Impressive 4th of July counts of "Endangered" migrant monarchs.

[Paul Cherubini]

Roger Kuhlman wrote:

> all three Vanessa species have been extremely scarce.
> [in SE Michigan]. In fact no one who reports sightings
> for the GreaterWashtenaw County Butterfly Survey has
> spotted a Painted Lady yet this year.

Charles V Covell Jr. wrote:

> We held our 24th July 4th count in Oldham Co., KY
> on Sat. July 1.  We recorded 38 species and 1,264
> individuals.  Not one _Vanessa_ of any of the 3
> expected species was seen this year!

Likewise in a recent 4th of July census count posting on
okleps at yahoogroups.com,  96 monarch sightings
were recorded in northeast Oklahoma, but no Painted
Ladies.

But hey fellows, do you realize what this lack of Painted 
Lady sightings this summer in the Midwest during your
4th of July census field trips has inadvertently demonstrated? 
In my view, it demonstrates that ongoing commercial and 
school releases of Painted Ladies aren't interfering with 
your census counts and ability to document the ups and 
downs of Painted Lady abundance in any substantial way.

Paul Cherubini
El Dorado, Calif.

 
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