Mom brought in another Monarch cat so I told her she has to feed him. But honestly, she's been good about feeding all the critters. The Black STs have started purging everywhere (yuck) and a couple have made their slings. My Polydamas are still hanging out in their chrysalises so I'm not sure if they're going to overwinter with me or not.
Melanie
Daily pictures #97
It was slow here all season ,all I saw was a few BST cat's far fewer than usual. Still I got to see them!
Lily, that sounds like you have paper wasps taking the cats and maybe a fly or wasp prarsitizing problem. I had a whole lot of Queens and Monarchs one year that just didn't make it because of that. I hadn't gotten them in soon enough I guess. I try now to get them as early as I can and also to keep the paper wasp nest in check.
it will be interesting, and likely very sad, to hear what the winter counts in Mexico are for the Monarchs.
hey, did you all hear about the monarch that got blown to england via hurricane isaac?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-19557711
Wow, Marna, that's so interesting about the news a Monarch reached Dorset due to the storm. Thank you for sharing that. Sheila, I feel so bad, my would be monarchs were effected by the disease....having worked out in the backyard today. I spotted some 4-5th instar left outdoor still. I hope those will make it. I don't want to fool with mother nature for I feel as if I were a predator to those that didn't survive.
I'm running out of rue for the Black STs - looks like a nursery visit is in order. They had parsley last time I was there. While I was out picking what's left of the rue I saw a Duskywing, a Giant ST, a Gulf Frit, and this Zebra Longwing. Well, I actually saw three Zebra Longwings. It's so good to see them after seeing none last year.
Melanie
There are four 5th instars that's doing well outdoor this morning. My last best hope!
I just had two Monarchs emerge; I'm just letting them dry now.
Melanie
Looks like you're having a great season with the butterflies this year Melanie. It has came to mind whether or not some extra milkweeds I purchased at the nursery was treated with BT insecticides? I'll ask them next time I go there.
That has happen lots of times with me Lily_Love. Most of the nurseries don't treat them, but the growers do. Best to cover the ones in question during egg laying time. I decided to cut back all of the branches on two plants I bought this year and glad I did. I then rooted them and have numerous MW to share at Plant Swap time.
After I cut these back I covered the plant with tulle netting. This group of plants are only half of my bounty!
This message was edited Sep 24, 2012 12:31 PM
Sheila, thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us newbies on this challenging task; raising Monarchs. I've learned so much from generous DG members such as you, Bruce and Melanie as well as Dale & Mrs. Ed to mention a few. I'm forever grateful. The set-up you've is very neat! Thanks for sharing the idea. I did a test run with rooting MW recently. Those cuttings that I took indoor and was eaten bare. I simply stuck it in the potting soil of another container planting. It's now took root. I'll be sure to root my own cuttings ahead of time from now on.
Oh BTW, the number of G.F.s has increased around here lately. They're just about everywhere. Glad to see them.
I released two male Monarchs today; I'm glad they were ok, I thought the chrysalises looked a little weird but I guess it was just me. Dad had to go to the store so I made him buy some organic parsley for the Black STs. I only have about six still eating but my rue plant has been totally decimated. I lost one who didn't make his chrysalis correctly but otherwise they're all looking good. Now, if some of these guys would start coming out of their chrysalises - I've got 14 Polydamas just hanging out!
Melanie
woooohooo, I have 12 fat Monarch cats that I counted yesterday. Also saw 1 out at the garden this afternoon. Here is the mommie laying the eggs.
Does anyone know if this is a good or bad bug for cats? He was on the milkweed. Had a lot of aphids earlier.
That's a milkweed bug. I'd rate it neutral. It won't hurt the caterpillars as far as I know, just suck the juices out of the plant.
Melanie
EF - that is a little blurry, but it looks like a milkweed assassin bug to me. Some folks say they are good because they eat other bugs like aphids, flies, and small bees. Others say they are bad because they eat cats in addition to these other bugs, I think they are all part of a healthy ecosystem in the back yard and if left alone, all of them will balance each other out.
I saw my first cat on the MW this morning, and I am sure there are more where that one came from (I didn't have much time to look this morning). I have been lucky this year - the tropical MW sprouted in several areas around the yard from the seed pods I got in the Spring....I haven't seen any in the neighbor's yard, but it is only a matter of time. :)
Hope to have some picture of cats, chrysalis, etc. soon. All 3 of the sphinx tersa moths I collected have transformed and they are awaiting eclosure...Looking forward to that.
Mel, I can't wait to see the polydamas you have.
Russell
Thanks, Melanie
Quote from EFGeorgia1 :
Does anyone know if this is a good or bad bug for cats? He was on the milkweed. Had a lot of aphids earlier.
In my opinion they are bad, they multiply rapidly. They will strip a plant of all it's leaves. Any eggs or small instar cats get lost or fall off plants when leaves drop. Ire move them every chance I get.
Hummingbird Moth
We're getting close to the end of our season--this one i just released today. I'm hoping they still have time to beat the weather south.
Quote from BCH521 :
We're getting close to the end of our season--this one i just released today. I'm hoping they still have time to beat the weather south.
One monarch has just flittering by here this morning Bruce. As far as growing season for our Southern climate, we still have few more weeks that's warm enough for those little ones to spread their wings. Currently I'm watching roughly half a dozen 5th instars in the garden. Hopefully they will pupate soon, and get going on their way too.
Since I failed to order tagging kits this year, I may try to catch any I see with tags and log those!
Quote from Sheila_FW :
Since I failed to order tagging kits this year, I may try to catch any I see with tags and log those!
maybe some of mine will fly your way. The ones i released yesterday and today are still in the clematis where they are protected. Hopefully it will warm back up so they can head south!
I saw Monarchs in the garden the last two days, also there are 10, yes ten large cats. outside that are doing well with nature. :)
Oh thanks Bruce! I will be on the lookout!
I do still have a Monarch or two laying eggs but very sporatic now. Also it is no breeze this last few days and cloudy too. It is suppose to rain this weekend.
Was out cleaning flowerbeds when I ran across this guy on a tropical milkweed. Too bad it's too late for him.
Awww, that's too bad that the Monarch cat. is too late for the trip South Bruce. Down here, hopefully mine will have a chance to make the journey. I found one newly formed Chrysalid on my hibiscus out side today. Another just wandered off the tropical MW, so I hope these two will make it.
With the crazy weather this year it just might be ok for it Bruce.
Have had a few Red Admirals the last couple of weeks!
Lovely shots. I had given up on the Monarchs but found 6 first instar cats yesterday and about five eggs of them or Queens. Didn't check everywhere either. Glad to see they are still mating. We have had good weather for plants in our area this year unlike last year, so maybe they will be able to bounce back this year.
I've still got a healthy population of Monarchs here in Florida. Mom keeps bringing them in so I told her she has to feed them. We've got three right now and we've been releasing adults all week long.
Melanie
My gosh! It will take me forever to catch up on this thread. We have been gone the whole past month traveling in our RV around Florida. I have to tell you up in the panhandle there were so many butterflies along the roadway on the wildflowers, mostly Gulf Frits, sulphurs and a few swallowtails. Tons of them, more than I've ever seen in one place. I guess that is why they call them Gulf fritillary...they love the Gulf coast. Unfortunately they seem to like it right by the roadway...need I say more. :-(
I did catch a few nice butterfly shots while we were traveling to share with you all.
Great shots sunkissed! Glad to know you are taking care of the Monarchs Melanie!
Sherri, you have taken a grand vacation indeed! All the beautiful sites at the coast, then those lovely butterflies. Who said we can't have the best of both worlds? LOL. Melanie great job with the caring for the butterflies.
Well today is the first day I've had the time to tackle the garden...it was so overgrown, especially the passiflora all over everything. I didn't find any Monarch cats but my milkweeds, still lots of leaves and flowers and did see a Monarch laying lots of eggs today while I was out there...so maybe soon.
I did notice quite a few zebra cats on my passiflora and didn't see any Gulf frit cats, they eat the zebra...some are pretty big so think they'll make it all the way.
My Cassia has quite a few cats also, orange and green...I'm excited to have so many caterpillars...isn't nature just beautiful!
Yes Lily that was our big vacation of the year and it was nice...but must say I'm glad to be back home and in my garden again. I could never live in that RV ☺.
Love all the pics and information
Hey Sherri,
Quoting:
Do they, the gulf frit. cats eat they zebra's cats.? Quite a competition should they do? I haven't seen one zebra frequenting my garden. But, as I just discovered (new information for moi) from a local Flutters festival that we do have zebra longwings here in our area.....I must plant more passiflowers to attract them into the garden. Hey EFG, like you; I'm learning alot of information here from friends sharing info..... Gulf Frit cats, they eat the zebra....
Once again, welcome home Sherri. I know the feeling. I'm yearning to make some nice vacation each year. Though, I'd be equally glad when I return home to the garden. :)
Hey everyone, this thread is getting looong so let's continue here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1283371/
Yes Kim, I've seen them in action eating the zebra cats. At the beginning of the summer we had a lot of zebra cats and gulf cats on my passiflora vine. I noticed the zebras were disappearing and soon there were none to be found. On closer inspection I saw the Gulf frit chomping away on a smaller zebra....and knew then what had happened to them all, since the plant had a larger amount of older Gulf frit cats on it.
I'm seeing lots of zebra long wings fluttering around now and not really any Gulf frits since we've been back...guess they're all up in the panhandle. :)
-Sherri