Date: 02/26/2013

Number: 1

For many the past 7-8 years we have had overwintering Monarchs in our yard here in Meadows Place, TX. I have been growing milkweed and raising Monarchs, tagging some of them, and reading the Monarch Watch Dplexl emails. We had Monarchs in our yard early in the year last year and then had a lull for 2-3 months, and then I raised many and tagged 50 Monarchs in the fall of 2012. They were laying eggs and going through their life cycle throughout December. I was gone for two weeks over Christmas and New Year's, and when I got home we still had a few Monarchs flying in the yard. There were eggs being laid in Jan. and Feb. of 2013, and right now I have 25 3rd to 4th instars inside my sunroom in net cages. There are still eggs outside, although I have brought all the larvae I can find in. Only one Monarch seen flying this past week. I have Monarch Watch waystation #690. I am a Master Gardener, Master Gardener Entomology Specialist, and member of our Entomology Committee which has produced a small field guide of insects (good and bad) several years ago and published a Local Butterfly field guide last year. My milkweed (all Tropical or Mexican milkweed) has been devoured, and tomorrow I will take the larvae to my fellow Entomology committee members who still have edible milkweed in their yards. Last year I was visited by Kelly Nail, assistant to Karen Oberhauser, who talked with me for a good while and walked around my yard taking pictures and gathering information about my Monarch experiences. When I have parasitized larvae or pupae, I save the maggots/cocoons, and flies and send them to Karen O. for her research. It is great to feel like I am helping future people in our world by reporting my observations.

MEADOWS PLACE, TX

Latitude: 29.7 Longitude: -95.6

Observed by: LINDA
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