Date: 03/12/2023

Number: 10

Today was a mostly overcast, cool day with strong NW winds. I did a milkweed survey from 11:30am-4:00pm checking for monarch eggs & larvae. During that time the temp dropped from 75 degrees F to 65 degrees F. But there were still monarchs going about, including two females egg-laying in the area I was surveying.

I looked at 427 native milkweed plants (Asclepias viridis) and found a total of 294 eggs and 30 larvae.
These are the monarch egg count results:

211 milkweed w/0 eggs
156 milkweed w/1 egg
48 milkweed w/2 eggs
6 milkweed w/3 eggs
6 milkweed w/4 eggs

These are the monarch larvae count results:

1st instars: 30

This is a photo of a female monarch who was laying eggs near me as I was checking individual milkweed plants. I tried not to interfere with her efforts. She was carefully choosing milkweed that didn't already have eggs. It was a joy to have her company and I added her newly laid eggs to my tally.

Montgomery, TX

Latitude: 30.4 Longitude: -95.8

Observed by: Kathy
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