Date: 09/18/2012

Number: 1

We finally got some good rains here in Central Texas.

We had about 2.5 inches in the last week and it has helped significantly.

Hopefully it will continue thru the fall months.



Our temps are now in the 80's and we're down in the 60's overnight.

We've seen a noticeable decline in Monarch eggs and larvae outside.

So it appears most of the Monarchs around us now are non-reproductive.

We'e actually have begun tagging a few of our released Monarchs.

Our released Monarch count for the season is now up to 435.

An observation we've made in the last 7-10 days is that most all of them head in a southerly direction once released.

They tend to fly around in circles briefly then head to the south or southwest.

A few will roost in trees for a brief time but they too appear to be heading south when active again.



On a few walks we've taken in our neighborhood we seen a few monarchs flying at tree top level heading to the southwest

This was especially true when we had some strong winds from the north several days ago.

Still seeing a significant number of Queen eggs and larvae.

And the dreaded Tachinid fly has reappeared and has been seen in our milkweed patch again.

A few of the outside larvae we brought in has fallen victim to it.

Released Monarchs

Tachinid Fly

Tagged Monarch

Driftwood, TX

Latitude: 30.1 Longitude: -98

Observed by: Chuck
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