Date: 03/18/2002

Number: 1

Saw my first Monarch yesterday (March 18) on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. We have been having very warm (80 degree)weather with fairly moderate -strong south winds for the last week. I have not been out of Baton Rouge for two weeks but I would imagine monarchs are showing up in southwestern
and western part of the state also.

I know of no monarchs that overwintered locally but there may have been
some survive in New Orleans where the temps are always milder and some
folks have considerable milkweed plantings in gardens that are
semi-enclosed in courtyards and protected by buildings etc.

The milkweeds (A.curassavica) in my yard did freeze back during the winter
but are just starting to sprout (about 2 -3 inches tall) as I write this.
I do have two 2 ft tall potted milkweeds that I have out in my yard to
monitor for eggs and larvae, and I will keep you informed.

I do not know how endmic the milkweed species faired with the low temps two
weeks ago but from past observations and experience with species in the
central part of the state, it was probably too early for any significant
sprouting to have occured so they most likely were not effected by the low
temps. In south part of the State the temp only got to around 29 degrees
and that was not at ground level. Lots of other local plant species had
tender new foliage and were not seriously affected, only minor "tip-burn"
if anything from the frost.

Baton Rouge, LA

Latitude: 30.4 Longitude: -91.2

Observed by: Thomas
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