I have had Eastern Swallowtails all summer in my garden, first with caterpillars munching my dill, now decimating my bronze fennel to the point I am going to have to look for more.
But I am finally seeing few Monarch cats on my milkweed, my first ever. But today, when showing my youngest son, I came across another new cat for me, Queens, Danaus gillippus.
One of my milkweeds, the yellow, is covered with Queen cats, really cool looking fellows.
What do you have in your garden?
Yes, they are all beautiful, I have had some but not like other years. Unfortunately since there aren't many the predators are hungry and pounce on them right away, so many of them are lost.
I had a cat on a tomato plant which is in an Earthbox on my back deck. It was about 1 1/2" long it looked like a cut worm but it didn't curl up when I touched it. I have seen a lot of poop so I know it's not the ony one. I moved it to another location, but I still wonder what type it was.
If it was on the Tomato Plant it was probably the Tomato Hornworm (yes moth). It will also use the Datura as a host, so if you have those plants and don't want them eating your tomato plants, just move them there. http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/210/
The wasp are winning the battle this year in my yard. They are constantly circling the vines and plants that butterflies use as host plants. Even the normally prolific Gulf Fritillary is struggling. Of course we did have a hard winter freeze that even took my evergreen passiflora to the ground, but it returned with a vengeance. I have several Rue plants that did have some tiny Black ST cats then they were gone. One that has thrived is the Pipevine ST they have host plants that are low to the ground underneath other plants. Hopefully there will be cooler weather and all the butterflies will rebound.
I hope so too Sheila, the ones I have had the most around here are Tiger Swallowtails, Giant Swallowtails and Pipevine's.
Shelia,it wasn't a hornworm. I know what those look like, in fact I just found one. I normally don't have much of an issue with them, the wasps take care of the few of them I get and what they don't get I just transplant. I have livestock so I don't have Datura....
This cat looked like a cut worm but t didn't curl up when I picked it up, and it is was on my Earth Boxes, that are on my deck 6' off the ground. I still wonder what it was?
Repotted my passion vine and it's now happy. Note the caterpiller in the upper right. Love it when plants are happy.
Photo is in a post below
This message was edited Sep 5, 2014 8:49 PM
Lynne- where is the picture? I think DG is having technical issues in that area.
I have to say that even tho I haven't seen many cats (well, about a month ago I had a bunch of those furry black ones). I have seen a lot of different types of butterflies on my place. I just love watching them all, some are really large and some are small. I have an 80 lb puppy that runs after them. If they land he tilts his head likes he is wondering what that is. Lol I get a kick watching him run thru the tall grass watching the butterflies.
I have had MANY Gulf Fritilary cats eating my passion flower. There isn't a single leaf on it and the females keep depositing eggs on the vine. Too funny. I have empty cocoons on every tall surface in my yard and even on some of the lower surfaces. It took them a long time to find the vine this year, but they came in droves once summer cranked up. There is a pair of cardinals that visit the back yard and the male loves to search for the Fritillary cats. I have had black swallowtails on the dill, rue and parsley and quite a few monarchs on the milkweed too. I haven't seen any sulfurs on the candlestick plant this year. I see a predatory wasp continually hunting on the candlestick plant, so maybe they are being carried away before I see them.
Russell
I am glad you are having better luck with the Monarchs, do you live out in the country?
This message was edited Aug 24, 2014 9:40 PM
Russell, I am getting covered with Monarchs this week. I thought I had a lot before but today I lost count around 20. I don't have to my knowledge, any host plant for sulphurs but I have quite a few around.
Don't have a GF host plant either, I will have to change that next year.
I live in a small town outside of Corpus Christi Texas.I have quite a few tropical milkweed plants around the yard. I generally get quite a few monarchs and Queens laying their eggs around the garden. Others have reported troubles with monarchs. I haven't seen that reduction here. They are the most common visitors to my yard. They love the mistflower I have in the back yard.
This thread has made me wonder if possibly the strange weather has gotten them off schedule. This summer has been nice (rain and lower temps) until about a week and a half ago. There were hot days in there but not steady, at least in my area. I have to get another Passion Flower, mine didn't come back this year.
I have seen more lizards this year too, they are hanging on the screens. I haven't seen this many in years.
Lisa, send me some! I cried for years when we first moved out here. Since it was abandoned for over 30+ years, there were no tree frogs, lizards, or beneficial insects when I started working on my gardens. We now have native lizards and I did see an anole last year, a few tree frogs and toads, and I have released lady bugs a couple times.
Our old farm had tons and I wish I had transplanted some. Sigh.
For those interested I have started a date thread on our fall RU and would love feedback.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1373276/
If i could catch them I would send you some. Lol
This is a fun thread. I have a lavender lady passion flower and the Gulf Frits love it. To the point where I have only seen one flower so far! I also have butterfly weed and the monarchs have been coming in cycles. But I want to know how can you grow dill and parsley in this hot weather?
We have those brownish prehistoric looking lizards, the green-that-turn-brown anoles (?), and these cute fellas! A long time ago I accidentally stepped on one in the dark--barefoot--while taking out the trash. Ewwww! Last time I ever went barefoot outside in the dark! Janet
Oh, and Lisa, my brothers & I had a great time while young catching lizards at my Grandma's! Not sure I can bring myself to do that now but if you REALLY want some, Joy, I can try!!!
Would yall please share your thoughts on the most successful
plant choices for attracting wildlife ?
Please be specific about which plant choices and what they are
noted for attracting or hosting ?
Here's the photo I meant to attach. The caterpiller is in the upper right corner.
This message was edited Aug 30, 2014 8:21 PM
The caterpillars have all but stripped my Passie, never in all my years have I seen so many cats. But will also be happy to see all the Monarchs.
I have the brown lizards as well, at least a few. I thought maybe the Monarchs had moved on, but I saw a couple today. At least they have given my milkweed a chance to recover, I don't know if my fennel will however, it is still stripped but hanging in there.
I've had quite a few Giant Swallowtails on my citrus.
Lucky you Sweetmommy.
:) Thank you, Josephine.
My milkweed hasn't had as many Monarchs this year, though.
Lynne, that's a Gulf fritillary cat. Spiny-looking little critter. They have been eating up my passion flower, which is fine with me :). I just saw 2 of them chasing one another. Cute!
Is this a gulf fritillary, too?
Yes, and a very pretty one too.
How pretty! I have none. Need to hit ARE and get me a passi.
Joy, you can get one when you come to the swap in Arlington.
I had a few gulf fr. And only 2 of theses fellows.
Great Monarch cat shot!
Joy, I will have some of the non-native 'Blue Crown' that is evergreen most winters. It usually always comes back after it is established. It does have an underground growth and will spread. I just pot up those in unwanted areas to give away.
Thanks Sheila. I like natives but I am very happy with anything that thrives after planting and feeds my butterflies or birds.
