Sept 16, 2022

Monarch monitoring newletter

Hello Couchiching,


I want to thank you for your participation in the monarch monitoring program this year! Monarchs will be heading South through September and October so you are unlikely to find any eggs or caterpillars at your site but volunteers are welcome to make one more monitoring visit in September. 


It has been an interesting season of monarch monitoring with some sites having very few observations while Grant's Woods had an explosion of monarch activity at its little patch of milkweed. It brings up interesting questions such as "what properties of a milkweed patch attracts butterflies to lay their eggs there" and "what factors impact caterpillar survival". Read on in this newsletter to find some insights into these questions. 



Aiesha

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Data Submission Updates

Please submit any outstanding monitoring data by using The Couchiching Conservancy's online formor by dropping your paper form off at the Grant's Woods office. We are no longer asking volunteers to submit their data directly to Mission Monarch because their form does not include caterpillar instars. Couchiching Conservancy staff will submit the summarized data to Mission Monarch at the end of the season. Thanks.


Why does my milkweed patch have no monarchs?

Joni Pethick and Alysha Henry monarch monitoring in goldenrod milkweed patch at Taylor NR _Aiesha Aggarwal_.

Photo: Joni Pethick and Alysha Henry monarch monitoring at Taylor Nature Reserve


LOW DISTURBANCE


Photo: Spiny shieldbug (Picromerus bidens) pair mating and predation of monarch caterpillar


MANY PREDATORS

This study by Hann and Landis (2019) found that monarch butterflies lay more eggs at regenerating milkweed patches. For a few weeks following disturbance (mowing the patch) the milkweed plants had many monarch caterpillars and eggs and very few predators (spiders, ants, and other insects). 

CWF September Monarch Project

canadian-wildlife-federation-cwf-logo

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is looking for people to help collect Monarch butterfly sightings throughout Ontario this September. Submit your observations of monarch butterflies and roosts on their iNaturalist project page.


Here's a short promo video, and more information about the research


If you have questions about using iNaturalist, let me (Aiesha, aiesha@couchconservancy) know and I will be happy to help you out 

I am Aiesha Aggarwal, the Conservation Analyst at The Couchiching Conservancy. If you have questions about Community Science then feel free to get in touch.

Work hours: 9:00am-5:00pm
Phone: (705) 238-1811






I am Alysha Henry, the Biological Technician at The Couchiching Conservancy. If you have any questions about the Monarch Monitoring program, feel free to get in touch.


Email: alysha@couchconservancy.ca

Work hours: 9:00am-4:00pm

Phone: (705)-716-2547




You are receiving this email because you are a Monarch Monitor with The Couchiching Conservancy. Please let us know if things have changed and you can longer volunteer, or do not wish to receive these emails. 
The Couchiching Conservancy | couchichingconserv.ca
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