I have seen a few white moths,that's all. Will take a drive tomorrow along Ocean Parkway near Robert Moses State Park. That's where I always see LOTS of Monarchs in August.

It is weird. One year I had about 5 an hour pass through the garden. That stopped abruptly after the copters came through to spray for mosquitos. This year, so far, I've seen just a few - more of the large yellow and black ones than the orange (I don't know what the difference is between them except the color?) It is really sad.

Raina

Loss of habitat in mexico , a freak winter storm a few years ago have led to their decrease. I also read some where that an invasive plant is replacing our native milkweed. I can't find that article .
It all adds up to their low numbers.

Hope we haven't lost them forever, I always look forward to see them all over the butterfly bush every summer.

Stella

I've seen one, although my son claims it was a viceroy. I have also seen lots of the large yellow and black butterflies. Last year, I had lots of monarchs, but not until later. I am not giving up yet.

well the vote from me is their loss from the mosquito spraying by mayor whoever.. the mexican problems didn't take away my honeybees.. that happened the year after the spraying.. seen any honey beees lately? not the bumble bees or any of the other types.. but the old fashoned honey bees... Gordon

I think we have to rethink all that spraying, we are losing all the good guys while the bad guys are still out there chewing up our plants.
Waiting for a report from Ocean Pkway Jannie.
Stella

Stella, I've seen a few monarchs on the East end and a couple on my neighbor's Butterfly Bush, here in Brooklyn. Fewer than in previous years.

Gordon, I've actually been seeing more honeybees - after many years of not seeing them at all, especially on Long Island. Bumblebees and the little ones (orchard? leafcutter?) still dominate, though.

-Jen

Gordon,
honeybees are being attack by tracheal mites . I lost 3 hives twice and gave up.
Monarchs are another problem . they mainly feed on milk weed . If that plant is being replaced by an invasive cousin , we might be seeing the end of them . I wish I could find that article.
tom

Well I did drive on Ocean Pky Wednesday. Saw no butterflies. Boo Hoo!

I have buddleias, echinacea, and honeysuckle, and I've had an absolutely overwhelming number of bees. I don't know exactly which ones are bumblebees, which ones are honeybees, etc, but I know there were several different types. Sometimes when I go outside there's an audible din from all the buzzing. And has anyone else noticed that the bees tend to "fall asleep" in the echinacea? It's weird. If I blow on them, they move their wings a little, but don't fly away. Anyone know what they're doing?

Anyway, re: butterflies: I've seen quite a few. Only one or two were monarchs, though. I'm no lepidopterist, so I can't identify the ones I've been seeing, but there have been several different types and they've all been large and beautiful.

And speaking of insects, I had more June bugs/fireflies this year than ever before. What's more, I think they liked the cool weather; I've only just now stopped seeing them. Usually they're gone by early July.

For what it's worth, I'm an organic gardener; I wonder if that makes a difference in the insect population?

Still no Monarchs in my yard, Bee's galore every kind covering the Purple Cone flowers and veg. There have been some large black Butterflies but no Monarchs. My garden is totally organic but I can't speak for my neighbors.

Stella

tom, perhaps you are referring to swallowwort. it is mentioned in the article i posted excerpts of in the following thread.

Here is a link that might be useful: great article

ANOUNCEMENT!
As I was reading these posts this morning a Monarch flew by my window as if to say, I'm baaaaaaaaaaaack.
Hopefully he brought his friends with him, have to go out to check.

Stella

I too grow all kinds of plants ...buddleia, coneflowers, etc for the butterflies but each year they are less and less...go to www.monarchwatch.org for periodic email updates.

Amy, thank you ,thats where I read it. Here on the metro section of the garden web.

We haven't seen a one this year...and our garden has alot of buddleia, coneflowers, honeysuckle. We had one yellow tiger swallow tail, which was beautiful and brought a friend to visit as well.

I believe it was two years ago when we had our last flush of Monarch's in the yard. I distinctly remember one little fellow showing up at the very end of Summer...we both wondered if he was going to make it home.

And did someone mention bees? Geesh...just today I counted 10 buzz bugs (the big guys) on our Joe Pye Weed. They also seem to love the verbena bonariensis and the cosmos.

Unreal...here we are talking about NOT seeing any Monarchs. I was discussing this with my husband during dinner and, VOILA, out back we saw our first 2. This was around 630 but they weren't stopping. They fluttered by the buddleia and kept going.

Ciao,
OITGAD

Have not seen a monarch in my yard yet..I get the occasional yellow and black butterflies...
I planted milkweed, but it doesn't seem to spread much.

How many years have you had that milkweed? This is my 3rd year w/ it in my yard...it's starting to take over!! But I still love it & welcome it.

I saw 1 monarch yesterday...altho it could have been a viceroy.

~Nancy

Its now 9/16 and i still have not seen many butterflies.No moanarchs no nothing except cabbage moths.

Same here! Only one swallowtail.Sad..when my children were small we loved to watch them all summer.

Saw my first ONE in greenport two days ago it was on a buddlea with lots of other insect but no btterflies!

This has been a bad Monarch watching year, usually my Butterfly bush is covered with them. This year they were so few, so sad.

Stella

I'm happy to report that I've seen a number of monarchs on my butterfly bushes in the last couple days. (I'm in Park Slope). Maybe they're just extra-late this year.

A month ago I found 5 eggs on my milkweed. I raised them, all five became chrysalis' and all five emerged perfectly. All five flew away, and I have seen one or two around the house over the past few days, most likely my own. I hope my minimal contribution will at least have a minor effect on the overall Monarch population. Maybe some of you will see my little friends over the next few days.