Date: 10/27/2014

Number: 1

I put this observation under "Other" because it covers several areas and am not sure it is even Peak anymore. I've been away for three weeks - during which I think "Peak" occurred. The wind today was around 40 plus mph. It looked as though the wind was telling the butterflies to hurry up and leave. But with all the movement, I think I counted around 30 total on the milkweed and the blue mist flower. I watched for 15-30 minutes at a time, several times through the day. There was only one mating going on that I could see. I found only one good sized caterpillar and three very tiny ones and only one egg. I have eight milkweed plants and plenty of blue mist. There are many leaves on the milkweed with little holes in them where an egg may have opened, but no eaten edges or sign of caterpillar activity.I have lots of things in my garden that like to eat the little jewels but not being here I really don't know what happened to them. If anybody wants to reply to this report and tell me how to get rid of the cat killers before next season, please feel free. I'm open to suggestions. The Monarchs are also nesting in my oak tree. I counted at least 30, but they were still jockeying for position and fighting the wind so I couldn't get a real good count. (The day or so before I left there were 60 in the oak tree.) We had rain tonight and the cold front is moving on south so I am expecting to find fewer, if any, butterflies tomorrow.

McKinney, TX

Latitude: 33.2 Longitude: -96.6

Observed by: Linda
Contact Observer

The observer's e-mail address will not be disclosed.
Contact will be made through a web-based form.