Date: 10/17/2011

Number: 1

This last weekend the number of Monarchs passing through Cooks Slough in Uvalde increased substantially but nothing like in previous years. I counted a few dozen in 30 minutes mostly high with a few that lit on the abundant Poverty Weed. I have seen no frostweeds this year at Cooks Slough and other flowers are scant.

I did note one interesting sight I’d never seen before. A Common Green Darner was attempting to catch a Monarch for a little snack. The evasive ability of the Monarch was very impressive. The butterfly would drop about 5 feet instantly as the darner attacked then quickly dodged to the side and then upwards again. This was repeated several times until the darner simply gave up the quest and returned to patrolling its area. I have seen Common Pondhawks eat the Bordered Patch b-flies caught from mid-air but never a dragonfly try for a Monarch.

Courtesy of TX-BUTTERFLY

Cooks Slough, TX

Latitude: 29.2 Longitude: -99.8

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