Summer Is Near

This is our final Monarch & Milkweed news update for spring 2022. Thank you for following along and sharing your observations. Please continue to report observations of adult monarchs, monarch eggs and larvae, and milkweed throughout summer. And mark your calendars: Pollinator Week is June 20–26, and the International Monarch Monitoring Blitz is July 29–August 7.

Eastern Monarch Population

Eastern Monarch Spring 2022 Report #12

Monarchs continue to approach the northern limits of their breeding range in Canada. However, Journey North volunteers in Saskatchewan have yet to report first sightings. At this same time last year, monarchs were as far north as Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (latitude 52°N). Up to this point, the northernmost report is from Lowland, Manitoba (latitude 50°N). And as migration winds down and more monarchs settle in to breeding grounds, reports of eggs and larvae are rising in the Upper Midwest, Southern Ontario, and New England.

Western Monarch Population

Letter from Gail Morris: Western Monarch Spring 2022 Report #12

In the Western U.S., monarchs have now been reported in every state except Washington. Gail Morris writes, "Monarch presence in the West continued to expand this week with reports from every state but Washington. Southern California in particular reported many monarchs and immatures. An intense early heat wave expanded into parts of California and Arizona with record high temperatures this past weekend. We will be eager to hear about habitat conditions reported this week to see how both adult and monarch eggs, larvae and pupae fare.

Summer Fun: Keep Reporting!

As summer approaches and migration winds down, continue to report your observations under these reporting categories:

Pollinator Week Is Coming Up

Pollinator Week is June 20–26. It’s a time to celebrate monarchs and other pollinators and spread the word about what we can do to protect them. There are many ways to participate, including joining our Pollinator Patch mapping effort. We can all play our part to secure a healthier, more sustainable future for pollinators.

2022 International Monarch Monitoring Blitz

Save the date: the 2022 International Monarch Monitoring Blitz is July 29–August 7. Over these ten days, join thousands of volunteers across North America to look for monarchs and milkweed, and report your observations to Journey North. More information to come – stay tuned!