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Friday, August 26, 2022

Crawling Under A Leaf

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:

Laura L. said...

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.

Far Side of Fifty said...

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!

karen said...

I need to have a look around and see if I have any. We have milkweed growing in our yard.

Windswept Farm said...

What about collecting the larger (closer to next life stage) caterpillars so less food demand?

thecrazysheeplady said...

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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