Date: 09/03/2018

Number: 16

I captive-raised 16 caterpillars into butterflies this summer, based on caterpillars I found in a large field. I saw many more caterpillars, too. None of the 16 were parasitized. Behaviors changed enormously with the generations. A female hatched on July 24 had no maiden flight: Within a few minutes, the milkweed I place her on she had a male land on her, and then another male tried to get in too. The original couple transited to a red pine and stayed coupled there. I saw 3 or 4 other mating couples this whole summer. Last mating I saw was August 8. September 3 my 15th hatched into butterfly. Very odd; had no interest in flying; I placed it within a red pine and it adjusted and stayed there all day. In 4 more days my final, 16th will hatch. Today, Sept 3, was calm, I saw 10 distinct butterflies heading south, some quite high. Two near each other both found a thermal at the southern edge of the field and spiraled high just like vultures do. I watched how well they use calm air plus gravity to glide a long distance with no wing beat.

I posted on youtube a 22 minute video I made of various clips thru the summer. Title: "Michigan Monarchs Galore! (Ludington, 2018)". url = https://youtu.be/L00RNqGRKoQ

Ludington, MI

Latitude: 44.1 Longitude: -86.5

Observed by: Connie
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