Date: 06/29/2014

Number: 3

I have seen several monarchs since 6/29/14 (over the last 3 days). Have seen at least 2 females laying eggs on our milkweed. See photos and video on the Facebook page of Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium.
Yes -- this was my first monarch sighting in MT in 2014 (and the entire 19 years I've lived here). Every year we hear of a few sightings and years ago we found some caterpillars ...so we planted a few patches of milkweed in our yard 4 or 5 years ago in hopes that we might see a few. This was finally the year. Last evening was the first evening since 6/29 that we did not see any adults.

No, we don't release monarchs. We don't actually have a butterfly house yet. We are on track to open the Missoula Insectarium later this year and hope to open a full tropical butterfly house and insectarium in the years ahead.

I'll post a report and photos of any caterpillars. I've noticed that some folks harvest the leaves that eggs are laid on for "safe keeping". We are just going to let nature take its course, but if we get some caterpillars I may cover the milkweed with bird netting to try to cut down on any predation (until any chrysalids are formed).

Missoula, MT

Latitude: 46.9 Longitude: -114.2

Observed by: Glenn
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