We hope you have enjoyed the SRGC Forum. You can make a Paypal donation to the SRGC by clicking the above button

Author Topic: What do Monarch (butterflies) do on a hot day?  (Read 1794 times)

arillady

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1955
  • Country: au
What do Monarch (butterflies) do on a hot day?
« on: December 14, 2012, 08:10:11 AM »
 Yesterday it was very hot outside but cool on the bricks in the courtyard where the monarch butterflies congregated.
Pat Toolan,
Keyneton,
South Australia

Anthony Darby

  • Bug Buff & Punster
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9647
  • Country: nz
Re: What do Monarch (butterflies) do on a hot day?
« Reply #1 on: December 14, 2012, 08:15:19 AM »
I have seen this before. Two males fighting by attempting to mate with each other. They are quite territorial and it is possible an older male will take down a newly emerged one that hasn't quite managed to get away fast enough.
Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution"
http://www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk/Choir/The-Choir.html

arillady

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1955
  • Country: au
Re: What do Monarch (butterflies) do on a hot day?
« Reply #2 on: December 14, 2012, 09:17:16 AM »
Thanks Anthony and what is the difference between female and male. Of course as a novice on butterflies I had thought they were male female. ::)
Pat Toolan,
Keyneton,
South Australia

Anthony Darby

  • Bug Buff & Punster
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9647
  • Country: nz
Re: What do Monarch (butterflies) do on a hot day?
« Reply #3 on: December 14, 2012, 09:26:38 AM »
Thee males have thinner black veins and a large black scent mark in the middle of a vein on the hind wing. This is easier to see on the upper side and can be seen in both of your pics.
« Last Edit: December 14, 2012, 09:28:10 AM by Anthony Darby »
Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution"
http://www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk/Choir/The-Choir.html

arillady

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1955
  • Country: au
Re: What do Monarch (butterflies) do on a hot day?
« Reply #4 on: December 14, 2012, 08:19:18 PM »

Thanks Anthony. Now to keep a better eye on butterflies.
Pat Toolan,
Keyneton,
South Australia

ronm

  • Guest
Monarchs in NZ
« Reply #5 on: December 14, 2012, 08:49:08 PM »
According to a recent post in the latest ELG list, a spectacular calendar has been produced and is available to overseas cost $NZ25. Payment can apparently be made by PayPal. See a low resolution version at -
http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/MBNZT-Calendar-2013-low.pdf

Interested ??? I know I am !!
email    -    trust@monarch.org.nz

Hope I get one in my stocking!!! 8) 8) 8)

Anthony Darby

  • Bug Buff & Punster
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9647
  • Country: nz
Re: What do Monarch (butterflies) do on a hot day?
« Reply #6 on: December 14, 2012, 09:11:24 PM »
I got one Ron. Ask for discount as they are now reduced in price (NZ$15 in NZ - so perhaps NZ$20 - best to check?). I was a bit annoyed that the postman folded it in half so he could put it in the letter box without having to slow his bike down. I joined the Monarch trust and tag and release butterflies. Last week I tagged four reared males and yesterday I caught and tagged three wild females that came into the garden.
« Last Edit: December 15, 2012, 01:18:02 AM by Anthony Darby »
Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution"
http://www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk/Choir/The-Choir.html

ronm

  • Guest
Support the NZ butterflies
« Reply #7 on: December 14, 2012, 09:37:31 PM »
Noras getting me one, and one each for a few other peeps, ;D

That's great work you are doing there Anthony,  8)   8)

« Last Edit: December 14, 2012, 10:14:10 PM by ronm »

Anthony Darby

  • Bug Buff & Punster
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9647
  • Country: nz
Re: What do Monarch (butterflies) do on a hot day?
« Reply #8 on: December 15, 2012, 07:37:53 AM »
I had a couple of female monarchs in the garden. Neither tagged. I caught and tagged one and photographed the other feeding and egg laying on Gomphocarpus fruticosus (swan plant). It also laid on Asclepias curassavica. It managed to fly off before I could catch it. You'll notice the swan plant is only just recovering from the previous generation!
Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution"
http://www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk/Choir/The-Choir.html

Uli Lessnow

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 80
  • Country: de
  • Lover of bulbs and Wombats
Re: What do Monarch (butterflies) do on a hot day?
« Reply #9 on: December 15, 2012, 09:19:58 AM »
thank you for these fine pics, Anthony. Do you have a pic of
the belonging caterpillar?
Uli
Uli Lessnow from the Power capital of Germany

Anthony Darby

  • Bug Buff & Punster
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9647
  • Country: nz
Re: What do Monarch (butterflies) do on a hot day?
« Reply #10 on: December 15, 2012, 09:33:13 AM »
Here is one from March this year, feeding on Gomphocarpus, plus an example of a tag. A female monarch (called "the wanderer" in Australia and apparently arrived in NZ then Oz under its own steam mid 18th century) can lay up to 1000 eggs, so predation by polistes wasps and mantids is necessary to prevent over crowding of the food plant. The caterpillars wander too if they strip a small plant. I have found them moving from one stripped plant to another. A year ago I caged a big swan plant and ended up with so many caterpillars from wild laid eggs I had to go looking for more to keep them alive. I seem to remember releasing about 40 butterflies!
Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution"
http://www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk/Choir/The-Choir.html

Tony Willis

  • Wandering Star
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3205
  • Country: england
Re: What do Monarch (butterflies) do on a hot day?
« Reply #11 on: December 15, 2012, 04:44:42 PM »
One I saw in Ontario Botanic gardens in July
Chorley, Lancashire zone 8b

Anthony Darby

  • Bug Buff & Punster
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9647
  • Country: nz
Re: What do Monarch (butterflies) do on a hot day?
« Reply #12 on: December 15, 2012, 08:22:54 PM »
If this monarch was still around in August he'd be heading off to Mexico which they spend the winter. The monarch migration in North America is amazing. There are little migrations in New Zealand with some favoured trees having congregations of monarchs in July/August, but here in Auckland I can see butterflies on warm days in all months.
Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution"
http://www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk/Choir/The-Choir.html

arillady

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1955
  • Country: au
Re: What do Monarch (butterflies) do on a hot day?
« Reply #13 on: December 16, 2012, 09:28:18 AM »
We seem to have had Monarchs around a lot the last few years. Never any major migrations that I know about around here. Watching butterflies or baby chickens are two pastimes that I have enjoyed lately.
Pat Toolan,
Keyneton,
South Australia

Anthony Darby

  • Bug Buff & Punster
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9647
  • Country: nz
Re: What do Monarch (butterflies) do on a hot day?
« Reply #14 on: December 16, 2012, 09:46:30 AM »
Monarchs migrate in North America as they wouldn't survive the winter otherwise. I don't think they've been in Oz or New Zealand long enough to evolve any migratory behaviour. Even welcome swallows don't migrate in New Zealand as the climate allows them to be static.
Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution"
http://www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk/Choir/The-Choir.html

 


Scottish Rock Garden Club is a Charity registered with Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR): SC000942
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal