Date: 08/19/2012

Number: 6

We've had considerably low monarch counts for the last several weeks. Two to three each day. Its concerning and I think much has to do with the weather we've had. Our summer was unbearably warm (several weeks in the high 90s/almost 100 and humid. Early spring we had some tremendous rains that sadly washed up/drowned several monarch catepillars. Now we have days in the mid 70's and nights in the mid/upper 50's.

So today I was delighted to see 6 feeding on the blazing star liatris. BTW, there has been little to no other environmental change (traffic on street, amount of blooming liatris). By this time last year we were seeing anywhere between 15-25, reaching peak of 65-75 in 2 weeks. I'm not sure we will hit last year's numbers. What are other people in upper midwest seeing? (Note: Count entered above was consistent all day. )

minneapolis, MN

Latitude: 44.9 Longitude: -93.3

Observed by: pamela ann
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