Well, at least one. Anyway, guess what she did? Yep. I've got eggs! She must have been happy to find so many milkweeds to pick from. I just cleaned off aphids (cooler weather and a little rain has brought lots of them) with a hose-end sprayer yesterday and I always check for any eggs or cats before doing that, so I know the eggs weren't there then. Yay! I'm gonna raise a bunch of Monarch cats!
Congrats! Join in with me in providing the never ending milkweed buffet! I have a bunch inside chomping away. (I really should go count them)
I had to look up your location and see you are near San Antonio. I must have been right then a few weeks ago when I felt like I was already seeing the migration beginning. I have seen even more lately.
The BST's are back laying their latter broods too. 'Tis the season to worry "will I have enough food?!" lol
Well, I don't see the photo that should be there! Let me try again.
congrats Linda. I had my first Queen here at the new house today. She was pretty ragged but was laying eggs yea!!!!!!!! Never had a Queen lay eggs before and this is only the second time I have seen one. I am on my second batch of Monarch cats as well as Gulf Frits. I am just about down to nubs on everything
Congrats to you too Donna! I love Queen cats! I'm curious to see if yours have red and blue in them.
This morning I found a Queen butterfly outside sitting on the ground, which is never a good sign. I don't know where it's chrysalis was but it apparently hadn't been able to get somewhere to hang so it's wings are a little crumpled. I quickly put it on a vine next to me to hang, although it was really too late.
It started raining and I found it later on the frogfruit below so I ended up bringing it inside and putting it in a small bug hut. My husband said that he was even feeling sorry for it then. (you know you are making a difference when the men pay attention! lol) I'm not real sure what I'll do with it now tho. :(
Well, I've brought in 52 eggs in the last 3 days. There's more eggs I left outside because they were laid where I couldn't get them by just bringing one leaf in. As far as I know, those are all from that same female. Ooh, how long can she keep up that rate of egg-laying...I wonder? Right now I'm hoping no other Monarch mamas show up for a while. I have lots of milkweed, but there's a limit to how many cats I can feed. I KNOW how much those piggy cats can eat.
Congratulations! everybody!
Say hello to my monarchs when they get down there! I miss 'em already!
KK - How did your Queen butterfly with the crumpled wings turn out?
I kept it inside in a bug hut with some Gatorade (because it didn't seem to want flowers) at night and put it outside during the day. The 2nd day it was gone when I checked on it. It could have wandered off or become lunch for something. ? It would try really hard to fly but just flap around and turn over. :(
I'm sorry about the little guy...I had one with badly crumpled wings last week and it was very sad.
They seem to really like the Gatorade, tho.
