Date: 05/04/2009

Number: 1

I have a few monarch sightings since my last report. Again, all were worn, and most badly tattered. I never recall seeing so many spring monarchs, apparently winter survivors. Dennis Forsythe said that he has also seen more spring monarchs than usual. He went to a herb nursery on Johns Island, Charleston County, SC today and the owner commented that caterpillars had defoliated all of their milkweed. Dennis brought about 2 dozen caterpillars back to place on his and my milkweed (bloodflower) plants. Note below that I also saw 2 female monarchs definitely ovipositing on Swallow-wort at the salt marsh to upland ecotone on a small hummock island this past Friday. I also saw a mating pair of monarchs on another small hammock with Swallow-wort. I suspect that we will have a fresh brood of adults in the next 2-5 weeks, with such butterflies presumably primarily continuing the spring migration north and west of the coast. Some may even produce another brood in coastal SC. Sightings below.

1) 1 May 2009 – Truluck Islet (small hammock near Folly Beach, Charleston Co, SC) – 2 female monarch – oviposit Swallow-wort


2) 1 May 2009 – Oriole Islet (small hammock near Folly Beach, Charleston Co, SC) – 3 monarchs (one mating pair)


3) 2 May 2009 – Ft. Johnson, James Island, Charleston Co, SC – 1 male monarch – nectaring Japanese Honeysuckle


4) 2 May 2009 – Botany Bay Plantation, Edisto Island, Charleston Co, SC – 1 male monarch – nectaring Early Winter-cress (Barbarea verna).

Charleston Co, SC

Latitude: 32.1 Longitude: -81.1

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