Monarch Watch & Waystation

[helpremember]

The Monarch butterfly population has been seriously declining in recent years. Every year they make the journey from as far away as Canada and many parts of the US to Mexico where they stay for the winter before heading back north. It's really pretty amazing. There is movement to help increase the population by planting more host plants for the butterflies to lay eggs on. Then the caterpillars feed on the plants. This photo of Monarch caterpillars was taken in my front yard this morning.

Here's some info on the migration http://www.monarchwatch.org/tagmig/index.htm

 

[D4klutz]

Awesome photo! What plants do they like and feed on? I can always plant some on my acre here in south Texas.

 

[helpremember]

Awesome photo! What plants do they like and feed on? I can always plant some on my acre here in south Texas.

Thanks. The plant they like to munch is called Milkweed. Here's some info: http://monarchwatch.org/milkweed/ma...atic_page&id_static_page=1&table_name=vendors. Most nurseries have it available in the late spring or now is a good time to plant the seeds. Even though it's called "weed", it's not something that will take over or become a nuisance but it does mean it's easy to grow.

Here's another caterpillar, this is the Black Swallowtail and they like to eat dill so I always plant a few "sacrificial" dill plants for them. I get more and more of these caterpillars (and butterflies) every year. I always have a vegetable garden so I like to plant things in the yard that help attract the pollinators.

 

[helpremember]

Just spotted this monarch chrysalis in my neighbor's front yard.

 

[rockforlife]

awesome photos. I had no idea that their numbers were down.

 

[helpremember]

The butterfly has emerged from the chrysalis. This was taken on it's first day as flying insect.