Status of Danaus plexippus in Arizona - -...
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Status of Danaus plexippus in Arizona Danaus plexippus Southwest Monarch Study www.swmonarchs.org
Transcript of Status of Danaus plexippus in Arizona - -...
Status of Danaus plexippus in Arizona
Danaus plexippus
Southwest Monarch Study www.swmonarchs.org
Early migration and breeding maps
Used with permission, Journey North
Tagging & Sightings in Arizona
Southwest Monarch Study Tagging
Approximately 12,000 in AZ, NV, NM & CA deserts
23 recoveries in Mexico from AZ (18 wild, 5 farm)
10 sightings in CA from AZ
1 sighting in CA from NV
Copyright © 2010-2014 Southwest Monarch Study Inc.
Why TWO migration destinations?
Sightings in CA from AZ all tagged in early to mid September:
2008: 12010: 12013: 5 (all tagged
same week)2014: 3
Hypothesis: Wind direction & thermals with monsoons.
Wind map for September 13, 2014
Wind & Sightings/Recoveries
• Wind direction and recoveries
• Multiple recoveries tagged on the same day.
Tagging by week – August to November
Copyright © 2010-2014 Southwest Monarch Study Inc.
Recoveries by sun angle
Migration begins when the noon sun angle is 56o to 57o, and ends when it is 46o to 47o.
Peak migration is at a sun angle of 52o to 53o.
Grand Canyon Colorado River
Late migration 10/23/08 to 11/10/08
Overwintering Monarchs:
Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area
Gooding Willows and Cottonwoods
primary monarch winter habitat
2008
November 2010 to March 2011
Hard freeze December 31, 2010 & February 1, 2011
Phoenix Monarch Count
0
5
10
15
20
10/3
0/10
11/1
3/10
11/2
7/10
12/1
1/10
12/2
5/10
1/8/
11
1/22
/11
2/5/
11
2/19
/11
3/5/
11
3/19
/11
Week
Co
un
t Rio Salado
DBG
Tempe Marsh
Monarchs are not normally “puddlers”
But during low humidity
they seek water in Arizona
Bob Herrmann 2012
Asclepias:
Five climate zones reduced to three
Climate Zones:
Yellow: Low & Mid Altitude Deserts
Green: High Desert & Cool Plateau Highlands
Blue: Cold Mountainous Regions
(Davison, 1999)
Asclepias spp. favored by elevation
Asclepias subulata as a host plant
Asclepias subverticillata – middle
and high elevation favorite
Breeding season favored nectar
Monarchs will search for milkweed when breeding that isn’t in bloom yet
Breeding season nectar –
a critical need
Buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis
Arizona Thistle, Cirsium arizonicum
Chocolate Flower, Berlandiera lyrata
Goodding's Verbena, Glandularia gooddingii
Richardson's Geranium, Geranium richardsonii
Red Barberry, Berberis haematocarpa
Trixis, Trixis californica
Sugar Sumac, Rhus ovata
Photo by Robbie Hannawacker
Importance of migration nectar
We’ve all heard the need for more Asclepias spp.
Monarchs use Asclepias for laying eggs, for larvae
During the migration monarchs are not breeding.
They need to store lipids to migrate and overwinter.
Migration favored nectar by monarchs
Secondary migration nectar
Richardson's Geranium, Geranium richardsonii
Bidens spp.
Any Aster spp.
Bidens laevis – a critical fall nectar
Canelo cattle foraging success
Will Bidens laevis, be a memory?
20152011
Arivaca Cienga, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge
Not only monarchs,
but a pollinator favorite
Butterflies are pollinators
Why does this matter?
CA Monarch Thanksgiving Counts
Used with permission – Monarch Joint Venture
Monarch Butterfly Fund
Mexico Overwintering Monarchs
New free app for I-phone now and
Android in the near future.
Educational & Data Currently Available
Identifying monarch adults, egg, larvae, pupae
“Is it a monarch?”
Identifying Asclepias
Tagging info
Report a tagged monarch
Monarch SOS Screenshots
