Recent sightings

Very windy, temperature 82 degrees 430pm. Had some rain earlier, but was brief. Monarchs were flying in the strong winds of 35 sometimes 40mph

Cloudy, low seventies and some butterfly activity.The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail was chased off of Sunflowers in adjacent field while mowing and never set down again to my knowledge. Poor cell phone pix.

Been seeing lots of butterflies in my back yard this week. This evening exciting to see a bordered patch. Have been putting watermelon rind out and have had Red Admirals, Eastern Comma, Question Mark, Hackberry Emperor and Viceroy on it

Surprised to see Ocola Skipper on Beefsteak Plant, where I usially get bees, Hairstreaks, Blues and White Sulphurs.

Few and sparse nectar sources but a good bloom of Florida Paintbrush looks just a week or so away. I think I might have found the first two eclosed Arogos Skippers for the fall season for this area; both were males perched high atop their own Rayless Sunflower. One flicked his wings nicely when a sweat bee approached his flower and I was able to catch the wings partially open—revealing the dorsal pattern and the animal’s sex. Other nectar sources were Tall Elephant’s Foot and morning glory which had started to close by the time I arrived. Full sun and hot; the car thermometer said 94 degrees! Yikes!

Sunny Winds SE 5-10 High 80’s Elev.102 ft. 11:40-02:10

Surveyed: Live Oak Lane Forest Road into Jennings S.F. for 2/5th of a mile. Bidens alba (Beggar Ticks/Romerillo) was growing on both sides of the road and the only nectar source in this survey.

Notable Skippers observed include Meske’s Dion Berry’s
Silver-spotted and 5 Yehl skippers. The most I have ever seen in one day.

91 degrees, light wind. Nectar plants include Goatweed, Blue Porterweed and Samphire. LWilliams and AGrimm, 9:50 - 11:35.

Finally a sunny day. Lots of monarchs in the forest. We were out 4.5 hours starting around 9:30

Overcast with rainfall in SE MI. After the rain stopped, a monarch visited certified garden #2490. Temp of 78 degrees and humid

A different White-M Hairstreak than on 9-18–fresh

From 2:25 - 3:40 PM.

80 degree and partly sunny

I’ve been impressed by the work the West Des Moines Parks and Rec Department has done on planting native species therefore ensuring both nectar sources and Milkweed for butterflies. The Monarchs have been extremely abundant here in our community on their migration path back to Mexico.

Located in their meadow many butterflies. Numerous Monarchs.