Date: 03/26/2024

Number: 9

Today was a beautiful sunny, cool day in the 50's & 60's. There was a fairly steady light wind from the north, which played a balancing act with the warm sunlight. I observed monarchs all day, but more activity occurred as the afternoon progressed and the temp reached 69 degrees F around 5pm.

I followed several females as they checked milkweed and lay eggs. They often took nectar and sunbathing breaks due to the cool breezes. The male monarchs were patrolling, nectaring, and sunning as well.

I continue to see monarch eggs and larvae, with a 3rd instar caterpillar being the largest I have seen so far.

This is a male monarch nectaring from a purple thistle (Cirsium horridulum), along with an iridescent green beetle today. These thistles are nectar fountains that not only support monarchs, but other butterflies, beetles, bees, and hummingbirds.

Montgomery, TX

Latitude: 30.4 Longitude: -95.8

Observed by: Kathy
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