Date: 10/21/2015

Number: 100

Many monarchs (30-50 per tree) are gathering on the male flowers of blooming salt myrtle (baccharis halimifolia) all over the island. The wind direction has been from the north, and weather on the 19th and 20th was uncharacteristically cool-- high on the 19th was about 65, and the 20th was 75.

October 23
I went over to the salt myrtle again yesterday and counted about 70 on that one bush, and then went after dark with a flashlight to see if they were roosting-- I did not find any butterflies. Generally I count the ones I can see at one time, like birds-- so that was the maximum count for that one patch. There are MANY patches like that on Dewees Island, which is a barrier island dedicated to environmental preservation.

For the last few years, we have tagged monarchs, but have had a hard time finding them. I have only seen them in these numbers once, and only when the male flowers of the baccharis are in bloom.

Dewees Island, SC

Latitude: 32.8 Longitude: -79.7

Observed by: Judy
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