Monarch Butterfly Lab

[Artemis Windsong]

The Monarch Lab is looking for people interested in tracking monarch larva.  Here's the link.

monarchlab.org/mlmp

[Tennesseer]

My tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) is growing with some in bloom so hope to see some monarchs flying around soon.

[Tennesseer]

Is Tropical Milkweed Killing Monarch Butterflies?

The Tropical Storm Surrounding Asclepias Curassavica

One conclusion (from the link):

"2016 Update- with more gardeners planting tropical milkweed, the overwintering population in Mexico grew 3.5 times: from 57 million monarchs…to 200 million!"

[Value Buy]

I have an area of about 10ft by 20 ft that I have been growing milkweed on.

Two years ago, we had lots of Monarchs. Last year, barely any.
The crop of milkweed is outstanding this year, so hoping for plenty of Monarchs
 

[wyouser]

So, if I plant milkweed.....do I have to hire milkmaids to care for them? ............I know, I know, banned to the backyard again!

[Tennesseer]

Jul 5, 2016 15:43:46 GMT -5 wyouser said:

So, if I plant milkweed.....do I have to hire milkmaids to care for them? ............I know, I know, banned to the backyard again!

And tending the milkweed. No pail or stool necessary.

[Value Buy]

Jul 5, 2016 20:40:12 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Jul 5, 2016 15:43:46 GMT -5 wyouser said:

So, if I plant milkweed.....do I have to hire milkmaids to care for them? ............I know, I know, banned to the backyard again!

And tending the milkweed. No pail or stool necessary.

Hey, it just grows wild and spreads a little more every spring!
Now I have to count larvae?
How do I tell they are Monarch larvae, and not some nasty moth or something else?

[Tennesseer]

Jul 6, 2016 9:05:56 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

Jul 5, 2016 20:40:12 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

And tending the milkweed. No pail or stool necessary.

Hey, it just grows wild and spreads a little more every spring!
Now I have to count larvae?
How do I tell they are Monarch larvae, and not some nasty moth or something else?

There are a number of diferent types of milkweed. Tropical milkweed, the favorite of monarchs, does not spread by underground roots at least here in the U.S. It doesn't live long enough to spread underground due to its tropical nature and our cold winters. Even a frost along southern CA. or the gulf coast will kill it. It does come back naturally sometimes but that is through fallen seeds which survived the winter months.

Another good thing about tropical milkweed is all its leaves are edible at any time for the monarch larvae versus the other types of milkweed. With the others, only the newest, top leaves are edible for the larvae.

This is what a monarch caterpillar/larvae looks like. And don't be too quick to remove any other caterpillars you might see on the milkweed. Other butterfly species also lay their eggs on milkweed among other host plants. Only the monarch exclusively lays its eggs on milkweed plants.

[ken a.k.a OMK]

I had monarchs, swallowtails and other butterfly's at the old house. Very few here. I did put in milkweed and a butterfly bush.

[Tennesseer]

Jul 6, 2016 9:44:58 GMT -5 ken a.k.a OMK said:

I had monarchs, swallowtails and other butterfly's at the old house. Very few here. I did put in milkweed and a butterfly bush.

Two summer/falls ago, I had few monarchs around the house even with their favorite habitats here. Last year was pretty good. There are a number of factors which dictate whether there will be a good number or none at all any given year. Even if no monarchs are visiting your milkweed or butterfly bushes, you are still helping other butterflies and even hummingbirds. That is always a good thing.

Just keep an eye out for praying mantises as they can take down butterflies and hummingbirds rather easily. Don't harm the mantis-just move it away from the milkweeds and butterfly bushes.

[ken a.k.a OMK]

We always get a few hummingbirds. This year only 1 showed up then disappeared. There are praying mantissas at my sons house. Haven't seen any here. There are monarchs nearby. I'll create the habitat and hope they find it. Now if I could cut down the number of squirrels and rabbits! 

[Tennesseer]

Jul 6, 2016 10:02:33 GMT -5 ken a.k.a OMK said:

We always get a few hummingbirds. This year only 1 showed up then disappeared. There are praying mantissas at my sons house. Haven't seen any here. There are monarchs nearby. I'll create the habitat and hope they find it. Now if I could cut down the number of squirrels and rabbits! 

I have never seen a lot of hummingbirds in the spring or early summer, although I did have a number of hummers visiting my Major Wheeler honeysuckle outside my kitchen window this spring. While hummer adults do visit plants like honeysuckle, their diet during breeding season may consist of what they also feed their young: small insects (especially spiders), nectar and pollen.

Speaking of spiders, spider webs also make up a good portion of hummer nests along with plant parts.