You might want to put your caterpillars in a container and feed them from the plants. A good source of information is Tdogmom's blog.

Have fun!

Sandy

Here is a link that might be useful: Monarch site

As they go through each instar, I find that they often leave the plant and will be on the ground or around the plant. It is best to either bring them in or sometimes I move them on the ground where they might be hidden but they probably won't stay on the plant. When they are ready to make their chrysalis, they do wander sometimes quite a ways away from their host plant.

Geordiegirl,
If your Monarch caterpillars are late instars then chances are they are leaving the plant because they are looking for a place to pupate. (Thanks, Sandy, for referring her to my blog!) It is rare for a Monarch to hang out in the Milkweed patch to pupate. Most butterflies will travel some distance from the host plant to pupate.

Another question: Are there enough leaves on the Milkweed plant for the larvae to feed upon? This could be another reason...they are looking for more food (or healthier, younger leaves!). If the larvae just move off and are still, then they may also be getting ready to molt (shed their skin).

If you do check my blog then you can get an idea of where in the larva cycle they are and that can give you a better idea.

Have fun!

CalSherry aka tdogmom

Update.. My husband decided to spray the back yard with bug spray.I told him not to as we had caterpillars. They all died :(.
They ranged in sizes from about a half an inch to an inch. I wish I had brought them in on Friday.I am so sad.
Thakyou all for you help and advice.

So is he sleeping in the doghouse? It's not wise to go against your wives advice. He has some learning to do. Little boys and their chemicals. Kind of sad.

randy

This may sound a little hash, but if pesticides are going to be used on the property, it might be wise to dispose of the milkweed. Attracting butterflies to procreate under those kind of circumstances are counterproductive.

I'm not very good at watering down a point of view. It's my nature and not always productive with people. But they tend to know how I feel and know it's not done spitefully or in a mean fashion. It's the Mr. Spock in me. What you are doing is not logical.

randy

That was going to be my next question.(dig up the milkweed). I don't know why he decided to spray the yard. The only chemicals we put down in the backyard is for the fire ants. Maybe I could buy some more milk-weed and put in on the other side of the yard as he only sprayed one side.No you are not being harsh Randy, what you are saying is true.

geordiegirltx, it sounds like before you do anything, you and hubby need to have a serious talk and make sure you are understanding each other and on the same page. Not knowing how much you want to get into raising cats, It's hard to give advice. You might also consider bringing them inside to raise where it is safer. There are all kinds of preditors besides fire ants. Try again and enjoy!
Hope

We lost our whole back lawn last summer to chinch bugs because I wouldn't let hubby spray due to my caterpillars.
It is tough to have beautiful flowers and no grass in the middle of the yard but...

We are actually going to try to sprig a small area at a time this spring. Actually I only have a few Monarch cats now so I brought them in and moved all my herb and milkweed pots inside this weekend so he could treat the grass. We had to... found fleas on our pups and can't have that for their health. We do put stuff on them but with it being so dry the fleas and ticks are already bad. I am hoping this one time will do it.

I know what you mean but there ARE things that can be done that doesn't require actual pesticides (diatomaceous earth, for one) which can help rid some of the problems. (note the word SOME) If I have to use anything I use Safer products which are made with things like Eucalyptus oils or Rosemary oils. I'm not keen on using any type of product in my yard either, especially since Tifanny (aka tdog) died from cancer not that long ago. Her cancer had me really take a good look at the products we use in and around our house.

I had two

monanach caterpillars and one of them is Limp to the touch dose this mean he died? What do Monarch caterpillar eat besides milkweed?

A common relocation behavior by monarch caterpillars is performed by those of medium size : They spend the day either on stem near bottom, or off stem inside pot or on its outside, sometimes on something adjacent, Probably some are preparing to moult, but definitely not all, given that they commonly return to leaves in early evening.

The following relocation behavior easily is observed among caterpillars in captivity together with others: Starting at an early age and continuing until very large, the smallest one or few depart the food, in deference to all larger. My practice of keeping them according to sizes in separate containers reduces the size-dictated fasting.

Large caterpillars often will forage even when leaves are immediate. It normally is only in perceived scarcity that they strip a plant.