Date: 04/25/2017

Number: 1

Here are some observations we have made over the past several days:

Saw our first 1st Gen Monarch early last week and have seen them almost every day since then.
We are not finding many eggs now and appear to be in a lull.
The frequency of seeing new remigrants is much lower now than earlier this month (other than 2 semi-resident males).
We still have 2 remigrant males that are patroling our lot area.
We spotted a coupled pair on Sunday (a remigrant male and a 1st Gen female).
Native milkweed (asperula) is still very abundant in the area (some of it is beginning to form seed pods).
So far the aphids have not been as widespread as the past few years
We still are seeing a very high number of milkweed predators
Purple Thistles are finally in bloom across the area....they were later than other vegetation....and are a Monarch magnet.
Prairie Verbeena bloomed early and is still widespread....another Monarch magnet.
Of the few Monarch larvae we are finding on native milkweed (4th-5th instar) ...thus far all have had Tachinid fly infestations.
We have begun to see a few Queen butterflies in the area

Our weather was cool over the weekend but we are back in the upper 80's this week with little rain in the forecast.

Driftwood, TX

Latitude: 30.2 Longitude: -98

Observed by: Chuck
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