Date: 09/08/2013

Number: 1

We released 30 adult Monarchs today that we grew from eggs collected in July, then held in a large screened area with dozens of nectar plants and 3 varieties of milkweed for 3 weeks; so that we could collect and raise their eggs for the fall migration. Over 1800 eggs were collected. As the larva hatch, they have been distributed to teachers, friends, family and neighbors to nurture and then release the emerged adults for migration. Here in central PA it has been a terrible year for seeing Monarchs. We saw just 3 adults all summer, usually there are a dozen or more in our yard in late June/July/August. Finding eggs to raise was also very difficult. Roadside, farm and meadow mowing has destroyed much of their summer habitat for the late arrivals this year. But the ones we raised have produced hundreds of offspring, all healthy-no disease due to following butterfly raising protocols for washing both the eggs and leaves used to feed the cats. We have moved from using our handmade screened top plastic shoeboxes to 3 sizes of screened tents and it has worked out well! There should be approx. 2000 adults being released by the end of September from this area due to our efforts. Hopefully some of them will make it to Mexico and then back to Texas in the Spring so that 2014 will be a better year for Monarchs. Here's a photo of a few of the second generation of growing caterpillars.

Dauphin, PA

Latitude: 40.4 Longitude: -76.9

Observed by: Deb
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