Date: 04/29/2002

Number: 1

Yesterday, April 29, 2002, I saw the first Monarch of the season in Ames, Iowa at 4:14 p.m. Central Daylight Time. The relatively small, fresh butterfly was seen flying southward (flapped once, then glided) about 15 feet above the ground near the east side of the Insectary Building, on the north side of the Iowa State University campus. The weather was sunny, with a temperature of 68 F, and with wind from the west at 15 miles per hour.

I had a feeling this Monarch would be the first one reported in Iowa this spring. I just happened to be outside in the right place at the right time to see it.


This was definitely a fresh butterfly. The orange-brown color was very strong, and there were no chips or other wing damage that I could see, either. The butterfly at one point flew directly over me while gliding, so I got a pretty good look at its wings.

Royce J. Bitzer




Dept. of Entomology

Iowa State University

The Red Admiral and Painted Lady Research Site

First Spring Generation

Ames, IA

Latitude: 42.1 Longitude: -93.6

Observed by: Royce
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