The monarchs are getting restless. Daily, there is more sunlight in their winter home of the oyamel fir forests high in the Mexican mountains. Average temperatures are rising also. Streaming behavior is beginning. One or two monarchs will take flight, and this activity stimulates more to take flight. Suddenly, there is a flood of monarchs leaving on mass from a tree. It is a spectacular sight. The monarchs are in search of water rich in minerals. Mating will begin, and the urge to begin their journey north is becoming stronger. Near the end of February, throughout March, and into April the northward migration begins.

This is the Methuselah generation. They live 9 or 10 months which is much longer than the lifespan of 5 or 6 weeks for the summer monarchs. This Methuselah generation has been in reproductive diapause. Now they are becoming able to reproduce. As they head north, they begin looking for milkweed. It is the only plant upon which they will lay eggs.

In Texas the milkweed is starting to grow. If there is no milkweed emerging yet, there will be no egg laying when the monarchs arrive. If the milkweed plants are small and few, the monarchs are forced to “egg dump”. This means they will leave many eggs on one plant. The caterpillars that emerge will devour the plant before it can grow large. Most of these caterpillars will die due to lack of available milkweed for food. If the milkweed plants have grown to sufficient numbers and size, the female will lay one egg and then look for another milkweed. There is some concern that this timing and delicate dance the monarchs have with milkweed will be affected by global warming.

Normally, monarchs arrive in Northern Minnesota during the latter part of May. They need milkweed too. If the females can’t find milkweed, it is like a desert to them, and they lay no eggs. Huge amounts of milkweed aren’t necessary in one spot, but huge milkweed deserts will result in no eggs laid. Small plots of milkweed in many places will avoid milkweed deserts.

My goal is to have all churches in the NE MN Synod monarch friendly by having some milkweed growing on church grounds. Gloria Dei, in the heart of Duluth, planted milkweed about 15 years ago, and monarchs have visited there every year since.

tomuecker1946@gmail.com