I've got mass pupation going on...lots of them. And thank goodness! My milkweeds are looking a bit sparse. Just hope I can raise the rest of them with what I have left (well, I don't know, it's unlikely). Here's some of the ones I've still got to feed. They're crowded a little close, don't you think?
Awesome photo!!! Just hope they don't start biting on each other. I often have to separate the ones I get here and move them to different leaves on the milkweed if not, move them completely to different milkweed plants. They are voracious eaters.
~ Cat
Actually, I'm raising them inside in containers, but I took them outside for the photo, because for some reason my camera doesn't do closeups very well indoors. They DO fight over the food on occasion! They love those flowers and when I give them a cutting with flowers on it, it's every cat for itself.
LOL, that's too funny! It does seem like they are having to eat like that at times tho! I've had BST's all over each other for a week or so. They are finally almost thru! Whew!! I released 14 Monarchs today. I couldn't believe so many eclosed at the same time. Now there are only 3 left but I've seen 2 mating couples outside the last few days so I'm waiting for more eggs. :)
I probably would seperate them because they will start eating each other when they run out of food.
Survival of the fittest - its a cruel world.
Not sure if you mean me or Linda...mine were in very close quarters and behaved very well together, but they were BST's. I wouldn't leave my Monarchs too close because they are ornery. Linda didn't either tho, she just took hers out for a field trip/photo op.
LOL...BF field trips and photo ops. :D Made me laugh (I need it, work stinks today!)
~Sunny
Well, I've got 20 chrysalides so far, with more that are hanging in J's or just waiting their turn. Whew! That's a good start! So what do I find today on a leaf I brought in to feed the Monarch cats that are still eating? A tiny first instar Queen cat! And a little later, a female Queen came by to nectar. Well...build it and they will come! So after taking care of the cats, I went out to fertilize and water the milkweeds. They better hurry and grow new leaves!
Oh, I have different containers for the cats to keep them in small groups by size. But I can't keep each one by itself (except the little Queen), because there's still a lot of cats left, so they better learn to behave.
I have one lonely little first instar Queen inside now. I brought in 2 eggs the other day but only one cat to be found. The other either wandered off or didn't hatch. The milkweed leaf got so dry that it curled and I can't tell. I meant to cut the eggs off so that wouldn't happen, but.... I've been looking daily at my plants for more eggs, not yet tho.
I'm finding so many here, I'm getting a little overwhelmed. I tell myself I'm going to have to leave some on the plants, but I worry about them and go get them. If anyone heard me in my house they would probably think I'm an addict....because I'm always telling dh...'we need more weed, or I've got to get more weed, or we're low on weed.' lol
Did you know they love those tuberosa seed pods, they will munch the entire thing. And, they get aggressive if another gets too close, they bite at them. Those pods must be a delicacy.
KB, did you make wishes when you released them? The Native American belief is if you make a wish when you release them, they will take the wish to the Higher Spirits to be answered.
Yes, I know that the cats LOVE the pods and seeds! That's what I was talking about in the seed exchange thread, that sometimes it's hard to get seeds from host plants. I think this is the first year I might have some fennel seeds because right now I have no cats eating them. I have a ton of milkweed pods, so many that the plants are falling over, but when the next brood comes they will go straight for them.
I think you need to be careful who you tell you "need more weed" LOL!! I've never heard that or made a wish on my butterflies. I've got a ton of things I can wish for on the next brood. :)
I usually make a simple wish when I release them. Never thought about the higher spirits thing, but that's a good idea.
I know what you mean about trying to get seeds from hosts plants. My plants are generally eaten to nubs before they even bloom, especially a. incanarta in my yard.
