Date: 03/31/2011

Number: 1

1st Generation monarchs in Phoenix

Four male monarchs enclosed in the last 48 hours at Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area in Phoenix - a first for this monarch habitat! It was just
14 months ago that we started planting Desert Milkweed, Asclepias subulata, in this hidden desert oasis, an abundant riparian area flowing with reclaimed water in a former old tire dump along the Salt River. These monarchs are the first offspring of a few monarchs that spent the winter in nearby cottonwood and willow trees. Seven more pupae to go....(at least that I know of!)....Found another 7 new eggs today and one tiny first instar!
(Question: For those who have both monarchs and queens - do you notice that the monarch eggs are larger than queen eggs like their chrysalids? All relative, I know. Just something I am noticing.)

Today volunteers added another 14 milkweed to the habitat - Arizona Milkweed, Asclepias angustifolia, along one of the creeks. One of volunteers is enrolled in landscaping school and grew the plants from seed - robust, lush one gallon plants. So now we are up to 43 milkweed plants of different types, all native.

Courtesy of Monarch Watch

Phoenix, AZ

Latitude: 33.5 Longitude: -112.1

Observed by:
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