Date: 04/04/2021

Number: 548

I did a milkweed survey for monarch eggs and larvae over the course of this Easter weekend (4/3/21 & 4/4/21). Saturday was cloudy, the temperatures were near 60 degrees F (chilly), and it lightly rained at times. I did 80% of the survey on Saturday. I finished the survey on Easter Sunday, which was also cloudy and cool (though eventually reaching 73 degrees F).

I looked at a portion of milkweed in several different meadows and pastures. I probably missed some tiny larvae ~ eggs are easier to spot & I don't have to be as careful.

Here are the results of this weekend’s milkweed survey. I looked at 451 milkweed plants and found a total of 548 eggs and 149 larvae.

These are the monarch egg count results:

186 milkweed w/0 eggs
140 milkweed w/1 egg
64 milkweed w/2 eggs
22 milkweed w/3 eggs
24 milkweed w/4 eggs
5 milkweed w/5 eggs
1 milkweed w/6 eggs
2 milkweed w/7 eggs
2 milkweed w/8 eggs
0 milkweed w/9 eggs
0 milkweed w/10 eggs
3 milkweed w/11 eggs
2 milkweed w/12 eggs


These are the monarch larvae count results:

1st instars: 120
2nd instars: 23
3rd instars: 4
4th instars: 2

Note: Some of the milkweed with 0 or some eggs also had one or more larvae.

This is a photo taken today of milkweed buds with a monarch egg & two tiny newborn 1st instars ~ a bit hard to see.

Montgomery, TX

Latitude: 30.4 Longitude: -95.8

Observed by: Kathy
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