I am raising 8 monarch cats indoors, and they are currently munching away on Asclepias curassavica. However, I'm paranoid that I will run out. (I do have 8 young plants waiting in the wings, but they won't be ready for another two weeks or so.) I also have Asclepias incarnata and Asclepias syriaca in my yard.
Is it okay to mix and match varieties, or might it give the cats a tummyache? I should have enough curassavica for this generation, but thought I'd ask "just in case." Thanks all! You guys are fantastic.
mixing milkweed varieties ok for cats in captivity?
I don't know from personal experience, but I hope you can mix them! ---Just to bump this up so you get an answer!
You already have Monarchs way up in Oshkosh?!! I just saw my first ones earlier in the week here! Good luck!!
junebug-
I haven't found these cat's to be too picky! Give it a go! :)
Adrienne
Thanks guys! I think I have enough tropical milkweed, but the problem is that there are eggs all over many of those remaining plants! So I might need to diversify. I'm thinking that 4 of the guests at Casa de Caterpillar may pupate by Sunday...here's one of the little buggers. Since I've never done this before, this has been a fascinating experience! I'm definitely going to try to do this every summer.
I saw my first monarch in Oshkosh on Memorial weekend; then, not too many until a few weeks ago, when my milkweed patch was blooming. We're having a banner year for Red Admirals, however--they're everywhere! I also did a windowbox with TONS of parsley just for the black swallowtails, but I have yet to see a single one.
Interesting about your Monarchs so early. I guess they bypassed Cincinnati and maybe you are on a 'fly way' to Canada (we are not especially on a fly way).
FYI Monarch First Sitings Map: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/maps/spring2007.html?layers=monarch_adult
My milkweed has been blooming for weeks with nary a visitor! (sob) but just lately a few monarchs have been checking it out.
I have 6 parsley plants, some dill, rue, cilantro (I don't know if they like this) and Ammi in the garden but no cat action there as far as I can tell.
We do have a number of ET Swallowtails--but I haven't purposely planted any of their host plants....although we are surrounded by woods and I think there are some there...