"Resident Males"?

[dandjtaylor]

Does anyone else notice that from your rearings and releases, at least one male hangs around and claims your yard, and the neighboring properties, as his territory. This happened last year and has now happened again this year. He chases the other males and tries his "barbaric charms" on all of the females that he comes across.

It is really interesting to watch him as he patrols the area. He'll check out the dog's chew toys on the grass and he'll chase American Ladies away and Tiger Swallowtails. And as soon as another male enters, he swoops in and goes up in a spiral until the other guy runs away.

Just curious.

[pjvanee]

I had a male just like that in my garden today. He spent a lot of energy patrolling the bell pepper/Brazilian verbena patch in the back yard, along with my milkweed/butterfly bush gardens along the back, side, and front of my house. He chased all the other butterflies around the yard, and harassed my newly emerged and released monarchs from the morning, who were quietly minding their own business and waiting for the perfect moment to attempt their first flight. I did not seen him trying to impress any monarch ladies, but last year I had a male monarch who hung around for a few days and even chased the female monarchs away! Not sure he ever passed his genes on to the next generation.

[wausau]

I have 3 large males that rule my back yard. They like gliding over the milkweed looking for a new girl friend. If they run across each other they chase each other around until one leaves. Then they all comeback and the game starts again. This goes on all day and is quite entertaining.

[Mona Miller]

It can get pretty violent. I've seen them dive boom each other. Reminds me of how the hummingbirds behave. The hummingbirds also set up territory.

[GBMonarch]

Yes I have a whole gang of males that hang around my milkweed patch. It's glorious to watch them all sailing and twirling in the air. They chase, but don't seem to be very violent with their fellow males.
They love to flirt and chase the females.

I so enjoy going out and watching them all as they patrol the yard. I've had days where I've had 5 or 6 in the back yard and 4 in front, all at the same time. It's such a nice feeling.

[Mona Miller]

I don't have fields, just 1/3 of an acre and part of it has my house. My neighbors don't have many flowers, they have nice green lawns. I guess these guys are fighting over a small piece of paradise.

I planted a huge hedge of Asclepias incarnata pulchra for them.