One of my fellow gardeners that is all into butterflies (she has several "houses" and watches and releases them) told me that there is a "shortage" of monarchs this year, that there is some disease or something that when they go into the cocoon stage they never come out?
I gave her some cats that I thought were black swallowtails but she said they were monarchs and went into the cocoon and never came out? (I don't use any pesticides and haven't used any herbicides anywhere near where they were and the only things I have used are 24d (broadleaf) and roundup.
Does anyone know anything else about this? Is it a disease or pest that is attacking them or maybe pesticides?
Anyone know anything about the monarch problem?
Mini - I've had that problem the past 3 months with Monarch cats and those in a chrysalis. Much worse than usual. I don't know why. I don't use pesticides on my yard either.
Something else that I heard. I'm not sure how many years ago this happened, but I heard that winter migrating Monarchs that were in South America during an unusual freeze one year which killed 70% of the Monarch population. I believe the Monarchs are still recovering from that HUGE loss!
That might be OE. If the chrysalis turns dark and the butterfly fails to emerge, that's a possibility. The green chrysalis may have dark spots before filling in. If OE happens, the chrysalis should be disposed of and if there is a cage or container used, it should be disinfected.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophryocystis_elektroscirrha
this year is the first time I have seen it. I had 2 chrysalis turn black out in the yard and not emerge. This is newly planted property and no pesticides have been used so wonder if it is something they are getting in the air like a virus
I have raised and released over 50 and have had that happen to only 2. I wonder what it is too.
Here is a great web link about Monarch diseases:
http://www.livemonarch.com/advanced.htm
This website belongs to a new resident of The Villages. She comes from Wisconsin, where she raised and tagged Monarchs and knows more about them than anyone I know.
http://www.geocities.com/bttfly9/
Lots of good information, I'll have to get with her and actually see the chrys. to see what colors they are etc. We did have a week of really cold weather (for Florida) for a week or so. I wonder if maybe that affected them, I'll check on them. Thanks so much.
Here's a thread with some pics and info about some I had:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/642251/