Date: 09/18/2015

Number: 8

There were, at least, 8 monarchs this afternoon feeding on the tithonia rotundifolia 'Torch', aka 'Mexican Sunflower' and zinnias in my yard. I have released 75 adult monarchs this year with 1 more chrysalis to go. I counted 3 different pairs of mating monarchs over the past 2 weeks.

The blooms in the attached photo from 9/10/15 are tithonia rotundifolia 'Torch'. I was photographing the mating of one pair when another female dove in and appeared to 'attack' the other. This went on for a couple minutes, until she tired of the pursuit and moved on. I have never observed this behavior before. It was fascinating! :-)

Middletown, OH

Latitude: 39.5 Longitude: -84.4

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