I have Monarch & Black Swallowtail Cats . . Finally

14 years ago

Hi to all,

Last year was really the pits for me after having several great years with BF raising. I had only two Monarch Cats last year and no BST's.

This year is starting out great! I have Monarch BF's laying eggs on the milkweed and BST cats eating on my parsley patch. Going to move the BST to my nets and as soon as the Monarch cats hatch out, I'll move them too.

Oh wonderful day!

Mary

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Comments (5)

MissSherry
14 years ago
Congrats, congrats, Mary!
I haven't seen a monarch since early spring, and no black swallowtails all year. :(
Send some this way, please!
Sherry
butterflymomok
14 years ago
Congrats Mary! Especially the Black Swallowtail cats. They seem to be at a premium this year.

I gave up on the BSTs and ordered some from Edith. I've only seen two really early this year, and none since. Today I had Monarchs in my yard for the first time since I released the ones I raised. And I had a big, beautiful Cloudless sulphur hanging out around the garden. I don't know if there are any eggs, been too busy to check. Tomorrow I fly to Kentucky to see my two grandsons. I'm looking forward to the trip. Butterflies will have to wait until I get back home. A friend is cat sitting. ; )

Sandy
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Thanks for the advice. I'm trying to get better at spotting the eggs. but I have tons of wild milkweed, all growing in a tumbled confusion on a little fence I put there for that purpose.It's in my butterfly garden right next to the butterfly bush, butterfly weed and purple conefloers. I've gotten much better at finding the swallowtail eggs, since they came along first, but the monarch eggs are tougher to spot so far. The cats I have so far were actally in the front yard that my husband refuses to mow so that the monarchs can breed there also! I haven't seen any monarchs in front at all, but apparently they go there, cause I keep finding cats!
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OOoh, BSTs! You are going to LOVE these guys. :) They are black now but soon they will be this gorgeous green... When provoked (now why would you do that? ha!) they stick out these 'horns' (osmeterium) and this nasty odour is emitted. Peeeeeyuuuuu! Here is a picture of Anise Swallowtail larvae (basically, the West Coast version of the Eastern Black Swallowtail). Very similar in looks...and one of my faves (okay, all you veterans are going to say, "What caterpillar isn't CalSherry's fave?"). You can see the various instars here.
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Kara, as Juneroses says, they will eat anything in the carrot family, pretty much, including Queen Anne's lace, carrots, fennel, parsley, and dill, though I haven't had much luck with mine liking my dill. You fennel plants should come back from the onslaught with no lasting ill effects. My feeling is, after a certain point, I leave them alone. If they run out of food, they then become food for wasps, lizards, etc. It's all part of the Circle, ya know. So...I always bring SOME in to be sure that enough survive to repopulate my yard, and some I leave to Mother Nature to care for. They will make it on their own or they won't. And that's as it should be. Really, the only reason I bring some in is because butterflies ARE declining in some areas and since that is mostly due to US, I figure I have to do my small part to make sure some of the cats survive. Plus I like to watch them. But I've already raised and released about 35 swallowtails this year, and have several more in chrysalis, still to go. So I figure at this point, the rest of them are on their own. Just one way to look at it. The other is to head to the nearest garden center and stock up on more fennel, parsley, etc. But be SURE it is organic, or the systemic pesticides in the plants will kill the cats outright. Good luck! Marcia
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roper2008
14 years ago
That's wonderful Mary. The monarch's are so beautiful. I am
raising a few black swallowtails also. Goodluck
Linda
rosefenn
14 years ago
I planted plenty of dill in my garden for the swallowtails so I am keeping my fingers crossed that they choose my garden to lay their eggs! Also I set up a "basking" place for them which consists of a small oak log and a rock. And a swimming pool (sand and pebbles and water in a terra cotta saucer).
leubafr
Original Author
14 years ago
Hi all, I checked my milkweed and sure enough, I have eggs all over them. Must have been a really fertile mama.

The BST's are growing like crazy. Having to move them to a different parsley plant today. They have not been interested in my dill or fennell.

Watching them grow,

Mary

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I have Monarch & Black Swallowtail Cats . . Finally

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MissSherry

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I have Monarch & Black Swallowtail Cats . . Finally

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MissSherry

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