First sighting of a Monarch this Spring!
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First sighting of a Monarch this Spring!
I have several plantings of Butterfly Weed (Asclepius tuberosa) for them to enjoy, but mainly to lay their eggs on. The plants are just now starting to bloom.
It is very relaxing to sit on my porch and watch butterflies. Just had plant native perennials years ago. Related: Carrie Haubner, co‑founder of the Queen City Pollinator Project in Kentucky, tagged a Monarch with a lightweight sticker. That Monarch was later found at a Monarch reserve in Mexico. That's a 1600-mile trek! Also feeds into useful conservation dataset. Protecting their habitat and increasing populations of their host plant is important. Get involved if you can!#WildflowerWednesday #ButterflyWeed
#Monarch #MonarchButterfly #HabitatGardening #Gardening #Conservation #InsectConservation
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R relay@relay.mycrowd.ca shared this topic
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First sighting of a Monarch this Spring!
I have several plantings of Butterfly Weed (Asclepius tuberosa) for them to enjoy, but mainly to lay their eggs on. The plants are just now starting to bloom.
It is very relaxing to sit on my porch and watch butterflies. Just had plant native perennials years ago. Related: Carrie Haubner, co‑founder of the Queen City Pollinator Project in Kentucky, tagged a Monarch with a lightweight sticker. That Monarch was later found at a Monarch reserve in Mexico. That's a 1600-mile trek! Also feeds into useful conservation dataset. Protecting their habitat and increasing populations of their host plant is important. Get involved if you can!#WildflowerWednesday #ButterflyWeed
#Monarch #MonarchButterfly #HabitatGardening #Gardening #Conservation #InsectConservation@joewynne @MonarchLady We are here (slightly inland) on the Monterey Bay and we have been planting California native milkweeds for the Monarchs. And they come around and land on the plants - those butterflies are quite selective! - and we see their caterpillars.
What surprises us is how voracious are those caterpillars - they consume the entire milkweed and then vanish (where do they go, do birds eat them?) We have yet to see a chrysalis.
I've been sprouting new milkweeds from last year's seeds, so I'll keep planting more.
Maybe I'll try some Asclepias tuberosa as well.
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@joewynne @MonarchLady We are here (slightly inland) on the Monterey Bay and we have been planting California native milkweeds for the Monarchs. And they come around and land on the plants - those butterflies are quite selective! - and we see their caterpillars.
What surprises us is how voracious are those caterpillars - they consume the entire milkweed and then vanish (where do they go, do birds eat them?) We have yet to see a chrysalis.
I've been sprouting new milkweeds from last year's seeds, so I'll keep planting more.
Maybe I'll try some Asclepias tuberosa as well.
@karlauerbach
Where does all that eaten matter go? Seems like 10X their volume!
Also, it's good you don't see them afterwards, because they immediately go to hide so they can pupate. They could be hiding under leaves (another reason to leave the leaves) or be on a stem nearby.
Keep up the good work on the milkweed planting!
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R relay@relay.publicsquare.global shared this topic
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@karlauerbach
Where does all that eaten matter go? Seems like 10X their volume! Also, it's good you don't see them afterwards, because they immediately go to hide so they can pupate. They could be hiding under leaves (another reason to leave the leaves) or be on a stem nearby.
Keep up the good work on the milkweed planting!
@joewynne @MonarchLady So perhaps the reason I am not seeing any chrysolisess (sp) is that the caterpillars have dropped and gone elsewhere to pupate?
Does this suggest that it is a bad idea to put the milkweeds into a pot (thus making it harder for the caterpillar to seek out a nice place to pupate?)
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@joewynne @MonarchLady So perhaps the reason I am not seeing any chrysolisess (sp) is that the caterpillars have dropped and gone elsewhere to pupate?
Does this suggest that it is a bad idea to put the milkweeds into a pot (thus making it harder for the caterpillar to seek out a nice place to pupate?)
@karlauerbach @joewynne @MonarchLady So, I have a mini Monarch reserve in my backyard (milkweed volunteered itself and I let it take over where the grass was, completely). Usually have dozens of Monarchs back there.
How this works is the caterpillars absolutely decimate the plant, and then they crawl off somewhere high but sheltered for their chrysalis. They like: under eaves, under patio covers, bottom of patio tables, undersides of things that are high and sheltered from sun/rain. So, be VERY careful about those spots. Also, many times in the inner side of sliding glass door frames!.
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@joewynne @MonarchLady So perhaps the reason I am not seeing any chrysolisess (sp) is that the caterpillars have dropped and gone elsewhere to pupate?
Does this suggest that it is a bad idea to put the milkweeds into a pot (thus making it harder for the caterpillar to seek out a nice place to pupate?)
@karlauerbach
Pot is OK if it has easy access to pupating spots
