Date: 07/09/2013

Number: 1

Our property is a registered Monarch Waystation (#3400). We have 3.5 acres in a suburb just west of Minneapolis; there is a mix of mature (native) deciduous trees, mixed grassland, turf, and gardens adjacent to a small kettle lake with bordering cattail marsh. Over the past few years I have worked to improve the habitat by planting more native nectar sources.

Last year I saw the first monarch on May 7 and a week later counted 50 eggs. This year has been completely different. There is a general dearth of butterflies so far, with no red admirals and only one mourning cloak in spring and only a couple of swallowtails so far. Additionally, the milkweed is in poor condition. I have many more plants than usual, but most of them host aphids, weevils, or milkweed beetles.

Our first monarch sighting was on June 28 and, as best we could tell, there was only one butterfly in the area until July 6. After identifying them as male and female, I began checking the milkweed for eggs. On July 7 I found one empty egg case. Yesterday (July 9) I found three eggs. Because numbers are so low this year, I chose to bring the eggs inside. In previous years I have raised late-summer caterpillars with good success.

Minnetonka, MN

Latitude: 44.9 Longitude: -93.5

Observed by: Christine
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