I hope you are making it
through our dry spell.
I know my grass is suffering
but….who cares?
My garden is flourishing. ;)
Monarch Watch/ Dr. Chip
Taylor has updated the Monarch Watch Blog about the summer monarch populations.
All reports seem like these past weeks have been an egg laying fest all over the summer breeding grounds.
I have included the text below for your convenience.
All reports seem like these past weeks have been an egg laying fest all over the summer breeding grounds.
I have included the text below for your convenience.
There is also info below on
how to purchase monarch tags.
If you want to tag your
butterflies (hopefully your tagged butterfly will be found in Mexico!)
Order your tags soon, Monarch watch only sells 100,000 per season.
Order your tags soon, Monarch watch only sells 100,000 per season.
It is not too late to register
your garden as a Monarch Waystation!
There are members of our
group that have just found their first eggs and cats. in the last week.
I am happy to share that my
sis Bridget and hubby Bill found eggs and cats last weekend in Naperville!
This after planting for a
couple of years for the butterflies J
Keep looking, the eggs that
are being laid now until the end of the season are the Migration Generation,
this is the most critical time for egg collection.
this is the most critical time for egg collection.
Last night I had a delightful
dinner with Lee and Barb & my Dad, we were checking their 5 foot tall (yes,
that is what I said 5 foot!!) Swamp Milkweed!
I started looking at the
flower buds and boom. 17 more eggs. Look for eggs on tight buds, colored up but
not open yet.
As for my experiences this
season, I was bringing home lots of eggs and cats. from work and finding 30-50
a day at home. In the last 10 days there has been a lull.
Very few new eggs and cats,
Yesterday the eggs started appearing again.
I have released 199 butterflies with about 100 chrysalis’ in the cat. house and still many more eggs coming up.
I have released 199 butterflies with about 100 chrysalis’ in the cat. house and still many more eggs coming up.
I am happy to say that I have
had very little in the way of cat. deaths and only one Tachnid fly ruined a
chrysalis so far.
This is usually due to bringing in large 3-5th instar cats. Just another reason why collecting eggs is important.
This is usually due to bringing in large 3-5th instar cats. Just another reason why collecting eggs is important.
I
may have a few more of these losses but nothing compared to years past.
Collection is up to 1296, releases 199. However I do not have 1000 cats. in play. There is a certain degree of cannibalism that is hard to avoid.
Collection is up to 1296, releases 199. However I do not have 1000 cats. in play. There is a certain degree of cannibalism that is hard to avoid.
Other insects… The MW Bugs
eggs are starting to hatch, you will see many little red insects with black
legs appearing on your seed pods.
If you want to save that seed to share with others and plant yourself (or toss out your car window under the cover of night…)
you will have to squish these insects. They eat seed pods and seeds.
If you want to save that seed to share with others and plant yourself (or toss out your car window under the cover of night…)
you will have to squish these insects. They eat seed pods and seeds.
I
saw more than a few swamp mw bugs on that lg swamp last night. They will eat
eggs and cats.
Is
there anyone out there who has not seen any monarchs or collected cats. yet?
Well that is all for now, If
you would like to see pictures that go with this email, refer to my blog.
Hort4u.blogspot.com
Have a great day!!
Dolly Foster
Horticulturist, Certified Arborist
Hort4u.net
Twitter: @Hort4u
Horticulturist, Certified Arborist
Hort4u.net
Twitter: @Hort4u
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