found 6 eggs last night

[drexel.n@gmail]

I have found 2 cats so far at the community garden on a patch of common mw. The first was a very-recently-hatched 1st instar who is now a beautiful chrysalis. The second just molted yesterday and is now a fat little cat. But I hadn't seen any evidence of any monarchs in my yard yet. Patience gets to be difficult; but I was rewarded last night when I found 4 eggs on my butterfly weed and 2 on a tropical!! There may be some on the swamp, but I didn't look too closely. Oh, I'm so happy. Is it strange that she would lay 2 of the eggs on a flower bud? That's how I found them - 2 of them were right on top.

Nancy in Cincinnati

[skates4marty]

I often find them on the buds.

[drexel.n@gmail]

Good to know - thanks!!

Nancy in Cincinnati

[Mona Miller]

The Monarchs have to fool the predators by doing things differently. And, in the flower buds they are very hard to find.

[reggorf]

I did not think the cats would eat the butterfly weed. I am not sure who told me that, but for some reason, i though it was just a nectar source. I will have to start checking mine. I do not have any evidence of Monarchs in my yard at all. I have planted nine 5 gallon buckets of milkweed in hopes that i will have lots of cats to feed here in northeastern ohio.

[Mona Miller]

They will use butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa, but it is not their favorite. It is not as toxic as some of the other milkweeds. But, from year to year it seems they change their preferences--maybe another way to fool predators.

[drexel.n@gmail]

I found 4 more on the same butterfly weed the following night. I now have 11 1st instars and 2 chrysalises. So exciting! I think this is the first year I have found eggs on the butterfly weed. I usually find them on the swamp & common. It's my first year with tropical, so we'll see how they like that.

[Monarch MaMa]

On 27 May I found 7 eggs, 6 hatched and I've added a few more..plus I have 5 chrysalis. However I'm having difficulty finding additional small cats or eggs at this time. I'll have to wait until these hatch and breed them to get hundreds of cats! I'm asking friends to help raise them all, then release the adults.
Debbie - Davisburg, MI (SE MI area)

[Mona Miller]

As soon as I can find some eggs, larvae, adults, I'll start breeding. My milkweed is ready for them.

[drexel.n@gmail]

Of those little eggs, I now have 9 1st & 2nd instars. It's funny how they hatched on the same day, yet are growing at their own pace.

And I finally saw an actual monarch! I know they've been around - obviously, but had yet to see one. Last night I saw 2! Oh hurray!!

Nancy in Cincinnati

[Mona Miller]

I keep looking at Journey North. They are behind me, to the side of me, above me, but not here. I did see an incredible Great Spangled Fritillary. If the male Monarch was here, he'd be chasing it. I have male Baltimore Checkerspots and they are chasing this and that. Such a tiny butterfly to be such a little bully.

[drexel.n@gmail]

An update: I managed to lose 1 of the tiny cats. However; of the remaining 8 (as of this morning) 1 was a chrysalis, 5 were "j"s, one was making his silk button, and the baby was still munching away. I've not had this many at one time before and seeing 5 of them hanging this morning was stunning! I haven't seen any more eggs since I found these babies. Hopefully they will give me some once they are released. How long does it take them to reach sexual maturity? And I can't figure out how to post pictures, but i have a couple good ones to share.

Nancy in Cincinnati
(I don't remember my waystation #, but I'll look it up soon)

[skinnyhoops]

Sounds like you'll have some butterflies in a couple weeks. I'm still waiting on my 3 chrysalis, should be sometime next week. I also have 14 cats and 2 eggs waiting to hatch. Everyday I see Monarchs flying around the garden milkweed. Been getting a good consistant supply of eggs here in Florida.

Not sure how long before they reach sexual maturity. Although I have an idea...
Put the adults in a room with flower pedals scattered on the floor and add some music like Marvin Gaye "Lets Get It On". haha

[Mona Miller]

If its hot, the cycle goes faster. The adults need at least 3-5 days to mature before they can mate. Humidity, light, bingo. I have a screen tent, after they've mated for a while, I throw the guys out. Monarch butterflies mate more than any butterfly that I've seen. It takes up to 24 hours for them to complete mating. I have host (milkweed) and nectar sources in my tent. After maybe 3 days, I release the females and then wait for the eggs to hatch.

Unfortunately, this year, no Monarchs. I'm waiting, eventually they will come.

[drexel.n@gmail]

We released all 8 butterflies over the weekend with instructions to "be fruitful & multiply". Hopefully they will come back for a visit soon. I haven't seen one other than mine in 2 weeks now. I'm feeling very "empty nest-ish".

[Mona Miller]

This is why I put up my screen tent and breed all summer. But, I haven't found a dang egg all summer. I did check plants at the park today and at home. Nada.

I'm finding loads of Spicebush and Pipevine. Plenty of Red Admirals. I'm raising Pearl Crescents, Silvery Checkerspots, Giant and Black Swallowtails.

[drexel.n@gmail]

At our allotment at the community garden we found 7 eggs and 2 cats last night on my tropical milkweed. Woo Hoo! I have babies again!

[drexel.n@gmail]

Between the bed of milkweed I have at the community garden and the milkweed in my backyard, I now have 53 1st & 2nd instars, 3 3rd instars, and 2 chrysalises. I may have bitten off more than I can chew, but I have so much fun with them! We are seeeing butterflies daily. What a joy!! I am assuming these are still 3rd generation and it's their kids who will make the long flight. Yea!!

We did have to put 2 chrysalises in the freezer this week. Tachnid flies had gotten to them. It made me very sad, yet I know I have many, many more that will survive. I'm trying to gather every egg I see now. Their growth cycle truly amazes me. These hatchlings are just so tiny!!

[Mona Miller]

Definitely, tiny. I have to use reading glasses and each year they get stronger. But, even though the caterpillars are small, they are stout little worms. They grow so fast.