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Monarch Butterfly resting after emerging today

Started 3 months ago | Discussions thread
richj20 Forum Pro • Posts: 10,181
Re: Monarch Butterfly resting after emerging today

AeroPhotographer wrote:

Hello Richard,

Simon (neighbor) and I photographed another newly emerged Monarch this morning.

The newly released Monarch flew around his home milkweed plant and returned to it periodically. Simon suggested that it was hungry.

We debated whether or not this Monarch will fly to the Pacific Grove wintering spot. The flight distance is perhaps about 75 miles. Wikipedia states that only one species of Monarch migrates.

Alan

Thanks, Alan, for the description.

I see that your Milkweed is not a native, rather, the Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica), an introduced species in California. They have longer blooming periods than our native milkweeds. This is the reason these Monarchs are hanging around rather than migrating.

Most botanists recommend that if you do have the Tropical Milkweed, that you keep it pruned back to the ground beginning in late fall so that Monarchs will not be attracted to it, rather, start their normal migrating routine. It will also prevent the possibility of the Monarch encountering an infectious parasite.

See:

https://monarchjointventure.org/images/uploads/documents/Oe_fact_sheet.pdf

A return to the milkweed plant about 20 minutes after release. . There are two caterpillars in this photo. Can your find them?

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