Monarch Poisoning Massacre Followup

[Paul Cherubini]

How are the Monarch Butterflies doing 3 months after the
alledged March "monarch poisoning massacre" in Mexico:?

Today Elizabeth Howard who directs the Journey North migration monitoring
program reported the following on dplex-list:

"In looking at this spring's migration map, you'll see that the Midwestern 
states and western Ontario had a HUGE INFLUX of 1st generation 
monarchs during the 2nd half of May. "
http://www.saber.net/~monarch/monarch_mapb060601.GIF

Also, Benigno Salazar, 
http://www.saber.net/~monarch/benigno1.jpg
http://www.saber.net/~monarch/monarch70.jpg
a Mexican monarch scientist who monitors the colonies reported:

From: Bosque Modelo Mariposa Monarca <bmmonarc at evonet.com.mx>
To: Carol Cullar <ccullar at wcsonline.net>
Date: Monday, May 07, 2001 4:34 PM
Subject: RE: Greetings from the USA

Estimada Carol,

I want to tell you that the mortality of the monarch butterfly was in the Cerro
San Andres Sanctuary. In this Sanctuary was announced in all the news media.

The mortality that existed in Cerro Pelon and Piedra Herrada has been at  7% 
by way of natural causes (ending the cycle of life) and depredation by birds.

In San Andres it was said the death was by insecticide, but the official results 
after a toxicological study determined that they had died naturally from cold

Saludos

Biol. Benigno Salazar M.
Director Ejecutivo del
Bosque Modelo  Mariposa Monarca, A.C.
Tel/Fax: (7) 15 3 54 56

Lastly, consider how many monarchs actually died of the cold at the little
Cerro San Andres sanctuary - a mere 400,000 according to Dr. Roberto Solis
who is the head of all the sanctuaries. 400,000 is just 1.4% of the total 
overwintering population in Mexico last winter ( 28,000,000 ).

Paul Cherubini, Placerville, Calif. (capitals my emphasis)

Background:

Sat, 10 Mar 2001 20:04:16 -0600
From: Chip Taylor <chip at ku.edu>
Subject: Mexico --- Shocking news
CC: leps-l at lists.yale.edu,
     Entomology Discussion List <ENTOMO-L at LISTSERV.UOGUELPH.CA>,
     Lori Benson <benson at sciencetimes.tv>, halpern at aya.yale.edu,
     JohnsonK at Coudert.com

The following is more news from Mexico concerning the possibility
that large numbers of monarchs were killed by loggers.