and monarchs. In 20 minutes we counted about 3 dozen nectaring monarchs, including 2 ovipositing females. Common milkweed was spent, but swamp milkweed had been mowed back along the ponds and had re-sprouted with tender growth. Even though conditions were favorable for migration (sun, 78 degrees F, wind NNE at 11mph) we did not see a single monarch engaging in directional flight. Nor did we see any monarchs making the bay crossing as we drove back and forth over the bridge. Chesapeake Environmental Center in Grasonville had saltmarsh aster, seaside goldenrod, groundsel-tree, and saltmarsh fleabane in bloom, but no monarchs were spotted there. However, red-spotted purple and common buckeye were seen sipping from smashed fruit in the parking lot.

Courtesy of Monarch Watch

There have also been reports of a flight of several hundred Monarchs observed last week from the 30th floor of a downtown Chicago office !

I've enjoyed reading about the adventures of other Monarch raisers and releasers on this site:
http://monarchbutterflygarden.net/raising-hope-2014-monarch-migration/

Picture courtesy of Mt Cuba Center.

Coleup, what a great photo of the Monarch eclosing!

I had 3 gorgeous Monarchs eclose yesterday. They really are different from the BSTs, who seem more skittish and eager to fly off as soon as they can. The Monarchs just seemed more comfortable and relaxed with my being there near them. I've decided they are relatively 'intelligent' butterflies! :-)

I think two females and one male.


This message was edited Sep 19, 2014 2:52 PM

I saw your grandson's monarch today, coleup. It was orange and had black stripes and some white spots. I'm sure it was the same one...................ahahaha so cute.

Final Monarch just eclosed. So sad it's my last one. 5 more BST chrysalises and then I'm done till next season. :-(

Two have eclosed and have been released. I took them over to the grandies' to show them. Going to bring them back here, cuz I want to watch!!!! Fascinating.

This message was edited Sep 19, 2014 2:52 PM

Do adult monarchs eat/drink nectar on their migration? Are newly eclosed monarchs going to be looking for nectar?

Sally, yes and yes.

I was a little worried at first because the cats did not seem to want the Swamp Milkweed, and I was going to wander down to a part of the county-owned creek where Common Milkweed might be growing, or over to Meadowlark Gardens to get some leaves. Fortunately, they decided the Swamp MW was acceptable. I put the MW stems in wet paper towels wrapped in saran wrap so that they would be fresher and more appealing!

I got to see one halfway between Cat and chrysalis; that was something special.

thanks David

'Spike" the caterpillar went to the library today and was quite a hit. We've got a blog post coming up sometime with a video that the boss took.

Hey everyone, check out this bill!

H.R.4790 - Highways Bettering the Economy and Environment Pollinator Protection Act

Also called the BEE Act, it promotes planting pollinator-friendly plants along federal highways!

https://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/4790?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22hr+4790%22%5D%7D

That's terrific news! Virginia Dept. of Transportation seems to be using native plants in more and more areas. The area in which I was going to search for MW is actually owned by VDOT, not the county. A few years ago, they sowed native plant seeds in an area where the soil had been disturbed for a drainage project (it's in a flood plain). I haven't walked along there this year, but last year I saw plants like native grasses, Partridge Pea, Swamp Milkweed and woodland sunflowers.

One thing I think about as I look at plantings in the middle of and on the sides of highways is that the plants should not be of any interest to deer so they're not extra-motivated to run across the highway. To me, that's a tall order, because deer around here will eat the new shoots and buds of just about any plant there is (except certain sedges, rushes and grasses)....
which reminds me...I need to whip up a batch of deer repellent so they don't eat the Montauk Daisy buds.

This message was edited Sep 20, 2014 8:58 PM

much as I love the nature friendly view, I agree there can be safety concern as wildlife (groundhogs?) takes to the thicker cover in the medians, and then gets in traffic. Although I do see groundhogs in ditches already and have rarely seen one killed. Unlike the 'daily deer' on Rt 70 between here and Frederick, say. I swear there i a deer on that stretch every time I drive it.

Good point; I hadn't thought about the cover aspect. So the DOT folks have to find plants that 1) don't have to be mowed and 2) are attractive to pollinators, but not to deer and other animals that might cause accidents as people swerve to avoid them or hit them.

I've seen Cosmos in big patches. That's sort of thin as far as cover, but a good late season flower. Then I think they just mow it very late, or over winter or something.

If they'd establish common milkweed, they could never kill it. And it would spread all the way to the curb/ shoulder....

Changed my opinion:
We drove along several miles of wooded area today and I realized how thoroughly vulnerable the highways already are to wildlife, so more bug friendly strips won't make a difference.

Now, wet blanket that I am= why does it take a federal bill to do something common sense and smart? Why aren't local road managers already trying to lower their costs? Why aren't local Dept of Natural Resources pushing and working with them to maximize wildlife use of public land?

I think Maryland is going this direction already. More planted area, and less mowing, seems the new normal.

I think it takes a federal bill for federal highways. And local bills for local highways.

There's no other way to do it since the funding for the federal highways -- including the upkeep of plantings -- comes from federal bills.

Less mowing and more planted areas seems much more economical in the long run.

There is one male Monarch that has been guarding my milkweed patch for over two weeks now, I know it is same one as his wing was damaged upon release by a wasp attack. He still flies and manages to scatter off humming birds and other Monarchs! He appears every time I enter the patch and when ever any of the numerous others I have released here come to nectar. I will miss him when he no longer flutters about. Because he is so good at defending his territory and because I have hand raised so many, I have set about to find alternate release sites, often pairing chrysalises with those I know are interested in a Monarch encounter. It is amazing how Monarch ambassadors can draw in a variety of people, each with their own stories to tell. Took 25 to the Farmers Market on Sat am. What a marvelous time. Sent them off to three organic farms with established milkweed patches and plenty of nectar rich native wild flowers where pollinators are respected and important in the scheme of things.

Of those eclosing now, most will join the migration but some will stay and fatten up on nectar and even lay a few eggs before hitting the thermals. Cape May NJ reported their first group of Migrators last Thurs so they soon will be here and I hope the 97 chrysalises still waiting in the wings will eclose and join them for the great Mexico mountains rendevous!

Any eggs we find d now could benefit greatly from being taken in and hand reared indoors as cooling Fall temps can slow down the process and the later the eclosure into Oct or Nov, the less likely to complete migration due to weather. Monarchs are not able to overwinter here or where it freezes and they cannot fly when their body temp is below 55 degrees.



This message was edited Sep 22, 2014 12:23 AM

Sally, I believe that individual states have much leeway in planting/mowing on their interstate segments. I drive between Frederick, MD and Hancock, MD on a regular basis. This year I see that in that stretch of I70 the state has been mowing only a single mower width on both the median and shoulders immediately adjacent to the pavement. This has left large stands of Milkweed, Goldenrod, Asters, Eupatoriums, etc. in the highway corridor. Also, the state has been planting numerous native trees and aggressively removing Tree Of "Heaven" along the interstate.

Edit - within two hours of my posting about conditions along I70 in western Maryland I made my usual trip to Hancock, MD. To my surprise, within the last week both the median and shoulders between Hagerstown and Hancock had been shorn to 2 inches from pavement to the tree, shrub, of fence line. I guess they feel they need to do it once a year, but at least they waited until the end of the Monarch larval season (more or less). The mowing between Hagerstown and Frederick appears to be a work in progress.

This message was edited Sep 22, 2014 3:26 PM

removing Ailanthus YAY

We had a big removal of callery pear this spring. Not more than a drop in the bucket mind you, but along one stretch of Rt 100. Maybe enough to study effectiveness.

Man, the highway maintenance personnel in PA are terrible. I'm pretty sure they hate vegetation and would be happy if nothing was green. I drive route 30 between Lancaster and York every day and they recently sprayed a defoliant all along the road on the trees and shrubs. Everything has turned brown from the ground to about 15' and it looks terrible. Then next year those trees and shrubs will come back but only be half foliated and they will look horrible. They have been cutting down these few trees between the off/on ramps and the highway that are ~30 years old for no reason at all. It's so annoying! They do nothing for invasives and as a result, my view along the road looks terrible as almost everything is covered with wild grape.

Jeff---
--Make your opinion be heard! Call or write to your Councilman--or whomever
is over this kind of topic. Use DG's frustration with this as a 'crutch'.
Like--the BIGGEST Gardenig site in the world--and you are part of it!

--Get every DG'er in PA and MD to chime in---in writing--and copy those comments out.
I bet coleup could fill a whole book with her opinions on this.

--Start a movement! Talk it up with everyone you know or pass by.
--Let your frustration be heard on radio news....!
--Better yet--write to your local newspaper and see if they will run an article on this.
-Take pictures as you travel--and get them posted along with your article.


Would I do all this? Probably NOT! but--giving advice/suggestions is easy....

YOU GO--Jeff!!! We will support you!
Gita

Haha G! I'm not much of an activist type but I'd participate if someone else was leading the outcry. Thanks for the advice though!

David, I see your update in your last post. There's been some mowing around here too. Too bad Goldenrod seems to be just getting going good.

I can accept it is necessary at some time.

-Two inches seems to ensure that not all of those native plants will survive...populatiom comtrol

-timing seems to ensure very little reseeding..control and containment

-major source of pollen and nectar removed from pollinators and seeds for birds for winter survival removed

-removal of cover for ground nesting or dwelling birds and the insects they eat.

Perfect plan for diminishing sustainability and diversity.

As to the timing for the Monarchs, I suspect that if milkweed was visited by females earlier in season, that there are mutilated fat cats and pulverized chrysalises all along the way and nothing for the migrating generation now begining to reach our area to feed on nectarwise. And, no time for tender new growth for any egg laying and nothing to feed the hatchlings. should mama Monarch deposit them to ensure a little stagger to the migration so not all lost in one weather event....

Fresh mown means new growth for our deer population to be drawn to for grazing just intime for rut and no band of less desireable edibles to dissuade hungry deer from a mad dash across lanes where the grass may appear greener.

It is estimated that 6000 acres of pollinator habitat is lost each day in this country alone


Found this article which gives a bit of highway planting and mowing history and efforts around the world.
http://e360.yale.edu/feature/green_highways_new_strategies_to_manage_roadsides_as_habitat/2661/