Monarch Butterfly Migration & Milkweed Phenology Project

With May right around the corner, migratory activity will accelerate over the coming weeks. Journey North volunteers are reporting monarchs with old and faded wings as well as first generation, fresh-winged monarchs.

Nora in Alexandria, VA: "Faded coloring. In a field with common milkweed." (04/20/2023)

Mary in Hesston, KS: "Went to the plant sale at Dyck Arboretum and saw two weathered monarchs nectaring on the lilac bush." (04/20/2023)

04/19/2023 Emergence Through Dry Ground

https://journeynorth.org/sightings/query_result.html?record_id=1526626378

04/19/2023 Earlier Emergence

https://journeynorth.org/sightings/query_result.html?record_id=1526626376

04/19/2023 Multiple Instars Observed

https://journeynorth.org/sightings/query_result.html?record_id=1526626579

04/19/2023 Plentiful Eating

https://journeynorth.org/sightings/query_result.html?record_id=1526626450

04/19/2023 Hours of Egg-laying

https://journeynorth.org/sightings/query_result.html?record_id=1526626260

04/19/2023 Eggs on Milkweed Sprouts

https://journeynorth.org/sightings/query_result.html?record_id=1526625557

04/19/2023 Visiting Common Milkweed

Monarch laying eggs on emerging milkweed

https://journeynorth.org/sightings/query_result.html?record_id=1526626631

04/19/2023 On an Egg-laying Mission

https://journeynorth.org/sightings/query_result.html?record_id=1526626634

04/19/2023 Monarch Observation Pace Slows

The monarchs of the overwintering generation have only a few weeks left to live. The worn-winged butterflies are no longer their brilliant orange. Most monarchs from this generation will die by the first of May. At this time in the migration season, Journey North volunteers are observing multiple generations of monarchs.

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