Mystery of the Methuselah monarchs
By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Fast facts:
- ‘Methuselah’ generation of monarchs weathers long migrations
- Generation is the longest-lived of the monarchs
(150 words)
(Newsrooms: With art and mainbar )
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Methuselah monarchs — those that make the multi-thousand-mile
flying commute between the United States and central Mexico — are different from
the monarchs that flit around in the milkweed all summer.
“It takes several generations of monarchs to reach Canada from Mexico, but one generation
— the Methuselah — makes the entire trip back to Mexico and starts the migration
northward,” said Austin Jones, instructor, director of undergraduate education and
outreach coordinator for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. “The same can
be said for the western monarchs” that migrate between the U.S. inland and the southern
California Coast.”
The Methuselahs get their name because of their longevity, which is “About seven to nine months for the adult Methuselah’s versus two to six weeks for a ‘regular’ adult, Jones said.
“They are still a genetic mystery,” Jones said.
A key to their longevity is being in a state of reproductive diapause, that allows
them to delay mating until they get to the end of their migration.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media contact: Mary Hightower
mhightower@uada.edu