Monarch

I saw a tv program the other day that stated "Florida has no Monarch Butterflies". Well I took this 3 days ago, and I havn't left Florida in almost 8 months.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...s/52451045.jpg

But are they breeding locally, or flying in from out of state?

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Originally Posted by SmartWombat

But are they breeding locally, or flying in from out of state?

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Wonderful Question Paul!

Here is the answer:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...s/26541097.jpg

And is there an overwintering population?
For example the Red Admiral here in the UK breeds here in summer but the first influx is from across the channel.
Unless global warming warms us up a little more, we won't have a truly local butterfly.

I suppose it's harder to determine for the Monarch, isn't it migratory?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SmartWombat

And is there an overwintering population?
For example the Red Admiral here in the UK breeds here in summer but the first influx is from across the channel.
Unless global warming warms us up a little more, we won't have a truly local butterfly.

I suppose it's harder to determine for the Monarch, isn't it migratory?

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We have had a permanent population as long as I can remember, they get kinda scarce at times, but they never leave all together.

Whereas we don't have a continuous population of the Admiral - yet.

http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/species/index.php

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Originally Posted by almo

I saw a tv program the other day that stated "Florida has no Monarch Butterflies". Well I took this 3 days ago, and I havn't left Florida in almost 8 months.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...s/52451045.jpg

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More evidence for ya -- photographed this one in FL about two years ago.

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Originally Posted by almo

I saw a tv program the other day that stated "Florida has no Monarch Butterflies". Well I took this 3 days ago, and I havn't left Florida in almost 8 months.

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Well John,

What you have is basicly the first generation of monarch so to speak. Those monarches that breed there have young that breed say in S.Carolina. from there it takes 3 generations to make it past NJ up into canada.

I know my explaination is a bit vague, but do a google search and somewhere you should find info on the fact that it takes 3 generations to get to canada(but every generation migrates back to mexico no matter where it summers)

here's a link for you ;)

http://www.adver-net.com/FMonHome.html