We are now in the heart of Utah's summer, and monarchs have stopped migrating north and are focused on reproduction.  Males will find and set up territories; females move about to find nectar and healthy milkweed plants on which to deposit eggs. When looking for eggs, be sure to check the newest tender shoots first - a favorite of gravid females. They sense the health of the plant with their feet, and prefer tender shoots to the leathery leaves on well-established milkweed plants.

In the meantime, the heat settles in... When temperatures rise above about 85 degrees or so, monarchs' drive to breed and move about is diminished, and they seek the cool of the shade or nearby canyons where possible. Caterpillars will even move down to the bottom of milkweed plants to find cooler temperatures. 

We have roughly three months for the population to continue to build (3 generations?).  Day length, temperatures, and sun angle are among the triggers that cause them to enter a breeding diapause, conserving energy for the long migration ahead.