This little tangerine plant is just 8" tall- it can't support these hungry critters! I have a large Ponderosa Lemon tree that NEVER hosts any butterflies- Could they possibly be moved to it? I don't think cut branches would work, I am in Florida and the heat would wilt cuttings in hours- Any advice?
hmmmmmm mabye they can make it through or you may be running to the nursery for another one lol. I believe they like lime too especially the wild lime that I believe is native to Fl.
Cut branches work for at least a day or two. I cut new growth with tender leaves from my citrus for my cats. Am in south Texas where our temps hover around 100 most days. I use wet floral foam pushed into shallow dishes and stick the branches in those...they keep the leaves and branches moist. Check to see if there are any citrus groves or neighbors who will let you cut some fresh branch growth.
~ Cat
Alot of time the caterpillars will instinctively only the eat from the species that they are laid on.
I was scrambling last year as I had so many caterpillar they ate all of my asclepias incanarta down to sticks. My alternate source of incanarta had been mowed down by the highway crews. I tried to fee them asclepias tuberosa but they would not eat it. I had to drive around looking for more milkweed... we did a milkweed trial with several different species and found that they would eat asclepias syriaca...common milkweed.
So I can sympathize with your poor plants... and your poor babies.
