Date: 09/29/2009

Number: 3000

October 1
Went to the orchard about 930 and there was a marked reduction in butterflies. I would guess that there were only a few hundred stragglers left. On the evening of Sept. 30, a front came through & about 50 to 60 mph winds. This was from the S.W. On 9/1 there was a north wind during observations of about 15 mph. I did not see any damage on any of the butterflies nor did we see any dead ones either. There were less than 100 observed since then. My observation time: I was watching for 30 minutes.

September 30
Saw the thousands of butterflies still in the n.e. corner of the 300 tree orchard. They have spread out some to the other trees but are still there. They are on north side again. Yesterday some were in the sun but mostly shade, today they were all in shade. The wind was from the s se so they may be getting out of it. There were also several hundred in the other 200 tree orchard 1/4 mi. away and mainly on n.e. side of these trees also. They seem to be resting but could be eating the aphid sap also.

September 29
Several thousand butterflies in pecan trees mainly on north side of trees on north east corner of the orchard. They were clustered in groups up to about 50 but not hanging from each other. They were in good shape as I only saw one with damage to a wing. This orchard is 30 trees x 10 rows and they seemed to be in the second and third rows trees 4 to 10 from the n.e. corner of the orchard. I live out in the country and have 500 pecan trees that are full of aphids which are secreting an immense amount of sweet. The butterflies may be eating this.

Editor’s Note: We are estimating a minimum 3000 monarchs based on observer’s estimate of “several thousand.”

Lamesa, TX

Latitude: 32.7 Longitude: -101.9

Observed by: Janet
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