Date: 10/01/2013

Number: 30

There were half as many butterflies on the cottonwood this evening. In addition I noticed cat faced spiders building webs near areas, where monarchs had roosted on that very tree the night before--a little insect opportunism? The monarchs avoided the webs easily. They were drawn to the boughs occupied the nights before, but eventually settled in other areas not inhabited by spiders. We counted many more monarchs in that field just prior to sunset, and some seemed to be flying to other trees, or simply roosting low on stalks of flowers. The humidity was starting to rise last night, we are expecting bad weather on Friday. I wondered if this change in the air also affected their behavior. I suspect there are other trees used for roosting in that immediate area, however there is a lot of area to cover and much of it is tall, weedy, scrubby--a place where you want tick repellant and long pants and full shoes.

Midwest City, OK

Latitude: 35.4 Longitude: -97.4

Observed by: S.
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