Date: 09/06/2020

Number: 1

I am happy to report seeing my first larva on my swamp milkweed that grows close to my small meadow pond. I have been looking all summer for evidence that a monarch deposited her eggs on this wild milkweed.

Most summers I find larvae on this plant. This year, the monarchs focused on laying eggs on my patch of common milkweed growing in more sun near my large pond.

I did find two larvae on the swamp milkweed growing in my small garden as well. (The garden in the in large pond area.) This was just a week ago. Last year (2019) there were so many larvae munching away on these swamp milkweed leaves that the plant was almost bare by summer's end.

Clearly, there have been fewer visits to my milkweed this year (both species) and when they did come, female monarchs laid most of their eggs on the common milkweed. (Earlier this summer there were about 12 larvae seen on the CMWeed. )

My two ponds are woodland ponds, with sun and shade. The larger pond receives more sun.

Arcade, NY

Latitude: 42.6 Longitude: -78.4

Observed by: Donna
Contact Observer

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