Smart cats

Does anyone ever tire of seeing a bunch of Monarch cats? I hope not, because here's mine from the yard. There's about 40, it's hard to count them, they all look the same lol. They're in my butterfly cage in the garage, it's being rebuilt, just in time. I still have to do the floor and the door, right now there is tuille for the door. The poor things were on plants that had no leaves left because they just haven't had that much time to grow since winter.

One of the things I've noticed this year: some of the cats will move off the plant at night, in the morning I will find them close by. They might do this to avoid mw predators. But, when they are in the bf cage, they stay on the plant, do you think they know they are safe?

Looks like I'll be buying mw for some time, I didn't expect them this early.

Rox - WHOOOOOO HOOOOOOO! This gal's on a roll with the Monarchs!!!!!

Go Rox Go!!! I hope you can find enough Milkweed to get them to the chrysalis stage. I know how ya feel. I lucked out. By the time I brought all the school cats home they were just 2 days away from morphing! THANK GOODNESS!!!! Wishing you the same good luck! :-) :-) :-)

Thanks Becky!

I appreciate the kudos...it is challenging to keep all those eating machines fed, but well worth it!

If I wasn't able to buy it, I would not be able to feed them, they would starve. There's just so many eggs on those little plants outside. I haven't seen many predator bugs yet, I'm sure they are there somewhere, lurking.

WOW!!!! That's a lot of caterpillars!!! I've only seen two caterpillars and they were last instar so I brought them inside.

Seeing that photo reminds me of Gulf Fritillary season!!! But I must say the monarch cats seem to eat much faster and much more than the frits.


I just got done ordering a 65 gallon reptarium for $ 33 (excellent price) for the last instars. I already have a 22 gallon one that I use now...but it's got an assortment already. I really need to make a bunch of 12 or 16 inch cages to keep the smaller instars separated but contained. I use a variety of plastic containers with nettings but I'd rather have something with screen on all sides. Putting that on my to-do list for this weekend :o)

Have fun!!!

~ Cat

I think the screening is easier to maintain.....it stays in one place. I found black screening, but I wish I would have looked for white or a lighter color. The plant is in the cage for some time and I think it would grow and stay healthier if it received more light. It's too big to haul in and outside, so it stays in the garage with a little fan and an overhead flourescent light.

They do grow at an amazing rate, almost before your eyes.

Be sure and show pics of your setup, I'm already thinking of ways to expand the nursery.

Oh man Roxanne,,
Your off to a roaring start! Wowie.. Keep 'em there until my MW gets more leaves, could ya?? LOL!

Deb

I, too, have a black reptile cage, but don't like it as much as my cheap white screen butterfly cages. It's too dark to see the cats without unzipping one entire side. Just a preference of mine. But I do prefer screening over plastic. They go into a plastic nursery right before or just after they morph into chrysalises!

Here's the plant 4 days later.....this always amazes me how much they can eat.

I always worry about the cremaster security on plastic, it seems a tighter bond with screen or netting.

Good point on the cremaster Roxie~

MsFly, that's an amazing photo ! I had no idea
they would congregate like that. I'm gonna watch this
thread and learn. Thanks.