Date: 07/02/2021

Number: 9

Now going on my 3rd year of raising monarchs, I made a Huge discovery. The second female that returned mid June, began to lay eggs. From observing her I noticed she only lays eggs on plants WITHOUT blooms (in the shade) and small milkweed shoots growing in the lawn. The only thing I can figure is, she is aware there are tons of bees / wasps (predators) on the tall flowering milkweed. So to date I have 9 cats from pulling shoots in the lawn, before cutting the grass (milkweed would take over my entire property). I check the shoots, put them in water bottles and raise them indoors when tiny, will be trying my new outside screen house soon.
By pulling the shoots out of the lawn, the plant sends out new growth, so this allows for new continuous fresh plant growth. I'm also deadheading my tall milkweed to see what happens; eggs, second blooms?

Braidwood, IL

Latitude: 41.3 Longitude: -88.2

Observed by: Carol
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