Monarchs and Monoculture in southern Michigan

[Stan Gorodenski]

This is an interesting conflict. Both observers purport to have seen 
just the opposite with regard to monocultures of transgenic crops. Maybe 
the growers in the areas Roger was looking at did a better job of 
eliminating weed growth in the perimeters of the fields, but how do you 
explain (i.e., to myself) Paul's observation that Monarch and Painted 
Lady abundances are greater in these areas? Could these kinds of crops 
reduce other populations of herbivores and thus also insect parasites 
and predators that might also feed on Monarchs, resulting in the 
contradictory greater abundance?
Stan

Paul Cherubini wrote:

>Roger Kuhlman wrote:
>  
>
>>The main point of what I had to say was that where agricultural monocultures
>>existed in southeast Michigan presumingly developed with the most advanced
>>technological means there were no milkweeds and no Monarchs except perhaps a
>>fly-by Monarch now and then. From that observation I think it is reasonable
>>to infer that the Summer Monarch population in our area would face great
>>difficulties if all agricultural lands adopted these practices.
>>    
>>
>
>And my experiece has been exactly the opposite: that the most abundant
>summer breeding populations of monarchs (& Painted Ladies )
>in the whole USA - are found where there are the most concentrated, 
>intensive monocultures of transgenic corn and soybeans (southern Minnesota 
>an Iowa and surrounding states).
>
>Paul Cherubini
>
> 
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