Date: 05/23/2015

Number: 1

were not going to milkweed. Going for nectar on chinese lilac bushes.

June 19
The milkweed were up at the end of May. I had only males coming in the last week of May and the first week of June. They were using my prairie phlox for nectar. One male was in the patch for at least 15 min. It has been a strange spring for weather. Bi-polar going from too hot to too cold. Not normal at all. And it's been raining more than normal.

Saw my first female around June 10th - this is late by 2-3 weeks. She was not interested in feeding but rather was checking out the common and swamp milkweed. I saw her laying eggs. Both the males and female looked faded and tired. Not too tattered though. When the female was done, she used the large catmint for nectar.

On June 17th, I saw the first of new butterflies to emerge. There were 3 of them playing together in the roadside ditch. They were feeding on pink clover. They looked brand new. The weather was cold and windy but they were out in it anyway which surprised me.

As for other butterflies, there are many red admirals since I can't control the nettle. I have only seen 2 swallowtails and no painted ladies. There was a pearly crescent early this spring.

The milkweed will be open here in a few days now. Hoping that helps bring them in.

buffalo lake, MN

Latitude: 44.8 Longitude: -94.6

Observed by: natalie
Contact Observer

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