Date: 05/21/2014

Number: 1

While this wasn't the first sighting in NC this year it was my first sighting and the first year I have been aware of ovipositing in May. Female was ovipositing on common milkweed and tropical milkweed in our residential yard. Found ~60 eggs, collected about 1/3 to raise. While checking survival status on 05/26/14 found 2 4th instar larva that were not noticed when surveying for eggs. So there was another monarch here a bit earlier. Survival of these eggs has not been good. My general impression is that there is significant loss of both eggs and larva in those years they make it here in April. In June and July (and now May) there is heavy predation and seldom does anything make it to adult. Ovipositing generally strong starting in August every year and predation seems to fall off yielding more adults but some years predation is still quite significant.

Greensboro, NC

Latitude: 36.1 Longitude: -79.8

Observed by: Charles
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