HEARTWOOD CHAPTER

In the United States, there are 3 recognized populations of the Monarch butterfly.   The Western population which includes California, the Eastern Population which is Eastern states and eastern Canada and the southern tip of Florida.

The population which involves Texas is the Eastern Population.

The fall and spring migration of the Eastern Population of the Monarch butterfly has amazed people for decades.  A fragile insect with rice-paper-thin wings may make a journey of a thousand miles and sometimes more.

Each year, the eastern Monarch butterfly population produces at least 4 generations.   An egg will be produced, a caterpillar will hatch, a PUPA is formed and an adult butterfly encloses from it's PUPA.  The Monarchs mate, the female lays eggs and the adult butterflies die.  This is the Monarch's cycle of life.

Adult butterflies have one purpose which is to mate and produce eggs for the next generation.  Once mated the male butterfly soon dies.  The female butterfly will live a little longer which gives it a little time to locate milkweed to lay it's eggs.   A female can lay up to 400 eggs.  It is important that the female be successful in laying as many eggs since only about 1% of eggs survive.  Adult Monarchs born in the Spring will only live one to two weeks.

Monarch butterflies born in the Fall may live as much as 6 months.   The purpose of the Fall generation is to migrate from the cold/freezing temperatures to Mexico and survive the winter.  These adult butterflies will migrate from all the eastern states and including Canada.   So, their trip may be more than a 1,000 miles.  The amazing thing here is how can an insect travel that many miles.  It is also amazing that this insect will migrate all these miles to an area in Mexico it has never been to before, since the 4th generation has never been to Mexico.  When the Monarchs arrive in Mexico they will cluster by the millions in trees in order to protect each other from the cold weathers and rain.  Seeing the millions of Monarchs on these trees is a trip of a lifetime, since this is such an awesome spectacle.

For the Monarchs who survive the winter in Mexico, when weather warms up this winter population will start the trip north.  The fall population's next purpose is to mate and lay eggs in Texas.   Yes, I did say the FIRST eggs are laid in Texas.   So, therefore without Texas there would be NO Eastern Population of the Monarch Butterfly.  Without milkweed in Texas there would be No Eastern Population of the Monarch butterflies.

So, you may ask, How can I see the Monarch fall migration and when does it occur?  Monarchs in the northern states begin their southern movement sometime in September.   Around the 1st of October Monarchs are entering Texas.   There are two pathways that have been established which are called the Monarch flyways.   One pathway is towards the west around Abilene, Texas and the other is the Coastal Flyway.  Currently there are Monarchs migrating thru the Houston area.   The larger numbers of Monarchs will be in the Flyway areas so to see larger numbers you would need to travel to the flyway areas.  If you are lucky, you will also be be able to find a cluster where large numbers of Monarchs have congregated in trees.   Last year, I was lucky and found several 1,000 Monarchs in clusters at Abilene State Park.

To see the current reported sightings of Monarchs on their Spring and Fall migration see www.learner.org/monarch.  You can also easily report your own sightings at this link.

This is a very important year for the Monarch butterfly migration.   Last year 50% and some areas 80% of the Monarchs DID NOT survive the winter.   The weather in Mexico was bad.  Snow, heavy rains and unfortunately the continued problem with illegal logging has made it more and more of a challenge for the Monarchs to survive the winters.   In addition, unusually cold/freezing weather killed much if not all of the population which may have lived year round in Houston and other coastal areas.  The estimated numbers of the returning Monarch butterflies from Mexico was the lowest recorded numbers since the 1970s.

Reports have been positive that Texas had a good crop of milkweed last spring for the first generation and also lots of nice wildflowers.   So, hopefully this was enough positive information for the Monarch to make a big come back this year.

As positive as it sounds there is a real risk in the future the Monarch migration may cease to exist due to the continued loss of habitats, milkweeds, pesticide use and illegal logging.   The loss of resources the Monarch butterfly needs to survive is not isolated to just Mexico.  Texas is having its issues as well as the other states.  Experts have mentioned that a million acres of needed habitat has been lost.

As I became interested in the Monarch butterfly, I found soon it is more than just about the Monarch butterfly.  The Monarch butterfly is a symbol many people quickly recognize.   This makes the Monarch butterfly an excellent icon species to educate children and adults about nature, conservation efforts and importance of protecting habitats.  This quickly makes studying the Monarch butterfly much more than just the insect, or just about Texas, or just about milkweed.  I'm finding now the study also includes understanding people.

In the future, I will write some additional articles on status of Monarchs and where help is needed.

Linda Currie, Texas Master Naturalist - Heartwood Chapter