Date: 05/06/2012

Number: 1

Egg laying in my Waystation #4970 Union, WV 37.56 , -80.51 which began on April 27 is continuing daily. Many more milkweed shoots are up and many respectable robust plants (8+ fully extended leaves) are present. This is the earliest in the 6 years that I have been in this area that I have seen continuous egg laying this early in this area...Though I am sure egg laying was occurring it seems that in the past it was more sporadic and I didn't encounter it with such frequency.

The butterflies are not being any more cooperative than ever about showing up when I have the time to watch them, but I believe that I have a new monarch laying the most recent eggs. In my experience, watching both monarchs in the wild and in a breeding tent, individual female monarchs tend to lay eggs in consistent manner. In past years I have noticed that a female that prefers laying on pods will usually lay on pods, one that lays eggs on buds will usually lay on buds, etc. The eggs I have seen up to today have been laid in the usual manner, under side of leaves near the top of the plant. Since that is the most common way for eggs to be laid, they could have been laid by many different females or by just one. While checking milkweed in my garden this afternoon, I found 6 eggs laid on the top of leaves on six different plants. That indicates, if my observations and conclusions hold, that a new monarch that normally lays her eggs on the top of leaves is in the area.

It will be interesting to see how distribution works this season with so many monarchs so far north so early. Since the migration seems to be cued by sun angle and seems to continue until the end of June will that mean that the breeding area goes further north? Will it matter what the summer temperatures are?

Courtesy of Monarch Watch

Union, WV

Latitude: 37.6 Longitude: -80.5

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