Southern Connecticut Surprise

[blossom]

We were surprised to spot a monarch visiting our milkweed patch on May 20, 2010. The next day we found 4 eggs and several more appeared over the next week. We managed to collect 6 eggs. We've learned over time that any eggs or caterpillars not taken in have a very low survival rate here. We now have five hale and hearty 5th instar pillars chomping away. One more is close to death after eating milkweed tainted with horticultural oil spray. Thanks to Jim who helped us save three others!

Has anyone else in Connecticut seen monarchs, eggs or caterpillars this year? It seems early to us. The milkweed came up early too and is just beginning to blossom. We have not seen another adult or any evidence of monarch presence in the weeks since that first visit, not in our yard or neighborhood. The weather conditions have been extremely variable since that first visit.

blossom

[dandjtaylor]

Please report this on Journeynorth.org as the 'first egg' map shows that they haven't progressed further than central New York and northern New Jersey.

Last year here in Salem, MAm, I found 24 eggs the last week of May. 12 made it to butterflies. THis year, so far, I have found no eggs, neither in my Waystation #2638, nor in any of my several "wild patches". I am getting very anxious if I am to top my numbers from last year, they had better arrive soon.

Thanks

[WiltonButterfly]

Hi, I haven't seen any butterflies yet. I had noticed that my milkweed has flowered weeks earlier than last year. I'm going to take a good look on the leaves today. Last year I saw my first butterfly on 1st July. I was expecting it to be a bit earlier this year as the weather has been much better, but so far no joy here in Wilton CT.

[blossom]

Hello WiltonButterfly,
Butterflies should be showing up soon we hope. Maybe there is a small first wave. Last year we had two pupae by June 24, two weeks later than this year, and then started finding lots of eggs. I'm a little worried after reading on one of the other topics that there was very bad weather in Mexico in February. We'll keep looking!

[WiltonButterfly]

Hi Blossom

I haven't found anything yet. Something has definitely been been chewing on the milkweed, but I've looked and looked like a crazy person today and I can't see any caterpillars!! we're going away for 2 weeks so I'm going to be off the grid until the 4th of July, by which time I hope I have lots of caterpillars to report.

Happy hunting!

[blossom]

First flight! We released 2 male monarch butterflies today in Trumbull, CT. Our other four caterpillars survived their brush with horticultural oil, successfully pupated and should be emerging in the next few days. We still have not sighted any other adult monarchs and are finding no eggs. Milkweed is in full bloom. Other butterflies are beginning to appear after a hiatus of their own. Two brown butterflies were dancing around our milkweed yesterday, but they turned out to be (probably) angle wings. Disappointing, but delightful to see!

[Mona Miller]

I love anglewings. They love rotting fruit. It is amazing to see the commas and questions marks with the silver markings on their underwing. When I can find them, I raise them.

[tartandtiny]

I saw my first butterfly on Father's Day - June 20th. I usually dont spot them until July.
I checked for eggs but didnt find any.
I have seen a few butterfly's over the week.
Checked my milkweed patch today. Found several eggs and 3 1st stage cats.
Yippie!!!! I am so excited for another year of magic.

[blossom]

Monarch explosion!
In the last week we have spotted monarchs on our milkweed several times every day and there are so many eggs we can't keep count. Too many to bring in! We will try our best to keep them safe. At least with the high numbers we hope more will survive. We have five caterpillars indoors at the present time and are watching to see if they stay healthy. We had a bad bout with the caterpillars spewing green back in July and several unsuccessful adults. We have been watering our milkweed (sparingly)to keep it from drooping so badly in this weather. It is glorious to see the monarchs everywhere now!

[dandjtaylor]

Blossom,

Same here with the "explosion"! Butterflies and eggs are everywhere. I have 300 eggs and 250 cats right now with about 60 pupae. Already released 270! This is turning out to be a surprisingly good year considering what happened in February in Mexico!

[Mona Miller]

This is the Monarch's survival plan. But, it also has to do with predators. If we weren't taking these guys in they'd probably get eaten. I think I read some where up to 600 eggs can be laid by one female.