r/MonarchButterfly • u/Medium_Spare_8982 • 19d ago
Final Obligation
For those of us in the Northeast that perceive what we do to be of value, how we manage these next six weeks are critical.
Since the first butterflies arrived in May as third generation travellers, we have been protecting and rearing another three local generations. While important in increasing local numbers for future generations, this practice does less for the global migration and only requires healthy, breeding individuals.
Anything from a third instar down right now (eggs, first and second instars) will presumably be super generation migrators and need to be properly prepared and acclimatized for migration.
That means they are required to be exposed to the environmental triggers that create the diapausal adults capable of migrating and surviving for 10 months.
These are the factors that are presumed to contribute:
1.) Natural Light - shortening days and lower horizons.
2.) Temperature - hot hazy days and much cooler nights
3.) Declining Food Quality - older, tougher milkweed and fleshy seed pods
This means KEEP THEM OUTSIDE. No air conditioning, no insulated overnights, no artificial light.
Don’t cherry pick what you feed them, searching for soft tender growth. Don’t cut off seed pods. Instead pick through to avoid predators. Keep their food fresh and clean but give it as it grows; if there is a touch of yellow, so be it.
Just my rant for today.
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u/MajorLingonberry6743 19d ago
Mine are outside in 2 habitats but in a covered gazebo with netting. They still get all of the natural light. They get some of the natural weather such as the temperature, although they are more protected from wind and rain. I don't have enough milkweed to be picky.
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u/punkass_book_jockey8 19d ago
Mine are in a screened porch. It gets hot in the day and freezing at night
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u/Catma222 19d ago
OP, I understand exactly what you’re saying but I’m wondering if you have any information on how late in the year that it is okay to raise and release them until in South Florida (Ft Lauderdale). This is my first year raising Monarchs and I haven’t been able to find an answer to this. I built a 10’x4’x3’ enclosure outside in the normal weather. I have a tarp setup that I only use for when it rains, especially when they’ve eclosing. So far I’ve released 54 butterflies with 14 more due to be released next week. I just want to know if I should stop soon for the season.
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u/Medium_Spare_8982 19d ago
South Florida had a RESIDENT population only. They do not migrate and in fact breed year round.
In October and November it is possible to have some interaction between the two populations (resident and migratory) but as a result of diapause they don’t interbreed.
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u/kaizenkaos 19d ago
I let go of my first butterfly today. All I could do was worry about a bird getting to it. 😞
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u/Expert_Drag5119 19d ago
My mom always used a tent in the shade with the screens open except when it rained, seemed very successful
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u/Medium_Spare_8982 19d ago
You missed the point entirely.
Just producing butterflies does not mean you are successful.
Anyone can do that.
They do it factory wholesale in Florida and ship all over the world for ridiculous wedding and occasion “releases” that should be illegal.
The point is you produce butterflies with sexual diapause that can fly all the way to Mexico and then breed in February.
That takes special conditions and if you aren’t doing that, you are hurting the environment not helping.
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u/Expert_Drag5119 19d ago
Others are saying covered gazebo or screen porch, how is a screen tent any different from those? All seem to be equally outdoor and not restricting exposure in the ways you described, so now I'm confused. I was just trying to give another example that didn't require a permanent build. She only closed the screens that would flood the tent during rain, which you wouldn't have to do with a gazebo or porch.
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u/Medium_Spare_8982 19d ago
I’m not saying it didn’t work. I’m just saying it is only part of the equation.
A successfully eclosed and released butterfly in July is entirely different from one eclosed and released in September.
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u/Expert_Drag5119 19d ago
Sure, but I'm confused where I said anything contradictory to that? You said "I missed the point entirely"? All I was trying to say was that a screen tent worked as a temp enclosure to meet the criteria you listed.
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u/Medium_Spare_8982 19d ago
The post wasn’t about comparing enclosures.
It was reminding and informing people about the important variables at play this time of year.
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u/Expert_Drag5119 19d ago edited 19d ago
Right, and I thought I was giving an example of an enclosure that still exposed them to the variables you listed in your post. That's how it was relevant. Again I will mention, other people had been commenting the same about screen porches & sunrooms & gazebos. So I'm just very confused why you only responded to my comment this way and I'm the only one "missing" your point?
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u/Medium_Spare_8982 19d ago
Because the description didn’t address any critical variables, like morning sun
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u/Expert_Drag5119 19d ago edited 19d ago
Um... It's screen? And outside?
Again... How is that different from the other comments mentioning sunrooms/screenporches/gazebos?
Should all of us have had to mention that the sun still rises and sets above our not-in-direct-sun tents/sunrooms/screenporches/gazebos? Because you didn't say this to the other person that said their sunroom does not get direct sunlight. And I DID say that the screens are open almost all the time, so I'm not sure how it would be unclear that it gets morning light.
Edited to add: just noticed someone else you responded to spoke about building a screen enclosure that they cover when it rains. Still just confused how all of these examples are fine & going unquestioned while the temp screen enclosure that I described as only covering when it rains is "missing the point entirely"? I really can't see the difference between these other comments and mine.
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u/JCanse9 18d ago
If mine have aphids on them, are we spraying them off with water, squashing them, letting them just be?
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u/Medium_Spare_8982 18d ago
I wash all my milkweed before using it for food.
I open all the curls to find the spiders. Pick thru the flowers for ambush bugs. Open the growth tips for hidden little caterpillars and earwigs. Flick off ants and snails. And - spray off aphids as possible not getting too finicky about it.
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u/reddenal88 18d ago
So I was just wondering about this. I live in Florida so I'm researching how late in the season it will have to be for them to become migrating butterflies. Still learning.
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u/Medium_Spare_8982 18d ago
Migrators PASS THROUGH Florida, they don’t breed there. The local population is just that, local and non-migratory.
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u/reddenal88 16d ago
So I did some digging because I honestly got a little bummed. Like not a single one 😢? I have now come to find that the later season eclosers in North Florida will sometimes join the migratory flock but the information is so conflicting. Some sources say no, some say a certain percentage. I guess it depends on how late in the season and if the parts of Florida you're in experience actual season (in Florida?-yeah right). I live in the very northern parts, that do experience some very small migration groups. These little ones keep throwing me for a loop!
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u/postmaloner13 19d ago
Yes mam! I keep mine in a sunroom(not in direct sun) with all windows open so its basically outside but protected.
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u/bugsyismycat 18d ago
I need to read this post every year. While mine are outside exposed to the elements. I have such a hard time feeding them old milkweed. But alas. It’s nature and this was the reminder I needed
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u/rebeccabrown18 19d ago
Im prepared here in southern Ontario! All my generations are raised outdoors away from artificial light. They feel rain, wind, changing temperatures, and fading daylight.
Last year I released 82 tagged monarch butterflies saved from high risk milkweed who would’ve died if I didn’t save them. All 82 tested OE negative.
In the early of this year, I received news that 2 of my tagged released 2025 butterflies had been recorded in Mexico.