Date: 03/29/2009

Number: 1

We are seeing more Monarchs now, mostly worn individuals, and a few pairs spiraling in flight or mating while perched..

Today I photographed one nectaring on rusty blackhaw viburnum, and
another nectaring on the last few flowers of thicketing plum. I've
also seen one around (but did not observe feeding on) a scarlet
buckeye. Our milkweeds have not flowered yet, and because of the
drought are fewer in number and much smaller than usual. I'm wondering if anyone has a spring nectaring list.

The Monarch on the plum was being harassed by a much smaller
Variegated Fritillary. At the plum, the Monarch dominated, but after
the Monarch left the plum, the smaller butterfly followed it along the
edge of the woods--until I lost sight of them. Do butterflies release
species-specific pheromones?

Courtesy of TX Leps

Williamson County, TX

Latitude: 30.7 Longitude: -97.6

Observed by:
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