How did the Monarch butterfly find my milkweed??

[Linda]

I planted 3 milkweed plants a few months ago. The one in the backgarden is in a lovely sunny spot but the 2 in the front garden receive less sun. The one in the back garden has about 1 dozen Monarch butterfly caterpillars on it - I'm amazed! How did the butterfly find that plant amid all the other plants, flowers and trees in my garden? We check the progress of the little guys every day and hope they can endure our low-ish night time temperatures. I feel that nature should take its course and we shouldn't bring them indoors! I'm in the SF Bay Area of N. California.

[freda]

Amazing, isn't it? We had no monarchs in our area and no milkweed. I had been familiar with an abundance of both in southern Ontario where I lived as a child, so we brought some milkweed home! We planted it early August one year and in May the following year we had Monarchs...now HOW did she find us that quickly, if at all? We also felt that 'nature' should look after them but it really didn't work that well. Predation was rampant and after 9 years we decided to intervene, releasing 155 butterflies last summer from eggs raised indoors. And getting ready for another season coming up....

Freda

[Mona Miller]

After witnessing the affects of predators, most people do bring them in. If you bring them in, you can watch the cycle more closely. But, inside there is a whole range of problems to. Don't overcrowd, keep leaves dry and humidity down.

Sometimes it is just the time it takes to raise them. Many people don't have enough time and so they take the time to take care of their gardens and then let nature take it's course.

I think I saw somewhere that a Monarch can lay up to 600 or more eggs, but only 2 will survive to adulthood. I joke with the visits I give butterfly walks to that I love butterflies, but I love birds too. Birds eat loads of caterpillars. Not eating Monarchs is a learned response so they have to eat at least one to know not to eat them.

[Mona Miller]

After witnessing the affects of predators, most people do bring them in. If you bring them in, you can watch the cycle more closely. But, inside there is a whole range of problems to. Don't overcrowd, keep leaves dry and humidity down.

Sometimes it is just the time it takes to raise them. Many people don't have enough time and so they take the time to take care of their gardens and then let nature take it's course.

I think I saw somewhere that a Monarch can lay up to 600 or more eggs, but only 2 will survive to adulthood. I joke with the visits I give butterfly walks to that I love butterflies, but I love birds too. Birds eat loads of caterpillars. Not eating Monarchs is a learned response so they have to eat at least one to know not to eat them.