Reston, VA July 2010

[Mona Miller]

Finally got out to a field (gas pipeline area). It is next to a soccer field. Loads of milkweed there. I cut a bunch back so there'd be new growth. No large caterpillars. I found 6 first instar, 1 second instar and 3 eggs. I saw a Monarch fly by, but couldn't determine sex.

I'm going to try to see if the company that mows that area will delay mowing. Last year, I think they mow late Sept.

[ilsa]

Mona, I have seen NOTHING over here in Gaithersburg, MD. Two of my small, potted tropical milkweed plants have some eaten leaves, but I cannot find any cats on them. Maybe they wandered off.

I've had some visits from one or more gorgeous tiger swallowtail and some bees, but no Monarchs yet. The swamp milkweed on the bank of the small lake across the street from me also appears to be completely untouched.

Ilsa

[Mona Miller]

There was another female today laying here at my house. The predators are cleaning off the milkweed on the outside of my tent pretty fast. Nothing gets past a first instar or egg.

They are headed your way.

[ilsa]

Mona>> The predators are cleaning off the milkweed on the outside of my tent pretty fast.

Maybe that's what happened here, but I haven't seen a single adult yet.

Mona>> They are headed your way.

I hope you're right. I just cleaned and repaired all my enclosures and I have some nice, juicy milkweed waiting for them!

P.S. Why doesn't BBCode work for me???

[Mona Miller]

What are you trying to do with the BBCode?

[ilsa]

I wanted to use the [quote][/quote] code to quote you, but the source mark-up appeared in the submitted message. BBCode is enabled in my profile, but I see that "BBCode is OFF" appears to the right of the message editing window.

[Mona Miller]

You can't use that in the sightings list. But, you could copy and past into your message.