Monarch Larvae in Western Oregon, USA

[Kurt Jacobs]

I went out to a field yesterday (July 13) and the temperature here in
Northeast Wisconsin was 90 with a dew point of about 60, so it was slightly
uncomfortable.  The Common Wood Nymph (Cercyonis pegala nephele) is still
emerging in large numbers, the only change I can see is that the size of
some of the freshly emerged butterflies has increased (could be females).  I
actually saw a Canadian Tiger Swallowtail, which brings my count this year
up to a whopping 3.  There are many Comma (Polygonia progne) this year (even
saw a Question Mark)  and quite a few Silver Spotted Skipper (Epargyreus
clarus).  This year I have spotted about 5 of these skippers, which is more
than I can recall from the the previous five years combined. Many Monarchs
are now in the fields and they are doing good.  It is still next to
impossible to find any larvae, but i have found one large larvae, and many
of the Monarchs flying in the field are fresh.  The Speyeria cybele males
are finally starting to disappear.  I also have not seen many Colias this
year, but this weekend i am going to visit a huge alfalfa field where their
were hundreds in August last year.

Kurt Jacobs

"Sharyn Fernandez" <butterflies at value.net> wrote in message
news:v01540b01b5948878a615@[209.182.131.18]...
> We saw (are seeing) "banner number" of Wood Nymphs here (on the Annual
> Butterfly Count - Diablo California- June 19) despite a heat-wave just
> prior to the count that I think wiped out a lot of other common species
> expected but suspiciously missing ...
> Re Kurk Jacobs comment of July 3rd:
> >Now the Common Wood Nymph is having a stellar year.  They are =
> >everywhere.
>
>
> Sharyn Fernandez, Concord CA
> 37deg..57 min N; 121 deg, 52 min. W
> Butterflies & Botany
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