A Butterfly Migration Super Highway Could Bring Millions Of Monarchs Through Texas This Fall
By Katie Lawrence|Published October 16, 2019
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
Eyes on the skies, y’all! The annual fall monarch butterfly migration is officially underway, and record numbers are expected to pass over Texas in the coming weeks. Here’s everything you need to know:
Monarchs traverse Texas on two separate routes during their fall migration. The first, a 300-mile span from Wichita Falls to Eagle Pass, is used from late-September until the third week of October. Any stragglers will take the other path, which hugs the coastline, through mid-November.
Located between monarch breeding grounds up north and their winter homes in Mexico, Texas plays a very important role in migration. The butterflies pass over the Lone Star State twice a year, in both spring and fall.
The monarch population has been threatened for some time as humans continually encroach on rural areas in which their primary food source, milkweed, grows. Fortunately, this year holds promise for two reasons: the spring migration was among the largest in recent times, and record numbers of chrysalises have been spotted on farms in the northeast.
Although there appears to be cause for celebration, experts caution against premature excitement. Many factors, including wildfires, hurricanes, pesticides, drought, and a lack of nectar, can all decrease how many monarchs actually survive migration.
Monarchs fuel up for the last leg of their journey in Texas, so it's crucial enough food is available. You can help by planting milkweed, the sole sustenance for larvae. Adults, however, feed on a variety of nectaring plants.
You can also build a makeshift feeder using a plate or other shallow dish to further ensure the monarchs make it to Mexico. Fill it with overripe fruit, a mixture of honey and water, or gatorade (not red.) You can also place some water in a second dish.
While nobody can say for sure what the next few weeks will hold, the consensus seems to be that we can expect a robust migration. Between high roost counts, abundant larvae, rainfall totals, and mild temperatures, all signs point to record numbers of monarch butterflies taking over the Texas sky.
Visit the U.S. Forest Service website to learn more about these cool creatures heading for Texas. Have you ever witnessed a monarch butterfly migration? Let us know your thoughts and past experiences!
Check out our previous article to read about where you can see the majestic critters year-round.
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