Date: 04/26/1997

Number: 1

There has been a major northward movement of Monarchs in the Washington D.C. metro area for several days now. First Monarch was seen on 4/26 in Hedgesville, W.V. Additional individuals have been seen almost daily in Fairfax Co., VA. All appear to be very pale, worn, aged females. This looks like a very good early start for Monarchs this season. Folks up in the northeast: watch for migrants this week. They are obviously full of eggs and will be searching for scant, young host shoots to oviposit on. One female was observed ovipositing on young Butterflyweed shoots (1"-3" tall) in my garden on 5/3/97. About 80 shoots were covered with 200+ eggs (gave up count, there were more). I am not sure if all eggs came from the same female, but they were all laid on 5/3. Most eggs were laid on the undersides of young leaves, but also on stems very near the ground. Eggs also laid on very-nearby grass, Senna leaves, and also on mulch.

Hedgesville, WV

Latitude: 39.5 Longitude: -78.1

Observed by:
Contact Observer

The observer's e-mail address will not be disclosed.
Contact will be made through a web-based form.