Date: 06/14/2003

Number: 1

In a very slow start to the season, finally saw my first monarch in
northern Virginia on Saturday, June 14. It was flying over meadows at
Banshee Reeks Natural Park southwest of Leesburg, Virginia among dozens
or hundreds of freshly emerged great spangled fritillaries. Most of
these butterflies seemed to be nectaring at either musk thistle, Carduus
nutans, or Indian hemp, Apocynum cannabinum. The monarch (couldn't see
if it was male or female) may have been cruising for milkweed however.
Lots of common milkweed among the dogbanes.

Contributed by Monarch Watch

Leesburg, VA

Latitude: 39.1 Longitude: -77.6

Observed by:
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