Fall Monarch Migration Through Texas

Texas Monarch Watch

Return to Texas Entomology - Compiled by Mike Quinn

Monarchs occur  throughout Texas during the fall migration, but 

the largest concentrations generally follow the historical pattern indicated here:

 

Mapp of Fall Monarch Migration Through Texas

Live Map of Overnight Roosts
Fall 2009 vs. Fall 2002-2008
(Click on yellow dots for site data)

Consult the following website here dubbed:
"Moving Days for Monarchs" 
for a 3-day wind direction, speed, temp. etc., prediction
to fine tune when and where monarch movements might be.
(Set for Dallas, but forecast location can be changed) 

Interactive Central Flyway Migration Map - Fall 2008 

Texas Monarch Flyway Analysis - Fall 2007

Coastal Flyway Information

Note: the timing of the coastal migration lags behind that of the Texas interior.

See Harlen Aschen's coastal report of monarch numbers by date
for Point Comfort, TX, October-November 2006

Interactive Coastal Flyway Migration Map - Fall 2007

Average Midpoint and Peak Abundance of the Fall Migration by Latitude

Latitude Midpoint Peak in monarch abundance Corresponding
major cities
37 27 September 19 September - 1 October KS - OK Border
35 2 October 24 September - 6 October Amarillo 
33 7 October 29 September - 11 October Lubbock, Denton
31 12 October 4-16 October Midland, Waco
29 18 October 10-22 October Del Rio, Galveston
27 23 October 15-27 October Laredo, Kingsville
25 28 October 20 October - 1 November Monterrey, N.L., MX
23 4 November 27 October -8 November S. of CD Victoria, MX
21 11 November 3-15 November  
19.4 18 November 10-22 November Overwintering Sites

Source: Peak Monarch Migration Dates - Monarch Watch


The monarch distribution contrasts with more easterly distribution of Texas population - U.S. Census Bureau

Monarch flyway primarily originates in the upper Midwest
as exemplified by this map of fall Monarch roosts - Journey North

14 Oct 2009 ©  Mike Quinn / entomike@gmail.com / Texas Entomology / Texas Monarch Watch