LogFAQs > #957162379

KodyKeir posted...

It can easily go wrong, there are reported cases of the butterflies failing to migrate after being raised by a caretaker.

I've heard this with respect to monarchs that come from commercial stocks that are genetically isolated from wild individuals. They haven't migrated for many generations.

I find mine in the wild, rear them with natural light cycles and immediately release after eclosion.

Also, only the last generation of monarchs will migrate south each year. Mid August is on the cusp of the beginning of the super generation.

Taking about 4 weeks to become an adult, this batch could result in both non-migratory or migratory adults, but probably non-migratory this early in the year.

The non-migratory adults live only 2-6 weeks, meaning their offspring in mid-to-late October will be wild-born and highly likely to migrate due to shortening photoperiod and increased temperature variation.

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