MONARCHS PRODUCE FOUR GENERATIONS EACH YEAR. THREE OF THESE GENERATIONS ONLY LIVE ABOUT ONE MONTH EACH, BUT ONE GENERATION(THE 4TH GENERATION) LIVES FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS AND THAT IS THE GENERATION THAT EACH FALL MAKES A 1400+ MILE MIGRATION TO MEXICO. THIS FOURTH GENERATION WILL MIGRATE TO MEXICO, OVERWINTER THERE, LAY EGGS IN MEXICO AND THEN DIE. THOSE EGGS WILL HATCH MAKING A NEW 1ST GENERATION THE WILL MIGRATE AS FAR AS ABOUT N. TEXAS-LAY THIER EGGS AND DIE. THE NEXT TWO GENERATION WILL REPEAT THIS CYCLE AND HEAD FARTHER NORTH EACH TIME. THE 4TH GENERATION IS BORN UP NORTH AND IS THE ONLY GENERATION TO MIGRATE TO MEXICO IN THE FALL.

MATING MONARCHS. WE HAVE OFTEN SEEN THE MATING PAIR FLYING THROUGH THE AIR ATTACHED TO EACH OTHER. THEY THEN LAY THE EGGS ON THE MILKWEED PLANTS. THE EGGS HATCH IN LARVA WITH THEN FEED ON THE MILKWEED.

THE MONARCH CATERPILLAR FEEDS ON THE MILKWEED FAMILY OF PLANTS. THESE PLANTS CONTAIN A TOXIN THE IS IN THE CATERPILLAR AND LATER THE ADULT MONARCH. THIS PROTECTS THE MONARCH FROM PREDITORS

THE MONARCH CHRYSILIS IS PALE GREEN TO TRANSPARENT AND THE ADULT MONARCH WILL EMERGE FROM THIS , PUMP UP ITS DAMP WINGS, AND TAKE OFF TO START THE CYCLE OVER AGAIN

MONARCH ON CUP PLANT

MONARCH PREFER BLAZING STARS OVER ANY OTHER FLOWER. THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN IN LAKE LOUISE ST. PARK , LEROY MN.

MONARCH LOVE THE POLLEN/NECTER OF GOLDENRODS. WE HAVE SEEN AS MANY AS 200-300 ON OUR HILLSIDE AT ONE TIME

THE TIGER MOTH MILKWEED BUTTERFLY LARA ALSO FEEDS ON MILKWEED. THIS BUTTERFLY IS A NON-DESCRIPT BROWN SMALL BUTTERFLY

VICEROY BUTTERFLIES MIMIC THE THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY BUT ARE SMALLER AND HAVE A DARK LINE RUNNING THROUGH THEIR WINGS PARALLEL TO THE WING EDGE

FRITTLIARY BUTTEFLY ON OUR PRAIRIE

FRITTILARY BUTTERFLIE ON CUP PLANT

MT. MINT IS BLOOMING ON THE PRAIRIES. NOTE THE MILKWEED BUG ON THE MINT

THE SUNFLOWER FAMILY IS COMPLEX AND MANY SPECIES ARE NOW BLOOMING

WILD ONION ON LEROY PRAIRIE

MANY BLAME GOLDENRODS FOR THEIR FALL ALLERGIES BUT THE REAL CAUSE FOR MANY IS THE SMALL RAGWEEDS THAT BLOOM AT THE SAME TIME AS GOLDENROD.

THE PRAIRIE GRASSES ARE BLOOMING NOW

THE CICADAS ARE SINGING FROM THE TOPS OF THE TREES TO ATTRACT A FEMALE FOR MATING.

THIS BEATLE-LIKE"GRUB" IS WHAT THE CICADA LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT EMERGES FROM FEEDING UNDERGROUND FOR 2-17 YEARS , DEPENDING ON THE SPECIES OF CICDA. IN A SHORT TIME THE EXOSKELETON OF THIS GRUB WITH SPLIT OPEN AND A FULLY ADULT CICADA WITH WINGS WILL CRAWL OUT TO START SINGING FOR A MATE.

KATYDIDS HIDE BY LOOKING LIKE A LEAF. THEY WILL SOON BE SINGING THEIR SONG IN THE DARKEST PARTS OF THE NIGHT. THE SONG IS THEIR NAME REPEATED-"KATYDID KATYDID".

SOON SEVERAL SPECIES OF SPHINX MOTHS WILL BE OUT. THEY HOVER LIKE HUMMING BIRDS AND EAT NECTAR. THEY ARE ALSO CALLED HAWK MOTH, OR HUMMING BIRD MOTHS.

THE LARVA OF SPHINX MOTHS OFTEN HAVE A SPEAR-LIKE TIP ON THE END OF THEIR BODIES. THIS ONE IS ALMOST 3 INCHES LONG AND IS FEEDING ON A VIRGINIA BROWER VINE.

IT IS A BANNER YEAR FOR SULFUR BUTTERFLIES-THE LARVA CAN BECOME A PEST IN CLOVER AND ALPALFA FIELDS.

THIS TREE FROG WAS ON THE HOUSE THE OTHER DAY-NOTE THE STICKY PADS ON THE FEET THAT IT USES TO HANG ON WITH. MOST TREE FROGS ARE LESS THAT 2 INCHES LONG-THIS ONE IS ABOUT 2.5 INCHES AND IS THE FATTEST TREE FROG WE HAVE EVER SEEN-LOTS OF FOOD THIS YEAR.

TREE FROG DO INDEED CLIMB IN TREES AND THEY TEND TO SING DURING THE DAY.

WE HAVE BEEN SEEING BABY TOADS FOR OVER A MONTH NOW AND NOW THE OLDER ADULTS ARE VERY ACTIVE ON THE YARD.

THE FRITILLARY FAMILY OF BUTTERFLIES HAS MANY SPECIES-WE THINK THIS ONE IS A MEADOW FRITILLARY AND WAS JUST OFF OUR PRAIRIE ON THE DRIVEWAY.

WITH ALL THE RAIN THE LAND SNAILS ARE HAVING A GOOD YEAR

THIS GOLDEN FLY IS ONLY ABOUT 3/8 OF AN INCH LONG AND SHOWS UP ON THE DECK YEARLY ABOUT NOW.

IT SEEMS WE SEE A NEW SPECIES OF DRAGON FLY EACH WEEK-I COULD NOT KEY THIS PARTUCULAR ONE-DON'T HAVE A GOOD DRAGON FLY KEY YET.

THE BLUE MUD DAUBER WASP MAKES MUD NESTS AND LOOK LIKE IT CAN REALLY STING-I HAVE NEVER BEEN STUNG BY ONE EVEN THOUGH I REGULARLY THROW THEN OUT OF THE HOUSE BY HAND.

JOYPYE WEED IS BLOOMING IN THE WET DITCHES AND PRAIRIES