Date: 10/23/2002

Number: 1

We just counted 50 Monarchs in our yards and gardens. They are all large and in fresh condition. Driving home, we saw many Monarchs crossing the road. One reason I checked
the garden as soon as I got home. I am always in awe of their beauty, no matter how many I see.

We're expecting a front coming in tonight, all day has been partly cloudy
with storm clouds building all around. Temps in the 70's, calm and it's
rained a little lately. The forecast for the rest of this week has the lows
only into the high 40's so hopefully this is the beginning and not the end
of the migration.


The one Monarch caterpiller I've found, has now made his chrysalis - day
before yesterday- on the milkweed plant itself. The plant itself is covered
with a screen box for protection and most caterpillars attach themselves to
the top of the screen.


Today we went to Carver school in Midland to see the garden there. There
were app. 30 Monarchs, on a flowering plant we call Autumn Aster. The woman
there showed us how to net a Monarch, how to tell the sex, and how to tag
them. She has taught the children there to net the butterflies, then she
tags them, and writes down the info. We also saw app 150 Queens, the most
I've seen in one place all summer. They were on Eupatorium Greggii.


BTW, she says there are about as many females as males. I didn't know this
was important but she says the males usually come in first? Or is it
the other way around? So much information to absorb!

Midland, TX

Latitude: 32 Longitude: -102.1

Observed by: Lynda
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