Date: 04/29/2012

Number: 1

I don't ever recall seeing 9 monarchs in April in eastern KS. I haven't kept records but, in at least half of the last 20 Aprils, I didn't see any monarchs. If I see them, it's usually just 3 or 4 faded and reproductive spent females.

Until yesterday (4/28) all of the monarchs this year showed some degree of fade but most were in remarkably good condition. All were relatively strong fliers.

Yesterday (4/28) while at the Coblentz Marsh in western Douglas County checking for a supply of red admiral and painted lady cats we could use for display at our Open House on the 12th, an absolutely fresh monarch settled in the grass, perhaps on a dandelion flower about 20 ft ahead of me. It was flightly and I couldn't be sure of the sex but I'd bet it was a female. Again, I don't ever recall seeing a fresh - 1st gen - monarch so early in the season.

The plants here remain 14-16 days ahead of the times for normal, peak and ending of flowering. Given the sequence of bloom, it is likely that there will be a dearth of nectar between 20 June and 15 August - unless temps drop to normal or below normal in the next 6 weeks.

The red admirals left lots of eggs. The same can be said for all the other butterflies mentioned in my previous post. We often have trouble finding larvae of other butterflies for display at the spring Open House - not this year. We will have cats and pupae of at least 8 species.

Courtesy of Monarch Watch

Lawrence, KS

Latitude: 39 Longitude: -95.2

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