Date: 08/29/2015

Number: 2

Monarch Waystation #271 reports sighting a male monarch in the morning in the front yard before we left for the library and lunch. Once my husband and I returned home, we saw this distinctive male [missing most of his left hind wing] very busy nectaring, then chasing anything that would resemble another monarch [including a variegated fritillary]. Later in the day when I went out I saw him chase, spiral up with, grapple and bring to the ground nearby a female monarch. After a few minutes on the grass, he carried her in mating position to a nearby sycamore tree. I tried to get a photo, but my point and shot digital camera could only get a blurry image of them about 12 feet up on the underside of a large shady branch. They stayed there for the rest of the day as far as I could tell, I didn't seem nectar at dusk. I saw the male nectaring on my front yard tropical milkweeds early the next morning. Hopefully the female laid eggs before she left, I didn't see her all day.

Newport News, VA

Latitude: 37.1 Longitude: -76.5

Observed by:
Contact Observer

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