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Greetings Texas Monarch Watch Volunteers!

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October 10, 2007 - Update
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Contents:

(1) Monarchs are on the Move Heading South Through North Texas!

(2) Migration On-line Aids

(3) Overwintering Population Estimation & Migration Conditions

(4) Texas Spider News

(5) Thanks!!!

(Will add or remove anyone from these semi-annual updates upon request.)

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(1) Monarchs are on the Move Heading South Through North Texas!

Monarchs are moving in 100s and 1000s primarily from Wichita Falls to
Abilene to San Angelo and points west.

Here are snippets of some of the most recent reports:

===Oct 8===

Lee Andrea from near downtown San Angelo called to say that there were
thousands of monarchs in her property.

===Oct 9===

"Monarchs maintained steady progress across Wichita Falls, TX all day
Tuesday, Oct. 9 under clear skies, temps in the 70s and northerly wind
5-10 mph. Some 200+ Monarchs apparently took an early afternoon break,
resting on the sides of buildings at Midwestern State University...

Jim Miller
Texas Master Naturalist

===Oct 10===

Randy Davis called to report thousands of monarchs passing on the ne
side of Abilene.

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Please report migration sightings of *double digit or more* monarchs
which I'll forward to Journey North for mapping purposes:

mailto:mike.qu...@tpwd.state.tx.us
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(2) Migration On-line Aids

The following websites should be helpful in prediction when and where
best to search for migrating monarchs:

Animation of the fall 2007 monarch migration - Journey North
http://tinyurl.com/ytdmt3

Map showing peak average monarch migration dates and densities - Texas
Monarch Watch
http://texasento.net/fall_peak.htm

Consult the following website <http://tinyurl.com/2svmth> here dubbed:
"Moving Days for Monarchs" for a 3-day wind direction, speed, temp.
etc., predictions to fine tune when and where monarch movements will be.
Set for Dallas, but forecast location can be changed.

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(3) Overwintering Population Estimation & Migration Conditions

Predicting the size of the overwintering population in central Mexico is
still a bit of an art form. Chip Taylor of University of Kansas' Monarch
Watch made a very informal estimation last month of 7.5 - 8.0 hectares
of occupied forest which would be a continued improvement over the last
three year's winter populations.

Mexico Overwintering Population Estimates - 1994-2006 - Journey North
http://tinyurl.com/2o3ewp

At the end of September, Bill Calvert noted the following promising
conditions for the monarch's passage through Texas:

"Due to excessive rains in June and July, there is a virtual forest
(technically understory) of frostweed (Verbesina virginica) in place,  
mainly in riparian areas of central Texas. Many of these are climbable
(exaggeration).

Also present in abundance is camphor weed (probably Heterotheca
latifolia).

If nectar productions hold into October, butterflies entering Mexico
from Texas should be fat, if not obese!

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(4) Spiders in the News

Giant Spider Web in an East Texas State Park
http://texasento.net/Social_Spider.htm

Not so much news, as informational:

Yellow Garden Spider - Argiope aurantia
http://texasento.net/Argiope.htm

Spiny-backed Orbweaver - Gasteracantha cancriformis
http://texasento.net/cancriformis.htm

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(5) Thanks!!!

Thanks all for your continued support, data collection and reporting!

Will add or remove anyone upon request from this semi-annual news
report.

 Mike

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 TEXAS
Parks &
Wildlife
========

___________________________
   Texas Monarch Watch
www.texasento.net/dplex.htm

Mike Quinn
Invertebrate Biologist
Rare & Nongame Species
Texas Parks & Wildlife

M: 3000 I-35 South, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78704
P: 512-912-7059
C: 512-577-0250
E: mailto:mike.qu...@tpwd.state.tx.us
_________________
Texas Entomology
www.TexasEnto.net

I can be reached Toll Free at: 800-792-1112 ext 7059

Please report migration sightings of *double digit or more* monarchs
which I'll forward to Journey North for mapping purposes:

mailto:mike.qu...@tpwd.state.tx.us