Update on my Monarch saga here in NW Missouri.
After getting first eggs laid (~30) on April 7, I noticed a few others cruising through. While I am still not up to 100 % healthwise, it was a while before I could go check thinks out.
Between then and Easter my egg counts went up to > 130. This was over 2 patches of milkweed. Subsequently many of the eggs disappeared due to varmints.
About a week or so ago I got out and checked things and counted ~ 50 cats in 1st & 2nd instar. This is in my from Swamp MW bed where I have ~ 25 plants. They are now up to ~ 10 inches or so.
I have a tray of Swamp 60 plants that I wintered over in back and the plants are now ~ 4 inches tall and I have ~ 20 cats there. 15 or so on a patch of Butterfly Weed in the back.
I am up to ~ 85 + Cats. Trying to get my rearing area set up to bring some in and start raising them.
Truly amazing that shortly after Mother's day I should have butterflies if it warms up. Been cool and lots of rain lately. Considering last year I saw my fir adult on May 29.
Seems from all my reading that in the Midwest we could easily have 4 generations this year and an outside chance of 5 assuming the weather holds up.
According to Dr. Chip Taylor at Monarch Watch this will be a unique year. Hoping this is a great year and that we add back to the Monarch population big time this year.
