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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMonarch Butterflies Are Streaming Into California And Mexico
http://www.care2.com/causes/monarch-butterflies-are-streaming-into-california-and-mexico.html
by Judy Molland October 26, 2015 6:00 am
The annual monarch butterfly migration might just be the most colorful migration in the natural world.
California is the overwintering home for most of the western monarch butterfly population, and thousands of them have already been spotted in Pacific Grove. Hundreds of thousands more will flock to the California coast in the next few weeks to cluster together on trees such as Monterey cypress, Monterey pine and eucalyptus for the winter.
They may be getting help from a surprising source: the states drought.
In the face of water restrictions, Californians have been taking out their lawns and replacing them with native plants, including milkweed species, which can thrive in arid conditions. Thats important for monarchs, since the female will lay her eggs on only milkweed.
FULL story at link.
uppityperson
(115,674 posts)TuxedoKat
(3,818 posts)when I lived in Missouri one early September evening migrating Monarchs decided to roost overnight in my Sweetgum Tree. There were thousands of them covering almost every leaf and branch. It was such an amazing sight the neighbors were all coming over to look at them. Somewhere I have some photos.
Sadly, I have milkweed in my yard where I live now but rarely see Monarchs.
catchnrelease
(1,941 posts)I just added another plant to my milkweed patch this past weekend. It had some Monarch caterpillars on it when I bought it, but I've been checking and all are gone. It's possible that they crawled off to make their chrysalis' but I really don't think they were big enough yet. Makes me worry that the wasps got to them. Hope at least a couple make it ok.
Thanks for the info, I'm always interested in Monarch news.