Date: 05/17/2001

Number: 1

Yesterday, May 17, 2001 I was doing field work at Lodge Glade (a dolomite
glade) in Ha Ha Tonka State Park near Camdenton, Missouri (Camden County). I
didn't get an exact count, but somewhere around 40-50 fresh adult Monarchs
were observed nectaring on yellow coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa) which has
just begun flowering there recently (plants numbering in the thousands). I
observed at least three species of native milkweeds at the glade including
butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa), showing color in the flower buds already;
spider milkweed (Asclepias viridis) in flower, and probably whorled milkweed
(Asclepias verticellata) with a few flower buds showing but not yet in
flower. There is also plenty of Asclepias syriaca in the general vicinity
along roadsides. There were also many other species of butterflies out
nectaring, and all of them freshly emerged.
Swallowtails were very abundant
and also hairstreaks and skippers. The temperature was in the low to mid 80's
and sunny to partly cloudy.
It has been an unusual year because we have had a number of unusually
cool (or cold) days late in the season in April followed by above normal
temperatures (near record in some cases). As mentioned, the monarchs were
late, but seem to be making up for lost time now with the higher than normal
temperatures and ample rainfall locally. Hopefully they will be able to
recover some of their numbers now.

Camdenton, MO

Latitude: 38 Longitude: -92.8

Observed by:
Contact Observer

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