Pupation Station

[Mellow Mullet]

Didn't know where to post this, but still wanted to share. Mrs. Mullet and I, well more Mrs. Mullet, have been trying our hands at raising Monarch butterflies. As you may or may not know, the monarch numbers have been dwindling every year, mostly due to habitat loss, Roundup, and Monsanto's genetic engineered food program. The host plant for the monarch is milkweed, it is the only plant that the larvae will eat. So anyway, we have a friend that is very passionate about them, even made a movie about them, and she got my wife interested. We purchased some milk weed plants earlier this year and set them out, not too many days later a monarch came by and laid eggs. I built her an enclosure made of PVC and screen to protect them from predators, four weeks later, here is what we have:









We have about 35 caterpillars in all, they grew from about 1/8 inch to 3+ inches in that time. Here is what they can do to a pot of milkweed in about a day and a half:

 

[Cadillactaste]

? How much milkweed do you have!?! Going to take a lot to feed them...

?Very cool though...very cool indeed!

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Very cool! Except... that doesn't look like any kind of milkweed I have ever seen! Those are actually pretty! The ones I am familiar with (the ones I grew up with in the MidWest) only had white flowers, and much broader leaves.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

? How much milkweed do you have!?! Going to take a lot to feed them...

?Very cool though...very cool indeed!

I have plenty, it is available at the local Lowes and we have some planted from seed.

Very cool! Except... that doesn't look like any kind of milkweed I have ever seen! Those are actually pretty! The ones I am familiar with (the ones I grew up with in the MidWest) only had white flowers, and much broader leaves.

This type is native to the Southeast, one has yellow flowers and one has red/yellow flowers. They are kinda pretty, but I really see them as the caterpillars eat them for dessert.

 

[Carol 83]

That is so awesome. I kind of hate bugs, but they are kind of pretty. And think of what they will become.

 

[TyroTinker]

Cool! Good job

 

[CasAH]

Very cool! Except... that doesn't look like any kind of milkweed I have ever seen! Those are actually pretty! The ones I am familiar with (the ones I grew up with in the MidWest) only had white flowers, and much broader leaves.

It is Asclepias purpurascens, purple milkweed. It is native to the Chicago region, it grows in open oak woods and oak woodland edges. Usually only in less disturbed areas. It is much more conservative than the common milkweed, that you are thinking of with fuzzy leaf undersides and pinkish yellow flowers.

 

[AZbonsai]

Very cool...funny coincidence I just talked to a Boy Scout today about his Eagle Scout project at our school. We want him to build Monarch Weigh Stations on our campus. Monarchs come through AZ on their way to and from Mexico.

 

[Carol 83]

In my perennial garden.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

The two that I have are Asclepias curassavica "Silky Deep Red" and Asclepias curassavica "Silky Gold".

 

[Mellow Mullet]

In my perennial garden.View attachment 188844

Cool, I think that is a viceroy butterfly.

 

[Carol 83]

Cool, I think that is a viceroy butterfly.

Oops, sorry. I kind of hate that plant, until it blooms. The butterflies flock to it.

 

[TyroTinker]

Very cool...funny coincidence I just talked to a Boy Scout today about his Eagle Scout project at our school. We want him to build Monarch Weigh Stations on our campus. Monarchs come through AZ on their way to and from Mexico.

That's a cool project! I hope he can get it done for you. The BSA council would sign off on a project like that in a heart beat. Good for the environment the wildlife and the community.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Raised these as a kid... Enclosure not a bad idea but are you aware these have bad taste or poisonous for bug predators to eat? Believe true for both adult and caterpillars. Been a few years. Very cool you do this.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Raised these as a kid... Enclosure not a bad idea but are you aware these have bad taste or poisonous for bug predators to eat? Believe true for both adult and caterpillars. Been a few years. Very cool you do this.

I have read this, but have seen blue jays eat them, perhaps it is an acquired taste...

There are wasps, that will get them too, and dirt daubers.

 

[CWTurner]

That's a pretty cool project.
But...I picture a dozen caterpillars finishing up all the milkweed, popping their heads up looking for their next meal and spotting a nice juicy arakawa maple not far off. Remember The Very Hungry Caterpillar may sometimes go "off-diet"
CW

 

[Mellow Mullet]

That's a pretty cool project.
But...I picture a dozen caterpillars finishing up all the milkweed, popping their heads up looking for their next meal and spotting a nice juicy arakawa maple not far off. Remember The Very Hungry Caterpillar may sometimes go "off-diet"
CW

I don't think they eat anything else, there are other plants in the enclosure and they do not touch them, only milkweed.

 

[namnhi]

Creep me out... Catapillar is one of my pet peeves. Kill on sight but glad you are building them a home.

 

[just.wing.it]

Nice work!

 

[barrosinc]

that is the same plant? before and after???