Spring 2026 Monarch Update

Native plants, Blackfoot Daisy, Melampodium leucanthum, and Zizotes Milkweed, Asclepias oenotheroides, up and growing for Monarchs

Photo by Emmy Ulmschneider

By Emmy Ulmschneider, Permian Basin Master Gardener

It is March, and for me, March means Monarchs.  I am fascinated by the epic journey that Monarch butterflies make.   We summarized last fall’s southward migration in a September blog post: https://www.westtexasgardening.org/post/monarch-migrations. So, at the start of spring, my mind turns to wondering how far north the Monarchs have come.   Since the Monarch population is measured by the size of the winter Monarch population, estimated by the number of hectares they occupy in the oyamel fir forests of Mexico, my question is, are they moving towards or away from extinction?  From this year’s measurements, the good news is that the population has increased slightly for the second year in a row, to 2.93 hectares, a hectare being roughly 2.5 acres.  https://journeynorth.org/news/eastern-monarch-population-announced-showing-second-consecutive-increase However, we are still below the sustainable threshold value of roughly 22 acres. 

Not everyone can make the trip to the Monarch’s winter migration home in the oyamel forests of Michoacan, Mexico, but we all can visit virtually through Journey North: https://journeynorth.org/about/our-story. Journey North has been tracking animal migrations through individual observations across North America and beyond for over 30 years.  You can visit these amazing fir forests, the Monarch’s winter home, and learn about how Monarchs have come to overwinter there through: 

https://monarchjointventure.org/resources/monarch-webinar-series/international-conservation/a-journey-through-the-monarchs-winter-home?blm_aid=3469403137 . 

One can follow the Monarch’s northward migration in real time through the posts that individuals of all ages make along the migration route.  Midland is on the map with the first reported local observation made on March 16, 2026.  To see that post and that individual Monarch, go to https://maps.journeynorth.org/map/?map=monarch-adult-first&year=2026&season=spring  and then click on the dot that is in our area. 

There are several reasons for the slight increase in the 2026 population.  The Monarch population is a balance between how many eggs are laid and how many Monarchs survive to adulthood to lay eggs for the next generation.  That balance is affected by both environmental and human factors across three countries:  Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Providing safe habitat across three countries is a major challenge, and conservation efforts are underway in each country.  We can’t control the environmental factors, such as weather, but we can control the human factors, such as providing habitat in our yards, cities, and countryside.  And we can all limit or stop our use of insecticides and harmful toxins.  What we do in our individual yards matters!  We can all contribute to a solution.

And the solution is so easy:

·        Plant native flowers that have different colors, shapes, and overlapping bloom times. Natives already “know” how to survive; they are the basis of our ecosystem food chains.  They provide food and shelter, require less water, and once established, they don’t need special care. 

·        Plant native milkweeds for Monarchs to lay eggs on.  Monarch caterpillars must have milkweed to survive.

·        Provide a shallow, clean water source.

·        TURN OFF OUTDOOR LIGHTS AT NIGHT!!!!  Light at night affects a Monarch’s ability to navigate.

·        Avoid pesticides.

If you have questions, call the AgriLife office in Odessa at 498-4071 or in Midland at 686-4700.   Additional information and our blog for access to past articles are available at westtexasgardening.org.  Click on “Resources”