Date: 08/21/2009

Number: 1

I've raised monarchs before but it was many years ago and I'm fuzzy on when they were in our area. My husband reported the first sighting in Oregon in June, a single adult. I don't recall ever seeing many around here. But this year I wanted to raise some from egg to adult and write of my experience. I have not been able to find a single egg, although I've been diligently searching the showy milkweed around here.
At the end of June, we found four caterpillars. I left them there because I was still hoping for some eggs.
On August 8th, I found another single caterpillar. I finally decided to collect it and raise it--time was running out on finding any eggs. I've named "him" Felix and I watched him grow and I was able to catch him chainging into a chrysalis. And that's what he's doing right now--hanging there all beautiful pale jade with black and metallic gold spots.
I don't know if this lack of monarchs is something that's peculiar to this year or if we just don't have many around here.

Wilderville, OR

Latitude: 42.4 Longitude: -123.6

Observed by: James & Sherry
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