We first spotted the caterpillar climbing up our cucumber vines on the 11th of August, it changed to a chrysalis sometime between the 13th and 15th and today, the 24th, she’s emerged! We know she’s female due to a tiny feature that was on the chrysalis and the fact that she doesn’t have a spot on her wings.
Any monarch born after the middle of August has the potential to be a member of the ‘super generation’ that flies from where it emerged all the way down to a handful of special forests in Michoacán, Central Mexico where they’ll spend the winter. Next Spring they migrate again, working their way North and breeding along the way. This butterfly will likely breed somewhere in Northern Mexico or Southern Texas and once she’s laid eggs, she’ll die. Two to three generations and a couple thousand miles later, her descendants will return to South Eastern Canada to repeat the process.
In 2025 a report was released by the agency that monitors Monarch populations in Mexico and stated that the area occupied by overwintering butterflies had almost doubled. Whilst we’re still far below the long term average, it’s encouraging news. Keep planting milkweed, it’s working!
by dhgrainger
6 Comments
I hope she makes it. Where are you located? I’m guessing north of me – Atlanta.
Hi, I’m from Ohio! I planted Asclepias incarnata (swamp milk weed) and I have so many monarchs at my house.
If we are planting something around my house, it can only be for pollinators. I’m dealing with aphids, but I found a lady bug in the milkweed yesterday.
I’m curious though, all of the milkweed I’m finding in the ditches aren’t loaded with monarch caterpillars quite like the variety of Asclepius incarnata I have planted in my bed. Any insight or any similiar experiences?
The last line of your post just made my 75 year old mom’s eyes tear up. It’s so wonderful to read GOOD news.
The past few days I’ve seen a fresh, new monarch visiting my yard and am thrilled. I try to get close enough to determine the sex, then I wish them luck on their journey to Mexico.
Yay! I’m seeing way more monarchs this year in Pittsburgh, PA. At least 2 or 3 in my yard in the city everyday. I just found a catepillar today on the milkweed in my garden.
Their tiny fuzzy thoraxes!