Date: 09/01/2017

Number: 2

Two (2) female monarchs arrived in the garden at 9:05 am and 9:30 am CT this morning, respectively.

The first monarch is large and worn; her color is faded. She has a notch missing from the right forewing, a hole in the middle of the left hind wing near the abdomen and small bilateral notching along the approximate center edge of the lower hind wings. Despite these injuries, her flight is strong and her balance good when she is perching on flowers to nectar. Her nectaring intensity is vigorous.

The second female is also large, deeply colored and in pristine condition. She appears so perfect physically as to suggest she recently eclosed. Her flight is strong; her nectaring intensity is also vigorous.

Both butterflies are displaying single-minded intense nectaring behavior and have done so during the nearly 90 minutes they've been here. Their seeming single interest in feeding further suggests to me they may be migrators. I especially suspect that the (apparently) younger butterfly is a possible migrator.

Interestingly, there are no male butterflies in the garden at this time. Until one or two arrive, I cannot say for certain that these two females are migrators. Whatever their status, for the moment they appear to be finding what they need in the garden.

Oklahoma City, OK

Latitude: 35.5 Longitude: -97.5

Observed by: Denise
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