Date: 04/26/2014

Number: 1

I was out at one of the City of Austin’s water quality lands southwest of Austin near the town of Buda on Saturday
near 30.109826, -97.946778.

I inspected several dozen antelope horns milkweed finding no evidence of chewing, no cats and no eggs. There were several other Master Naturalist with me (at a grass ID class). I saw them informally checking several plants also to no avail. One of the A. asperula was huge with over 20 stems from the same root!

I did see 3 (three) fresh looking Monarchs fly by heading generally north on a strong breeze. They were about 40 feet away, so no possibility of sexing.

This is prime rural habitat, former ranch-land that the COA is maintaining as grasslands with brush clearing and regular prescribed burns. There were numerous wildflowers in bloom, but the antelope horns was probably the most common.

On the way back into town, I stopped at two of my favorite roadsides off FM 1826 to look for milkweed and Monarchs. Milkweed growing well, however no sign of chewing, eggs, or cats. I did find one A. verdis (small with no bloom). It is the most westerly one I’ve seen.

30.164978, -97.944997

30.173585, -97.934011

Courtesy of Monarch Watch

Buda, TX

Latitude: 30.1 Longitude: -97.9

Observed by:
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