Are there a lot more Monarch cats around anywhere else this year?? I am overloaded with them. For the last couple of years I'd see maybe a handfull of them, but this year there are loads of them, at least loads of them for here. In the last week and a half I have counted 74 and I know I have missed some. They have devoured 4 big milk weed plants and 4 large parsley plants. What else can I feed them?? I'm heading for the supermarket to buy bunches of parsley for them but I'm sure that won't last long.
Lots of GFs on the maypops, but last year there were more. The Monarch cats have some friends and I haven't figured out what they are yet. Smaller than the monarchs, brownish with a little orange tint with a white stripe right in the middle of their bodies. First time I have seen them.
I can see now I'm going to have to plant more milkweed and parsley and start making some homes for these little guys!! Ed
Loads of Monarch Cats this year
Got some pictures now. While hunting for these I read that Monarchs only eat milkweed, so the ones in the parsley must not be Monarchs. Here are both of them:
And a single of the little guy..
And last but not least the big one (Swallowtail??)
Ed, I am not quite as knowledgeable as most on here but I do believe that is a black swallowtail. The little guy is like the first or second instar and then as they grow they look a lot like the Monarch cats but without the long whiskers or antennae or whatever those are . And I know for a fact that they love parsley. So you have two beautiful BF cats going at one time. Lucky you. And no, I have yet to see a Monarch but expect them to start flying through here in about a month and I will be inundated. I hope some stop by my yard for awhile and say hi.
Leslie
Thanks Leslie--There are 5 more of the little ones and two big ones on one parsley plant. I went to Lowes and Wally World and bought all their parsley plants so they all get to eat now. The monarchs sure cleaned off all my milkweeds in one night. I counted 24 so their were probably thirty or more on two of the plants. The other two didn't have any on them. The next morning all four plants were completely stripped of leaves, not even a piece of one left. There were only a couple of cats left on the plants. I have no idea where the rest of them went, I couldn't find any. I was going to buy more milkweeds today but they didn't have any. The old ones all have pretty good shows of leaves on the tops already. I wonder if I should have cut them back after they were stripped? They are 4 1/2' to 5' tall now. There was also a mockingbird hanging around today, so if I see new cats on the milkweed I better get them in a container fast. I'm going to read this forum from way back in the beginning and hopefully that will at least get me up to half speed. LOL Thanks again - Ed
Ed, you've got 2 different cats. Leslie is correct, your pics are of Black Swallowtails and the 2nd pic is of an early instar. Their host plants are in the carrot family so you'll find them on parsley, fennel, dill, rue, Queen Anne's Lace and a few other obscure plants.
And you are correct, Monarch's will only eat milkweed. You can cut them back and they'll regrow and branch out more instead of being tall stalks. (you can root the stalks in water for more plants) Your missing cats were either eaten or wandered off to pupate.
Be aware that buying host plants is sometimes necessary but you run the chance of getting a plant that has been sprayed with a pesticide, unless you get it from an organic grocery store or grow them. I'd try and wash them off with just water several times before putting them on it. I've even had cats die from plants that came from an organic nursery tho.
Good luck! Sounds like you'll be busy!
Konkreteblond - Thanks for the input. Lots to learn but it will be fun. Ed
Go get em Ed. I cannot believe you can still find parsley and such at Wally World and Lowes. When I had cats on my dill and ran out of dill I could not find any at any nursery or anywhere. I had to buy from the store. And as for trying to find milkweed, ha. Forget it. I have bought some from Live Monarch.com. They sell cages for the cats and also live milkweed plants. I have purchased several and have them in pots just in case I get any Monarch eggs (probably won't) but I will still have the plant I guess. Anyway, looks like they hit you pretty hard for the first time but you will have a ball raising them if you decide to do that.
And Paige (I think) thanks for letting me know I actually told someone the right thing for once. I am pretty proud of myself. If I know anything about any cats it would be the black swallowtail as I have had those cats for years on my dill. Never raised them really but have had the cats every year.
Have fun Ed and you will find anything you need to know pretty much in the sticky at the top of the page. Lots of info there.
Leslie
It's so much fun learning about them! And not to mention that it's fun to buy host plants and nectar plants! :)
Leslie, you did good! The BST cats look so different when they are little. Someone who's never seen them might not know they are all one type. Even the GST's look like little BST's. Funny since so many others look the same. I love my tiny Monarchs and Queens.
I'm off to wade thru my jungle that used to be called my front flower bed! I see a bunch of Queens out on the milkweed so I'm going to search for more cats and eggs and thin out a billion cosmos.
Paige (you were right)
One question that is probably so simple no one else ever asks it, but can you bring your cats in the air conditioned house or should they be left out in the heat?
Went to Wally World this morning and bought 4 really big bunches of parsley from the grocery department. Soaked them for awhile and then rinsed them real good under the faucet so they should be clear of pesticides. (I never wash it that well for us peoples!! I've always said if there is an afterlife I want to come back as one of my dogs, even though I may not be as good of a trainer as they are.) LOL
I rounded up the other 5 cats and put them in their new home. One is almost all the adult color now, but she still has the white band around the middle--a little faded, but easy enough to see. Pretty babies. Ed
Ed,
I have mine in the house. I think some people raise them in the house and some people raise them outside. But I do mine in the house. It is so funny you say that about rinsing them better than you do for people. I also feel about my dogs like you do. Recently we had to boil our water because there was not enough chloride in it and I went out and bought a bunch of bottled water. My dogs got to drink bottled water as I was not going to feed them the bad water. I started drinking the tap water way before I would let them drink it. If I come back I want to come back as my own dog. Except I would be a little spoiled brat sissy dog but that is okay with me. Anyway, have fun with the little guys and keep posting if you have any more questions. I will try or someone else will definitely help you.
And thanks Paige for the compliment. Like I said I do know my BST cats even though I have never reared one to completion. For the last three years I have planted a dill plant just for them. They are what got me on this forum basically and wanting to or at least willing to raise the little guys if need be. But by that time they were already gone. I love those guys. Get the biggest kick out of their little "stinky horns". LOL. I was just glad I could help. This is the first time I have actually been able to answer someone with confidence.
Leslie