Have we lost our Monarchs as well?

[patvetzal]

Removing milkweed from the noxious weed list is one of the few things our gov has done. Too bad they didn't do it long ago...

[trout trekker]

I have been working with monarchs in my classroom for about a decade now, and yes the numbers are a tiny fraction of what they have been in the past. In Central Ontario the monarchs that have made the long journey north should be laying eggs right now to start the next generation that will migrate south. They are looking for fresh milkweed. I have discovered that a field cut for hay in late June or early July will have younger milkweed with tender leaves perfect for the caterpillars right now. I used to feel guilty cutting a hay field with milkweed, but after finding more than 200 caterpillars on an acre of younger milkweed several years in a row, I cut it down on purpose. I have also been known to check over entire fields if I know a farmer will be cutting hay in August or later. The older, untouched milkweed rarely have caterpillars. If you want to encourage monarchs to lay eggs, encourage new growth milkweed. They love it!

On a note of declining butterflies, there is one species that I am seeing more of over the past 5 years, and that is the Giant Swallowtail butterfly. Possibly due to increasing temperatures, they are surviving further north and feeding on prickly ash rather than citrus trees. It's a gorgeous butterfly.

[yellow dog]

Great piece of information trout trekker we have lots of prickly ash where I hunt in South Western Ontario as well. If you have anymore information please post it.

[trout trekker]

The giant swallowtail caterpillars look like bird poop, shoot out bright red antennae and a nasty stink when touched. They only eat the prickly ash supposedly because it is a very close relative of citrus trees. In the tropics, they are considered a pest of citrus orchards. Here in Central Ontario, I raised the caterpillar and kept the chrysalis over winter on our porch. The butterfly emerged the following May or June.

IMG_1634.jpgIMG_0762.jpg

[intothedeep]

Were they actually Monarch's or were they Viceroy Butterflies ?which are similar.

Compare Hind Wings

Lol. That is near impossible to tell apart, except by really close inspection. All I can see is a cut black line across the back rear wings. I'll look out for that now...

[yellow dog]

But one feeds strictly on glycol. lol Looks like the body of of the Monarch has white markings compared to the all black body of the Viceroy. To me that would be the easiest way to identify.

[Rodbender]

Counted over 50 today migration is on
humming birds i counted 120

[sawbill]

I think its cyclical. I remember a time when there were blue jays everywhere. They disappeared from around here for almost 30 years and now they're back in droves. Same with cedar waxwings
As kids we used leopard frogs for bait then they disappeared. Now I'm seeing them everywhere.