Date: 04/02/2021
Number: 16
The temperature had dropped to 32 degrees F in the early hours before sunrise today, Good Friday. Unfortunately, some of the milkweed in the pastures was freeze-damaged (about 10%). I observed monarch caterpillars on some of the affected milkweed, so hopefully they will be okay. I saw 1st, 2nd, and 3rd instars.
Today it stayed in the 60's like yesterday. It also was sunny, windy, and with 30% humidity. The monarchs did a lot of sunning/resting and nectaring. I observed females seeking milkweed and laying eggs. They also rested/sunbathed and nectared from wildflowers.
This is a photo of a female monarch nectaring from a just-opened yellow thistle in our front yard. I had been following her as she laid eggs and sunned/rested at times. Here she is getting much-need nectar on this chilly & windy day.
Montgomery, TX
Latitude: 30.4 Longitude: -95.8
Observed by: Kathy
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