NO monarchs, not even any cabbage butterflies, for heaven's sake! So rare to see any butterflies this year, here and there a mourning cloak and a swallowtail, a few painted ladies... but nothing compared to any other year I can remember. Is anyone else experiencing this??

none here yet either.. very odd

We have a few of several different types here, but there are definitely more butterfly flowers right now than there are butterflies. I have the feeling that the widespread, extended droughts of the past few years have significantly reduced normal population numbers. Hopefully I'm wrong and they're just running a bit late.

Sphinx moth populations are normal here, native bees are thick and there are plenty of cabbage moths. I saw my first Luna Moth in years at the park a week or so ago. It seemed to be late-emerging as well. I thought I remembered seeing those in June in past years.

We don't have them either. Usually the Miss Kim lilac and the liatris are covered with them when they are blooming. I didn't see one on the lilac and there are none on the liatris either. There are a few cabbage moths but not even as many of them as usual. I haven't seen any hummingbird moths and they are usually going like crazy this time of year. I hope this isn't permanent and the populations recover.:blinking:

No Monarchs here yet, either. I have seen a few Viceroys, though.

There have not been many butterflies of any kind here.
Lots of bees though.

I have seen and photographed a few butterflies, not nearly as many as I would like, quite a few cabbage whites fluttering around daily.

I'm positive I saw a Monarch today, but it was in a hurry to get somewhere and would not settle for me to take a photograph of it!

In 2011 I recorded sightings of Butterflies (to mid August) was 23 different kinds. In 2012 it was 18. This year - 4 (Red Admiral, Cabbage White, Hairstreak, and American Snout).

I just started seeing Monarchs in Central Iowa last Sunday Monday Laborday .

To ATP Jeff!

Thanks Mcash...

to ATP, Jeff.

I saw a really pretty medium-sized chartreuse butterfly this morning. I haven't looked it up to see what kind it was, but it was very near the identical color of the leaf it was perched on.

Jeff!!!

I saw one Monarch last weekend... No idea where they are.... still waiting!

There are three Monarch chrysalis on my caladiums now! I saw one a week or so ago, but now I see three.

When the outside starts getting darker does that mean they're getting close? I've been checking them several times a day. Momma hen here! ...Are ya ready yet, are ya ready yet, are ya ready yet?...

I am finding those locust skeleton shells all over the place but no chrysalis yet.... keep us posted chelle!!

Here's what two of them looked like yesterday...much darker.





The third one is still bright green.

Chelle, when you start to see the orange and black colors of the Monarch butterfly's wings through the casing - it's ready to pop!

Yay! I've checked them twice already today. I'm determined to actually see it happen. It's been a number of years since I last enjoyed it.

Oh how exciting -- you should take pics as it unfolds if you can!!