No monarchs to speak of yet this year

[mflutterby]

Here in Western North Carolina we have seen maybe 3 or 4 monarchs. Last year I thought it was in June that the first group came through and then again in August. Anyone else noticing a decline in monarch activity this year?

[Mona Miller]

A huge decline here in my area. I'm looking, but finding nothing. I will check the park tomorrow. Some one told me that they had seen a Monarch there.

[Judy Molnar]

Mona
I haven't seen any caterpillars or eggs at all on Waystation #271 nor where I work. I had a male nectaring and patrolling around my yard for a week and then he disappeared. Guess he gave up "cruisin' for chicks" because no one showed!

But TODAY I was weeding this morning in the Children's Learning Garden at the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News VA [Waystation #299] and found 1 egg, 1 first instar larva and one 4th instar larva plus a bunch of dried up chewy holes. There may be more larvae but the heat drove me back inside. I hope they don't get fried.

Other members of the Butterfly Society of Virginia have been rearing monarchs at least 2 generations in Newport News, and having some mortality problems. They are here in Hampton Roads, but widely spread apart. I'm relieved they've shown up.

[Mona Miller]

I finally netted a female today. I threw some more milkweeds into my tent and noted she was laying. I'll keep her until tomorrow and release her. She was nectaring on swamp milkweed and so intently that I was able to net her with the small net that I use for netting and stumping European Paper wasp. The European Paper wasp are so prolific in my yard and other places that few other caterpillar species survive.

[sbannister]

I am not in your region, but the same is true here. Last year I couldn't get enough milkweed at times. This year I have more milkweed than ever, and it's not being eaten. This year I have only seen 3 and released 8. The ones I released did not stick around. I'm hoping for a better fall, as I' know you are too.