Date: 09/30/2015

Number: 35

Over the course of the season I had four wild, gravid female Monarchs oviposit mainly on A. incarnata and less so on A. speciosa. I collected eggs, quite a few 2nd instar cats, and three 5th instar cats. All were kept in their own "butterfly room" in sterilized enclosures and fed rinsed A. incarnata. The room was kept warm all season and I also used a grow light to enhance the natural light. Caterpillars were kept separate from chrysalides. Average pupation time was nine days and all emerged healthy and normal sized. The Methuselahs were gorgeous specimens and the last one left on Sept. 30th for Mexico. The total for the season was thirty-five and I am happy with that and do feel my efforts are helping not hurting Monarchs.
I've also expanded my gardens in preparation of 2016 and am starting new species native to our area to help preserve the flora since the habitat destruction is extreme here in northeast CO. I was lucky to find two new plants in the wild and collected a small amount of seed from each location.

Snyder, CO

Latitude: 40.3 Longitude: -103.6

Observed by: Charlene
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