baby monarch cats
If you look closely, you'll notice two tiny caterpillars on the undersides of these milkweed leaves. The eggs are no longer there. First thing after emerging, caterpillars turn around and eat their shells.
Inspired by: My Bar Mitzvah & Science Fair (1986)
If you look closely, you'll notice two tiny caterpillars on the undersides of these milkweed leaves. The eggs are no longer there. First thing after emerging, caterpillars turn around and eat their shells.
I erected a makeshift barrier so the resident humans would not disturb the resident caterpillars.
The caterpillars do not stop eating.
In a matter of weeks they grow to something like 10 times their original size. These guys are seen on a fresh plant, after completely denuding the previous milkweed.
The health of my milkweeds was threatened by a severe infestation of aphids, which suck the juices out of plants. Pesticides were not an option— I was afraid they'd kill the caterpillars along with the aphids. So I chose to recruit a beneficial predator, the ladybug.
This fella completely devoured a young milkweed. And he didn't stop at the leaves— he continued eating through the branch and stems.
By the time the caterpillars began to cocoon, little remained of the poor milkweeds. Those of you considering raising monarchs, be sure to have one sizable milkweed plant for every caterpillar.
where to buy
buy monarchs and milkweeds
buy ladybugs here or here
the monarch life cycle
photos of the full life cycle
a hatching on youtube
monarch migration resources
live migration map
peak migration dates
help wild monarchs
michoacan reforestation fund
monarch waystation program
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