Observation date: October 25, 2025
Submitted by: Lawry Sager
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: When I returned from an errand, late morning on Saturday 25 Oct 25, my wife told me that there was a big butterfly in the chamisa, and that it looked like a Monarch. Just then the Monarch flew up a couple feet in front of me: yes, a Monarch in excellent condition. After making sure of our identification and the butterfly had again landed on the chamisa (which had just blossomed the day previously), I got my camera for a picture or two. I have reported monarchs from this same chamisa on a few prior occasions: one on 26 Oct 22, and a couple during the first week in November on other years. Besides a plethora of honeybees, other bee species and a couple wasp species, there was a Snout, a Cabbage White engaged in a chase with a Sulphur sp., and a Checkered Skipper as well as two or three suspected Sonora Skippers (photos). All but the skippers are present again today. It was a cool (mid-sixties degrees F), with little wind and mostly clear skies.
Status: Migrant
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: October 27, 2025
Coordinator notes: thanks for catching this monarch on its way south! chamisas are about the only nectar available this time of year. feel free to submit images of your sonoran skippers as well; I'd like to see them.
