Date: 04/12/2018

Number: 9

Today I did a short survey of milkweed on selected patches that I thought would likely have larvae at various stages. I did the survey from about 9:15-10:30am. It was 64 degrees F, cloudy, lightly breezy, with 95% humidity.

These are the results:

50 milkweed checked
20 eggs found
21 larvae found

Of the larvae:

1st instar: 5
2nd instar: 3
3rd instar: 6
4th instar: 4
5th instar: 3

I did not see any monarchs during this time, but later I did see them about.

At 11:15am I followed a lovely female monarch as she laid her eggs. It had become very windy ~ now partly cloudy, 73 degrees F, and 65% humidity. She was a fast flyer in the strong winds. She stopped to nectar briefly on some Common Self-Heal flowers, then went back to looking for milkweed for egg-laying. Loved seeing her and glad she could handle the gusty morning. I will add a photo of her to Monarch (Other Observations).

After that I started to see more monarchs flying throughout the afternoon, at least 5 individuals, including a couple of very faded-winged ones. By 1pm it had reached 80 degrees F, was partly cloudy, humidity 54%, and strong SSE winds. The monarchs seemed to be flying around faster than usual, not really pausing to nectar or rest ~ at least it seemed like everyone was in a hurry. Hard to get photos that's for sure! As I took a garbage bag out to the garbage containers, a male monarch on his circuit did a quick circle around me, did a quick check of the thistle patch, then winged away very quickly ~ typical on this windy day.

At 6:30pm it was still windy (though not quite as strong as earlier), 76 degrees F, with humidity at 63%. I saw 2 monarchs chasing each other near the woodlands edge and into the paths through some of the small woods ~ probably males. I also saw a male monarch nectaring from the lavender Common Self-Heal flowers (Prunella vulgaris), which are now fairly abundant in our meadows. They have always been monarch favorites here. This is a photo of this beautiful monarch as he sips much-needed nectar in the early evening twilight.

Montgomery, TX

Latitude: 30.4 Longitude: -95.8

Observed by: Kathy
Contact Observer

The observer's e-mail address will not be disclosed.
Contact will be made through a web-based form.