The wind was out of the north on Friday which usually means it's a good day for migration south. The numbers of monarchs weren't high, but I did find them at their favorite night roosts - Farm Island and an eastside (Pierre) cemetery.
Saturday morning, Dan and I caught and tagged four monarchs. I went to the cemetery in the evening and caught another five.
Not big tagging numbers yet. The peak of migration for our area is mid-September, so more to come.
Dan is right - it's that time of year to tag monarchs. I was at the Butterfly Garden yesterday just to see if there was more activity. It was kind of quiet. A viceroy had me excited for awhile. One female monarch came by to lay eggs and I didn't really want to bother her by putting a tag on. I half-heartedly tried to catch her and missed. Maybe another day.
It's getting late for monarch eggs. In the life cycle, eggs can take 3-5 days to hatch. The larva stage takes 9-14 days and the pupa stage takes 8-15 days. Winter is coming - better hurry!!
Well, my lawn is more tan than green and the flowers in my garden are starting to set seeds. I have been seeing lots of butterflies out and about, especially Monarchs and Regal Fritillaries. The regal numbers are fading as females start to lay their eggs, but the Monarch numbers should start increasing as the migration starts. Seeing all the sightings from people has been great, but be sure to post about groups you see during the fall migration. People with Monarch tags will start marking the southward bound butterflies, so be sure to start reporting any larger you groups you see. Hopefully we have shed the triple digits for the year, and we can start enjoying more pleasant days. Keep getting out there and looking at nature!!
Dan
Milkweed is starting to grow. Monarch caterpillars need milkweed to eat.
I found some small plants of Showy Milkweed in the Oahe Downstream Recreation Area Butterfly Garden. I could not find any of the other milkweed we have planted - whorled, dwarf, swamp, common. Hopefully they are just getting a late start.
A botanist friend will be experimenting with more milkweed plots to see how best to grow them and which species the monarchs like best.
May 22, 2020
I had a monarch on my lilac bushes in the evening. Dave, a retired botanist, had one during the day. Another friend had one at her house. Sooooo - they are back! Dave said they were about a week earlier than last year.
It's still too early for monarchs in South Dakota. I did get curious enough to see when the first ones were seen in the state last year. It is usually the end of May or early June.
I had a female laying eggs in the Oahe Butterfly Garden (in the Pierre/Ft. Pierre area) on June 6, 2019.
And just so you know, the peak of migration in the fall for the Pierre area is mid-September. I tag monarchs as they pass through. More people are encouraged to tag monarchs. It is easy. You can find more information about tagging and how to buy tags at https://monarchwatch.org/tagging/. You are also welcome to find me this fall and help.
