Date: 07/30/2024

Number: 0

I stopped by the Snetsinger Butterfly Garden (which boasts a diverse ecosystem of over 30 resident butterfly species and some 90 species of native host and nectar plants) at the Tom Tudek Memorial Park in State College this morning (~9:45 AM) to see if I could spot any Monarch Butterflies to report for the 2024 International Monarch Monitoring Blitz.

Unfortunately, I did not see any Monarch Butterflies. In fact, I did not see any kind of butterflies at all; the only things flying were a couple of bees and several grasshoppers.

The Snetsinger Butterfly Garden was in full bloom this morning, with lots of plants (e.g., butterfly weed, common milkweed, coneflower, and tithonia) that typically attract Monarch Butterflies and other pollinators. This observation is not just disappointing; it is seriously concerning. By this time last year, in our local area, we had spotted four Monarch Butterflies, and seven more during the August Blitz. Thus far this year we have seen only two Monarch Butterflies. Then again, I guess I should not be surprised given that last winter the eastern migratory Monarch population was at the second-lowest level ever observed in Mexico, covering an area of only 0.90 hectares (representing a decrease of 59.3% from the 2.21 hectares for the 2022-2023 season) according to Conanp.

At the time the air temperature was 78°F, the dew point was 71°F, the humidity was 76%, there was a light 5 mph breeze from SSW and the air pressure was at 28.58 inches under partly cloudy skies.

Bellefonte, PA

Latitude: 40.9 Longitude: -77.8

Observed by: R. Timothy
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