Milkweed abound-starving cats any ideas?

[oldmills]

I've been raising monarchs from eggs for several years with great success. This year was a disaster. I started with 120 eggs and 100% hatch. After normal growth for a week or a bit longer, My cats stopped eating. The cage was cleaned daily and fresh washed milkweed replaced. Day by day I watched the caterpillars wither and dye. Some were so limp they literally folded over. I did notice that several had a pale green liquid coming from their posterior at death. As of today, I've released one adult and have one chrysalis. All of the other caterpillars have died.

I am suspicious of pest contol chemicals, but I had been told that a water rinse and light wiping would take that worry away. I didn't find any of the white magot parasites that I've seen in the past. Does this sound familiar? I feel awful and don't want a repeat next year.

[jemas]

Pesticides are not safe to use around Monarch caterpillars or the plants they eat. Rinsing or washing it off won't make the milkweed safe for caterpillars, IMO. Also Bt can be lethal for any caterpillar.

[freda]

Sounds like OE and as much as I've read about it here on this site, I can't tell you how to find that information. It will probably be on the Rearing Indoors forum. There's a lot to read about it and a lot of good links and advice.

[Mona Miller]

:-s I've been raising monarchs from eggs for several years with great success. This year was a disaster. I started with 120 eggs and 100% hatch. After normal growth for a week or a bit longer, My cats stopped eating. The cage was cleaned daily and fresh washed milkweed replaced. Day by day I watched the caterpillars wither and dye. Some were so limp they literally folded over. I did notice that several had a pale green liquid coming from their posterior at death. As of today, I've released one adult and have one chrysalis. All of the other caterpillars have died.
I am suspicious of pest contol chemicals, but I had been told that a water rinse and light wiping would take that worry away. I didn't find any of the white magot parasites that I've seen in the past. Does this sound familiar? I feel awful and don't want a repeat next year.

Water will not take all pesticides away. Some are systemic (mean that the plant takes them up inside the stem and leaves). These last a long time in the plant and can't be washed off. Your caterpillars sound like they were poisoned. Sorry.

[Mona Miller]

Sounds like OE and as much as I've read about it here on this site, I can't tell you how to find that information. It will probably be on the Rearing Indoors forum. There's a lot to read about it and a lot of good links and advice.

http://www.monarchparasites.org/
Project Monarch Health
Just click on the topics at the top of the page. Very good information by a reputable scientists.

[Mona Miller]

Pesticides are not safe to use around Monarch caterpillars or the plants they eat. Rinsing or washing it off won't make the milkweed safe for caterpillars, IMO. Also Bt can be lethal for any caterpillar.

I once knew of a person who put tick and flea poison on her dogs. They ran thru her milkweed and rubbed off the poison onto the milkweed.

You also have to be careful to wash your hands before picking and feeding caterpillars. Many things can be transferred from your hands to the leaves or caterpillars from your hands.