First 26 Eggs of 2010 Season

[ilsa]

I had my first (known) visit by a Monarch female today. Unlike past years, this year I've decided to collect the eggs and hatch them indoors. I'm doing this because this year we have an explosion of odorous house ants, both outside and inside the house. Much of my milkweed is blooming and there are zillions of ants collecting the nectar, and I understand that ants do eat Monarch eggs.

From today's laying female, I collected 26 eggs.

[Mona Miller]

http://bugguide.net/node/view/87728
Species Tapinoma sessile - Odorous House Ant

These little guys are also responsible for farming aphids. They will actually protect the aphids and probably eat or get rid of Monarch eggs/larvae.

[ilsa]

Yes, I had read about the symbiotic relationship between the aphids and the ants. I've also seen it happening on my milkweed. The good news is that you can get rid of aphids and ants when you find them in one fell swoop.