Date: 08/27/2015

Number: 25

I spent about 4 hours today scouring some alfalfa fields today for monarchs to tag. Location about one hour east of Toronto on the north shore of Lake Ontario. Captured 25 monarchs to examine. Many were old males, but a few were pristine, newly hatched males and females. A number chose to fly into a field and land on the ground to rest or for wings to further harden. In another field, when the wind temporarily died down, three monarchs flew into this field, flying in a westerly direction. Would spot the monarchs nectaring primarily on clover in the fields and chase over to where they were; stalk them and capture them. As for those landing on the ground, the "ker plunk" method was effective. Again, having a net with an 18 inch opening and 5 foot handle was great.

I did find a few eggs and a few small larva, but collected about 55+ large larva, almost ready to pupate. In one area with lots of tender milkweed, this was something like picking berries! One small area in the large alfalfa field, there was a clump of milkweeds by themselves and 7 large larva.

Interesting to see a number of small green frogs resting on large milkweed leaves.

I like to keep my old milkweed leaves from the rearing container a couple of days in case I miss a small larva or even larger ones. They are so crafty, hiding inside dried up leaves. Can be kept near the compost pile, or inside in a plastic bag with a folded top or recycling container - out of the sun. I have later spotted a number of caterpillars that I missed.

Northumberland County, ON

Latitude: 44 Longitude: -77.9

Observed by: Donald A.
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