Monarch Watch Update - August 2006 http://www.MonarchWatch.org [EMAIL PROTECTED]
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Contents: 1) Status of the Population 2) Fall Open House 3) Monarch Waystations 4) Weed Control in Pastures 5) Cool Cats 6) Air Fresheners: A Possible Hazard for Monarch Caterpillars 7) Milkweed Seeds - Vernalization and Scarification 8) Degree Days 9) About Monarch Watch =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Unless otherwise noted, all content was authored by Chip Taylor,=20 edited by Jim Lovett, and Ann Ryan, and published by Jim Lovett. The=20 complete web version of this update is available at:=20 http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update/2006/0831.html =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D My apologies for the lateness of this Update. My only time to write=20 these Updates is on weekends and my last 5 weekends have been=20 occupied with other Monarch Watch activities. - Chip 1) Status of the Population It has been an up and down summer. If you have been following the=20 Updates, you may recall that the number of first generation monarchs=20 that moved north from Texas, Oklahoma and southern Kansas, as well as=20 other areas in the south eastern states, in late April through early=20 June was nothing short of spectacular. From my perspective as one who=20 receives reports from many correspondents, in addition to those sent=20 to Dplex-L and Journey North, the size of the first generation was=20 certainly the highest in the 14 years I've been following the spring=20 migration. The surge of monarchs northward resulted in some unusual=20 sightings such as substantial numbers of spring monarchs being washed=20 up on the shores of Lake Michigan after a storm. Such events are=20 uncommon but, prior to this report, I had only heard of fall monarchs=20 being washed ashore. ... [ Read the full text of this article at=20 http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update/2006/0831.html#1 ] =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D 2) Fall Open House Each year we celebrate the arrival of the monarch migration from the=20 north on the second Saturday in September with an Open House at our=20 facility in Foley Hall on West Campus at the University of Kansas.=20 The Open House (9 September) was a great success. We attracted at=20 least 500 visitors and ran out of cookies and pupae. Our visitors=20 enjoyed 40 dozen cookies along with at least 20 gallons of lemonade=20 and we gave away over 360 pupae to the children (and more than a few=20 adults) who visited the pupa tent. ... [ Read the full text of this article at=20 http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update/2006/0831.html#2 ] =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D 3) Monarch Waystations Approaching 1,000 habitats, Cleveland Metroparks Monarch Waystations,=20 and more photos of Monarch Waystation #1 ... [ Read the full text of this article at=20 http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update/2006/0831.html#3 ] =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D 4) Weed Control in Pastures One of the aspects of monarchs and milkweeds that I have not been=20 able to obtain data on is the number of acres of grazing land that=20 are sprayed each year to control invasive or even native weeds, brush=20 or trees. My perception was that milkweeds would be lost from these=20 landscapes as a result of such spraying but it didn't occur to me=20 that they could be the primary reason to initiate spraying. ... [ Read the full text of this article at=20 http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update/2006/0831.html#4 ] =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D 5) Cool Cats Two accounts submitted by Monarch Watchers of unusual monarch = caterpillars... [ Read the full text of this article at=20 http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update/2006/0831.html#5 ] =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D 6) Air Fresheners: A Possible Hazard for Monarch Caterpillars We received the following communication from Sheryl Lynch concerning=20 the possibility that air fresheners may contribute to larval=20 mortality when used near rearing containers. ... [ Read the full text of this article at=20 http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update/2006/0831.html#6 ] =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D 7) Milkweed Seeds - Vernalization and Scarification We received an interesting tip (edited) from Joseph McCulloch of=20 Normandale Community College in Bloomington, MN. "My students collected common milkweed, a cultivated milkweed, orange=20 milkweed, prairie and swamp milkweed seeds in late fall. Seeds were=20 placed in labeled 1 gallon zip-lock bags with a slightly moistened=20 paper towel and placed in a refrigerator from late November until mid=20 April. In mid April, my Ecology and Evolution students opened the=20 bags, removed the moist towel, let the seeds/dry out for about 1=20 hour, then added two to three 2 inch squares of sandpaper to each bag=20 and shook vigorously for a few minutes to scarify the seeds. We then=20 planted the seeds in flats, one species/flat and placed the flats=20 under lights in our plant room. Germination was approximately 90% in=20 all species. After 4 weeks the flats were transferred to our=20 temperature room in the greenhouse and then "hardened" outdoors for=20 two weeks on the west side of the greenhouse, a site that is=20 partially shaded in the afternoon, before transplanting the seedlings=20 to the gardens." =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D 8) Degree Days We all know it has been a hot year starting with the warmest January=20 since temperature records have been kept for the entire United=20 States. Warmer than normal conditions continued through the spring=20 and summer. A quick glance at Table 1 shows that the number of=20 monarch degree days through 25 August was greater in 2006 for all=20 five cities than for the previous three years. Greater numbers of=20 generations have the potential to increase the size of the fall=20 migration. However, other conditions also have to be favorable.=20 Unfortunately, the drought and the high temperatures in July and=20 early August appear to have trumped any advantage due to a greater=20 number of generations in the upper Midwest. ... [ Read the full text of this article at=20 http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update/2006/0831.html#8 ] =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D 9) About Monarch Watch Monarch Watch (http://www.MonarchWatch.org) is a not-for-profit=20 educational outreach program based at the University of Kansas. We=20 manage several educational, conservation and research programs -=20 focusing on the monarch butterfly, its habitat and the spectacular=20 fall monarch migration. We rely on private contributions to support the program and we need=20 your help! Please consider making a tax-deductible donation. Complete=20 details are available at http://www.MonarchWatch.org/donate or you=20 can simply call 800-444-4201 (KU Endowment Association) for more=20 information about giving to Monarch Watch. Previous updates are available online at = http://www.MonarchWatch.org/update If you have any questions about this email or any of our programs=20 please feel free to contact us anytime. Thank you for your continued interest and support! Monarch Watch http://www.MonarchWatch.org [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you would rather not receive these email updates from Monarch=20 Watch please visit http://www.monarchwatch.org/update/ This e-mail may be reproduced, printed, or otherwise redistributed as=20 long as it is provided in full and without any modification. Requests=20 to do otherwise must be approved in writing by Monarch Watch. Call weekdays, evenings and weekends. Leave your phone number/best time = to return your call and/or your e-mail address if we are on another line = or away from our phones.=20 Sincerely, J. Michael Nolan, Director =20 Rainforest and Reef 501 (c)(3) non-profit *************************************************************************= *********** "Outstanding-Affordable Field Courses in Rainforest & Marine Ecology" "Spanish Immersion offered in Mexico, Costa Rica,=20 Nicaragua, Panama, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru" Web: http://iwanttolearnspanish.org (being updated for 07) United States: Rainforest and Reef 501 (c)(3) non-profit P.O. Box 141543 Grand Rapids, Michigan 49514-1543 USA Phone: 1.616.604.0546=20 Toll Free: 1.877.255.3721 Skype Phone: mikenolan1 Live Chat and Phone MS Live Messenger: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Live Chat AOL: buddythemacaw E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.rainforestandreef.org=20 Latin America: P.O. Box 850-1150 San Jos=E9, Costa Rica, Central America Att: Juan Pablo Bello C. 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