Date: 04/22/2006

Number: 1

While working in my yard today, I was buzzed by a patroling Monarch...the first one I've seen this spring. She was searching for milkweed and found my small patch. She went straight for the top, tender leaves, but only landed for a second there. She made several passes around and finally settled into the bottom leaves to lay eggs. The top leaves were covered in aphids and she didn't like that at all! But she thought the bottom leaves were ok, since they had no aphids. I immediately brought in the first 3 eggs, got a bucket of water to wash off the aphids and squished some, too. After that, she made several more passes in the space of an hour, laying each time, even though I was standing within 6' of her. She was very faded-about a 4-but not tattered at all.

Nashville, TN

Latitude: 36.2 Longitude: -86.8

Observed by: Becky
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