MONARCH BUTTERFLY BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION MONARCH LARVA MONITORING

MONARCH BUTTERFLY BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION MONARCH LARVA MONITORING PROJECT

Monarch Life Cycle Photo sources: Michelle Solensky, Denny Brooks, www. naturallycuriouswithmaryholland. wordpress. com, Dave Astin, Wendy Caldwell

LIFE CYCLE TIMELINE Wendy Caldwell Stage Time Total Time Egg 3 -5 days 4 days Larva 10 -14 days 16 days Pupa 10 -14 days 28 days* Adult 1 month or up to 9 months *Time from egg to new adult

4 Wendy Caldwell, Michelle Solensky

Egg First Instar Fifth Instar 5 Instar: Period between larval molts. Monarchs have 5 instars. Karen Oberhauser

First Instar: Tentacles in front, none in back 6 Karen Oberhauser

1 st instar photos by Connie Robinson

Second Instar: Tentacles in front and back 8 Karen Oberhauser

Third Instar: Tentacles in front extend to the tip of the head 9 Karen Oberhauser

Fourth Instar: Front tentacles extend beyond the head 10 Karen Oberhauser

Fifth Instar: Karen Oberhauser Front tentacles extend well 11 beyond head, and droop down to the ground

GUESS THE LARVAL INSTAR! First Fourth Fifth Both are seconds Karen Oberhauser

Larva in the ‘J’ Stage ARKive video New Monarch Pupa Lapsed Time: ~1 minute www. naturallycuriouswithmaryholland. wordpress. com

Monarch ready to eclose ARKive Video 14 www. naturallycuriouswithmaryholland. wordpress. com A new adult monarch!

Which butterfly is the male and which is the female? Female Male 15 Michelle Solensky

Fall Migration Monarch Lab, Journey North

Karen Oberhauser De Cansler Wendy Caldwell

18 Karen Oberhauser

Spring Migration Monarch Lab, Journey North

Did anyone see monarchs last year? 21 David Day

But why, what happened? Habitat loss. Pesticide use. They get sick! The weather’s been a big bummer for them, too.

Habitat Loss Homes and buildings where milkweed used to be Sarah Leen – National Geographic Cutting down trees in the forests where they spend the winter Reba Batalden 24

Habitat Loss USDA Crops like corn and soy beans where milkweed used to be An Ásatrú Blog 25

Pesticides Hurt ALL insects, even the good ones Be careful where you get your plants! Do some research Ask what chemicals are used 26

Disease Stephanie Baker 27 Jane Arnold

Predators Lincoln Brower 28 Anurag Agrawal

Natural Causes - Weather 29 Lincoln Brower

What Can I do to Help Them? Spread the word! Plant more milkweed – lots of it – it’s all the caterpillars eat! Plant nectar plants for the adults, too! Turn off lights, recycle, conserve water, carpool or walk or bike when you can. Get involved!

HABITAT NEEDS. . . FOR MONARCHS Food Milkweed Water Mostly for the plants Shelter Bushes, and Nectar trees, and other plants Air It’s everywhere, but keep it clean! Space It’s only there if we make it! Wendy Caldwell

BUTTERFLY GARDENS Laura Molenaar Candy Sarikonda 32

What makes a good Butterfly Garden? Sun, and lots of it!! The butterflies like it and the plants need it! Shelter! Bushes or fences work well to keep the wind out! Good soil. Host & Nectar plants! 33 Margaret Righter

Chip Taylor Ed Doering Carol Cullar Carrie Benham David Astin David Schenk Jim Ellis 34 Jim Ellis Judy Kesser: Barbara Powers

AND DON’T FORGET THE MILKWEED! Wendy Caldwell Chip Taylor Karen Oberhauser

Acknowledgements Thank you to all our MLMP Volunteers!! The Monarch Larva Monitoring Project started as a Masters project by Michelle Prysby and her advisor Dr. Karen Oberhauser. This Power. Point was adapted with permission from the Monarch Biology Power. Point created by the Monarch Joint Venture in collaboration with the United States Fish & Wildlife Service. 36