Where are they??

[tartandtiny]

I have seen perhaps 5 butterflies this year. Not many compared to last year.

No eggs either.

Anyone having any luck. Is it a slow year or a delayed year?

Anxiousley awaiting Monarch's in central CT!

[Robin L.]

I think it might be a little of both. Found my first one, a single egg, here in a suburb of Pittsburgh way back on June 4th, then practically nothing for over a month. They have started to become somewhat more common in the past two weeks, but are still not as prevalent as in past years. Milkweed quantity and quality seems to be less than normal as well. Perhaps it grows in cycles somehow, or is just responding to our climate changes or something.

[tartandtiny]

I have also noticed that my milk weed patches are not as abundant as last year. I had one patch in the front of my house that has always produced for the past 12 years. This is the first year there is not a single plant!!!

On a positive note, I did see a Monarch meandering through my yard this morning.

[alletahg]

We had a couple of very early caterpillars, then seemed to get off to a very slow start. Over the last three days though, we've seen a lot more butterflies of all kinds and have collected almost 50 eggs and several small caterpillars. I was starting to get impatient!

[Bugsy]

Ive only seen 2 monarchs all season. Not a lot to report about. My husband travels around N.E. on his job. Usually he sees a lot. Not this year. It's so sad.

[Jed]

I live in western RI and have seen more Monarchs this year than I have in a very long time. Hardly saw any last year and this year they seem to be everywhere and many other butterflies also. I have been cutting around the milkweed plants in my fields. It might look a little strange but in just the few years I have done this, the milkweeds have expanded a great deal. Just planted 67 Miss Butterfly bushes(Buddleia) and
hope that grows well.

[Mona Miller]

Buddelia is considered an invasive species in some areas. Asters and goldenrods are far better nectar sources in the fall. Asters and goldenrods give Monarchs secondary toxins when they nectar them as adults.