I have a Cat and very little milkweed!!

[joann0811]

About two weeks ago I purchased plants on line, they arrived and have been planted outdoors in pots. I checked on them tonight only to find two of the plants gone, just nubs sticking out of the soil. I investigated further and fount a cat!! My very first one, problem is I don't have enough food for it. Is anyone aware of where I can purchase leaves?? I'm going to search the site I purchased the plants from, but wanted to ask you as well. It is about an inch long, not sure what instar (?). Lastly, I have no idea where it came from, must have been an egg on the plants when I got them, I didn't think to check them out.

Finally, the other plants (different pot) has very small yellow/orange bugs, I think they're aphids.

Jo Ann

[allaflutter}i{]

If you can get through the next couple of days I'd be happy to mail you some leaves from NJ! Let me know and I'll get them out tomorrow. Washed leaves last nicely in the refrigerator. PM an address for me.

Also, you might try looking for some on the sides of local roads but be sure to wash it well. We have quite a bit that grows wild in this area.

[Mona Miller]

Common milkweed is pretty much everywhere right now. Just need to drive down the roadways. Park safely. I take a tub with some water in it and a pair of clippers. I also wear boots because you never know when you'll step in a ditch as you lean over to clip the milkweed. Virginia has said that they will not be mowing as much and it will save them 2 million dollars. I am so happy that we will have weeds instead of mowed grass. Right now, my common milkweed is about 3-4 foot high and some is starting to bud and getting ready to bloom.

Common Milkweed:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/5420/
http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/su ... m?SUB=2664
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?sym ... ssy_2v.jpg

Be careful dogbane looks a lot like common milkweed:
http://www.forestryimages.org/search/ac ... ?q=dogbane

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1483&p=6955&hilit=dogbane#p6955
Forum discussion on milkweed versus dogbane.

[joann0811]

Thank you both for all your advice and help.

My problem with finding milkweek is that I haven't seen it since I was much younger and not sure I would recognize it. I only recognized it in my garden boxes a week ago because it's sprouted so much in the last week (~3 inches) and it was similar to the butterfly weed and purchased milkweed.

I'm going to get some leaves from my Mom today from her butterfly weed and Allaflutter is going to send some leaves my way to assist. I will keep you informed of it's progress...I am excited and nervous all at the same time. /

[joann0811]

I now have a j-cat. He was hanging on the side of the keeper this morning.

[Mona Miller]

In 10 days you will have a butterfly }i{

[joann0811]

I have a butterfly!! I checked on HIM last night and the crysalis was very dark. This morning it was darker and I thought I could see a little orange...about an hour later I was going to run to the store and decided to check on him and there he was!!

My plan is to release him tomorrow or Monday. I'll place some watermelon in the "keeper" if he gets thirsty. If this is wrong, please tell me.

[Mona Miller]

They don't need to nectar the first 1-2 days. Do mist with water.

[joann0811]

I released the little guy this morning. I was hoping to get a couple photos of this process but we weren't quick enough. As soon as I released him, he was off, into the air and gone in a shot...I asked my husband where he went and he was just as startled as I was that the little guy was gone. Maybe next time.

[texas butterfly]

I had same problem.

My first one, UNO. As soon as he came out of tent he shot out like a rocket. My picture did turn out to be a orange blur and I had a tiny shadow of him sitting on chimney on house next door. And then after sitting there a minute or so he took off again.

The second one, DOS was a little more cooperative. She let me take pictures of her sitting at top of tent opening. And then when she left, she headed for a tree. I was able to take a few more shots of her there.

I also took photos the night before in the tent just in case so I'd have photos to document what UNO and DOS looked like.

Congratulations on your successful release this morning....!!!!!