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Monarch butterflies wintering in the mountains of western Mexico have survived January’s arctic blast, according to scientists studying the impact of the cold air on their overwintering sites.”There was a lot of concern that the arctic blast would reach all the way down to their overwintering sites. But it appears that it did not,” said Emily Geest from the Oklahoma City Zoo.Despite the close brush with the arctic intrusion, Geest noted that monarchs are surprisingly resilient to cold, emphasizing the importance of moisture.”They can tolerate temperatures as low as 18 degrees Fahrenheit, even though freezing occurs near 32 degrees. They can tolerate so long as they don’t have moisture on their bodies,” she said.In previous years, such as 2002 and 2016, the reserve saw a combination of cold and moisture, leading to significant declines in monarch numbers that took years to recover.However, reports from Mexico suggest that it’s been a positive overwintering year.”Some of the reports coming out of Mexico suggest that it’s been a really good overwintering year. The population is as big as it’s ever been, but we’ll have to see what happens,” Geest said.Monarchs are expected to begin their migration back north in a few weeks, arriving in Oklahoma by early April.Excitingly, monarchs tagged in Oklahoma last fall have been found at the overwintering sites.”We just found out a few days ago that at least two of them were found again in the overwintering sites – so we’re really excited to see what happens with these monarchs,” Geest said.However, the lingering drought in Oklahoma poses a potential concern for the butterflies upon their return, as rainfall is crucial for their food source.”They need plants – they need flowers and nectar. And if we persist into a drought, things may stay dry. There may not be enough nectar for them,” Geest said.
Monarch butterflies wintering in the mountains of western Mexico have survived January’s arctic blast, according to scientists studying the impact of the cold air on their overwintering sites.
“There was a lot of concern that the arctic blast would reach all the way down to their overwintering sites. But it appears that it did not,” said Emily Geest from the Oklahoma City Zoo.
Despite the close brush with the arctic intrusion, Geest noted that monarchs are surprisingly resilient to cold, emphasizing the importance of moisture.
“They can tolerate temperatures as low as 18 degrees Fahrenheit, even though freezing occurs near 32 degrees. They can tolerate so long as they don’t have moisture on their bodies,” she said.
In previous years, such as 2002 and 2016, the reserve saw a combination of cold and moisture, leading to significant declines in monarch numbers that took years to recover.
However, reports from Mexico suggest that it’s been a positive overwintering year.
“Some of the reports coming out of Mexico suggest that it’s been a really good overwintering year. The population is as big as it’s ever been, but we’ll have to see what happens,” Geest said.
Monarchs are expected to begin their migration back north in a few weeks, arriving in Oklahoma by early April.
Excitingly, monarchs tagged in Oklahoma last fall have been found at the overwintering sites.
“We just found out a few days ago that at least two of them were found again in the overwintering sites – so we’re really excited to see what happens with these monarchs,” Geest said.
However, the lingering drought in Oklahoma poses a potential concern for the butterflies upon their return, as rainfall is crucial for their food source.
“They need plants – they need flowers and nectar. And if we persist into a drought, things may stay dry. There may not be enough nectar for them,” Geest said.
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