Help with caterpillars in Cypress, Tex.

[luv]

We are going out of town soon. Is there anyone in the Cypress, Tx.(77429) area who would like to come
pick up about 12 "cats".
They are about 3 days old and still feeding on the milkweed in our yard.
About two weeks ago I released about nine Monarchs after saving them from the wasps.
If you have plenty of milkweed and are interested please let me know soon! LUV

[deemiller]

I just registered for Monarch Watch, and so did not see your post until today, much too late to offer any help. I have a mature clump of milkweed and have about 60 caterpillars today. Best season I have seen in my yard.

I noticed that your mention of wasps. What kind of problems do you see?

[Robin L.]

[quote="deemiller"]I just registered for Monarch Watch, and so did not see your post until today, much too late to offer any help. I have a mature clump of milkweed and have about 60 caterpillars today. Best season I have seen in my yard.

I noticed that your mention of wasps. What kind of problems do you see?[/quote]

Dee, I don't think you realized just HOW MUCH too late you were to offer help with her problem. Her post was from LAST September! Guess I'm not the only one who is sometimes confused by what year it is anymore. And just think, it will soon be 2012!

[deemiller]

Gee. I wonder if she is still checking on answers to her request? I would love to have someone else in the area to compare notes with.

By the way, any idea why she wanted to farm out her cats? I don't think I have had any problems with predators, but I may not be recognizing them.

The Monarchs in my yard peak in reproduction well after the estimate for our latitude (Nov vs. Oct). Once in a while I find a frozen chrysalis, but most seem to make it. I cover the milkweed for low temp nights, mostly to keep development fast enough to get them moving before a freeze hits. The ground retains enough heat to keep the temp up until the sun hits in the morning.

Have searched sites that say adults can survive brief freezes if they are dry. But haven't seen any info on caterpillars and freezing weather.

[Robin L.]

Dee, If you click on Luv's name in her original post, I believe it will give you the chance to send her a direct message. ( Not 100% sure if it will work though.) When I clicked on her name, it confirmed that she last visited this site on October 3'rd of this year, which may suggest that she is through checking in here for the season. You can give it a try, and perhaps she will get back in touch with you.