Date: 09/03/2016

Number: 12

During Labor Day weekend 09/02 to 09/05, found a total of 12 monarch caterpillars preparing to pupae in the flower beds outside in the front yard: one was found on a liattris plant, six are on the leaves of rhododendron bushes, one is on the leaf of a Lantana plant in a plant urn, one is on a milkweed leaf, one is on the leave of a Salvia plant, one is on the trunk of a red bud tree, and the last is on the leaf of a peony plant. Out of the 12, we watched at least five successfully chrysalis. Sadly on 09/05, "rhododendron #5"--actually the last of the 12--I witnessed from a bedroom window that it wasn't able to shed its skin successfully; very heartbreaking. Also sadly on the morning of 09/06, I found the chrysalis casing from the red bud on the ground in what appears to have hole marks. Crossing my fingers and checking every day on the other 10 chrysalis. Hoping they are successful through day 9 to 14! Thank you!

Alexandria, VA

Latitude: 38.7 Longitude: -77.1

Observed by: Kimm
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