Saving the Monarch Butterflies

[norcalreppin77]

My mom does the docking stations, grows the thin leaf milk weed

 

[poundofyourfinest]

Had my first visitor of the year, I found about 10 eggs or so. They stand out once you’ve seen enough of them

 

[Ganjihad]

Had my first visitor of the year, I found about 10 eggs or so. They stand out once you’ve seen enough of them View attachment 4607773

I use my loupe for checking trichomes to identify their eggs. Remind me of something from the alien movies.

Your flowers look really cool, the wild strains here are purple/blue and small like a cross between lilacs and roses.

 

[hanimmal]

I have to be careful about being around them too much or else these monsters will try to figure out what I am looking at and trample them.

 

[poundofyourfinest]

Little baby. Get um before something else does

 

[hanimmal]

I had this guy floating around my backyard for a while today.

 

[hanimmal]

Little baby. Get um before something else does View attachment 4614362

That is awesome, I am curious how many leaves it needs before it cocoons, I would hate to run out of leaves on the few plants in my yard before it was ready if I took one out of the wild.

I planted 20 milkweed plants in this butterfly bed I am hoping next year to be able to start catching them and releasing.

 

[poundofyourfinest]

It’s hard for me to say, when they are younger they don’t eat a ton but once they do get bigger depending on how many caterpillars you have they can eat a branch a day. These pictures are from the babies after about a day. I started with just 2 butterfly milkweed plants and they are huge now in their 4th year and have plenty to give.

 

[poundofyourfinest]

It’s a really calming experience for me like meditation, searching for the little guys

 

[poundofyourfinest]

My little butterfly milkweed patch

 

[Nrk.cdn]

My milkweed was destroyed by squirrels...they chew the bottom stem the same as they do to tulips. Some seedlings remain as i spray with chilli now.. but the monarchs love butterfly bushes for nectar.

 

[poundofyourfinest]

Fucking squirrels got every single ear of corn last year they better not mess up my milkweed or I will go medieval on um

 

[Nrk.cdn]

If you have dogs..cats..take cut hair and put in mesh bag..place in area.. or be evil..google squirrel catapults.

 

[poundofyourfinest]

Little update I think the big ones will spin cocoons next week sometime

 

[cannabineer]

Oh man, where are you guys on history?!?

The Monarch Butterfly is soaring on a wave of positive regal sentiment. Their line is secure.

But what about the Premier and Chancellor and Proconsul Butterflies? And the rare but magnificent President Moth?

Be very wary of the lightning-invasive Auditor Fritillary

 

[hanimmal]

Oh man, where are you guys on history?!?

The Monarch Butterfly is soaring on a wave of positive regal sentiment. Their line is secure.

But what about the Premier and Chancellor and Proconsul Butterflies? And the rare but magnificent President Moth?

Be very wary of the lightning-invasive Auditor Fritillary

I feel duped after googling the moth!



But seriously I live in Michigan so there are only so many native pollinators up here to worry about.