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Butterfly Garden

A variegata milkweed - first cat!

7 years ago

In all the years I've grown A variegata milkweed, I found my first monarch cat on it just now. The plant is barely out of the ground, just four tiny leaves exposed but there is a tiny hatch'ling, busy munching away on a delicate leaf.

I haven't witnessed the mama Monarchs who have been stopping by the past week or so but I'm sure seeing the results of their visits. Tiny hatch'lings all over every variety of milkweed I grow. Even on the Giant MW.

It is another sunny day here today so I'm planning on working in the garden, trying to clean up, replant, etc. Maybe I'll get a glimpse of these current visitors. I suspect they are first generation Monarchs, moving up out of Texas.

Mary

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Comments (3)

docmom_gw
7 years ago
Congratulations! It really sounds like things are hopping with the Monarch population in the Southwesterly part of the states. I hope that means it will be a good year for all of us. I'm so encouraged by all the attention directed at pollinators all around the country (and world). I even just heard an advertisement for Mother's Day flower baskets designed with herbs and other popular nectar plants. I wish the growers would stop using pesticides, but we'll get there some day. Keep up the good work.

Martha
Mary Leek
Original Author
6 years ago
Hi Martha,

Yes, this is the most spring activity I've ever seen here in all the years I've been growing plants for the butterflies. I know the eggs left some three weeks back were by Mexico Monarchs, as I watched them leave their eggs. Poor little things, they were in such poor condition. Now some of their offspring have survived to continue this miracle of nature.

Now I seem to be getting visited frequently by another round of Monarchs. Can hardly imagine how in the world they managed to lay eggs through all the terrible storms we've had recently but they managed somehow! Now I'm releasing the first group and carrying in the second group of babies. I keep saying I'm going to leave them on the plants but I see the tiny little things and knowing their fate, I can't leave them to the wasps and spiders. The wasps actually patrol the plants, even searching under the leaves. I know they have to eat too, but I don't want them taking the tiny cats There's plenty of other areas around here where they can hunt.

Congrats to you for locating a garden area where you can enjoy gardening. What a wonderful idea to allow gardening on the hospital grounds and what fun for you. Please keep us updated on the progress of your new gardens.

Mary
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Hi Elizabeth, The little pipevine cats are piggies, for certain! Yes, this is the same little wild A variegata plant I found on that construction acreage while searching for milkweed to feed my first ever Monarch cats. I was so new to butterfly gardening, I didn't even know what I'd come across, wasn't absolutely certain it was even milkweed. It was you guys, here on the butterfly forum, who ID'ed the little plant and told me how special the plant was to the community; that I should attempt to save it before the construction equipment killed it. Still waiting on a seed pod but always have the pleasure of enjoying the lovely blooms each spring. I have one Aristolochia macrophylla vine and it is finally beginning to climb. For me, it's been a really slow grower but it might be the planting site. I have it near a large Oak. I've seen photos of it growing in what looks like at least half day sun. Maybe the dappled light it gets here isn't enough. Mary
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Tdogmom, I put in sticks and paper towel on top of container and 2 STILL insist on forming their chrysalides on top indentation of plastic container. They're in process since last night. Once third cat in that container makes chrysalis I'm going to have to attempt "cremaster detachment and glue attachment" method to get thim into mesh hamper so they have place to climb once they eclose. First 2 are in tight indentation on plastic container and will not be easy for this digitally challenged nervous nellie to detach ever so gently so as not to harm chrysalides. I was just waiting til today to move them to mesh hamper to pupate since they were still eating like little piggies. No sooner did I get a load of fresh milkweed in there then they climbed up sides of container and did the "don't move me I'm getting ready for the big leap into chrysalis" frozen routine. That's the thanks I get for going outside with a flashlight to get them a load of milkweed since they were going through it like water and wanted to be sure they had enough til morning. Guess that's last time I use those containers but suppose this isn't first time raised cats have hung from inconvenient location...LOL.
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There is a milkweed beetle that will eat a milkweed plant like that. It looks like a giant lady bug. I unintentionally introduced them into my garden one year on a tray of purchased milkweed seedlings. At first, I thought they were just very big lady bugs until I began to see the damage on the milkweed and began looking for the culprit. They are good at hiding under leaves, in litter or mulch on the ground and they are fast; will drop immediately to the soil when they feel threatened. It took me two years to pretty much get rid of them. This beetle will eat your milkweed if left to their own devices. I can't tell by your photo how big the plant stem is but if it is a small milkweed, they can do that kind of damage very quickly. However, you mention damage on other plants, too. I'm not certain but I 'think' this beetle only consumes milkweed. Sorry but this is the only photo I have of adult(s) When inmature, their back is a putty gray or dirty white color and even at that stage, can do a lot damage. Mary
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docmom_gw
6 years ago
Thanks, Mary. I will.

Martha

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?what to do with this little guy?

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