Monarchs Part 2

 

 

 

Monarch Update

By early fall 2020, I had 29 butterflies successfully hatch and fly off.  This spring I planted three new species of native milkweed (Antelope Horn, Indian and Heart-Leaf).  Next year I think the plants will be robust enough to have caterpillars. 

In May I found my first 3 monarch eggs.  I put a screen mesh around the plant, so the caterpillars wouldn't get disturbed.  I was concerned with Tachinid flies.  They are parasitic flies whose larvae ultimately kill its host.  Last year this happened a couple of times, and it's hard to watch.  Caterpillars with parasites hang themselves up early, and die.  Then fly larva emerge.  This is what the larva first look like

 

They turn darker

and eventually flies hatch

 

 

 

The three caterpillars that I left outside this spring grew and made it to the chrysalis stage.  I thought the screen netting was the way of the future.  But, one day I found a trail of ants leading to a chrysalis.  Somehow the integrity of the capsule was breached, and they were carrying away the goo that was half caterpillar-half butterfly.  Gross!  So, I took the other two in and they successfully hatched.

 

The last few weeks I have noticed butterflies in the yard, and more eggs.  I've gone back to the old method of taking the eggs inside.  It's more work, but I think it's worth it.