I've seen way more monarch caterpillars this year than last...but I'm still not sure they are making it to the chrysalis stage. I've yet to find a chrysalis in real life. This is not just for this year, but ever, so maybe they are just really good at hiding them. I hope.
I've toyed with collecting them and putting the porch nursery back in service. I kept all my supplies. Watching the caterpillars grow and change was really fun...but it was a lot of work keeping fresh food picked for them. Providing habitat was my go forward plan, but if they aren't actually surviving, then it's still not a great plan.
While I'm stewing on what to do, here are some fun pictures from a couple of days ago. The greens are turning brown rapidly, but there are a few younger plants that can hopefully keep everyone fed.
5 comments:
I'm with you. I rarely see caterpillars, I've never seen a chrysalis in the wild. And I have a ton of common milkweed.
I have seen chrysalis in the wild but not on my Milkweed. I like you am tempted to "do something" more. I should order a nursery and other stuff...I have a niece and a cousin who raise them every year!
I need to have a look around and see if I have any. We have milkweed growing in our yard.
What about collecting the larger (closer to next life stage) caterpillars so less food demand?
I think that's the way to go. I'm keeping an eye on a J getting ready to go into chrysalis and will bring him in when he's finished and in the meantime am setting up a couple of tables. I just hate that the summer fatigue has discouraged me from doing it earlier :-(.
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