My first caterpillar I have raised became a crysallis and it just turned clear today! I can see the wings! I found it on my milkweed plants in my garden.
@@MrLundScience I'm currently raising Cabbage Whites. Since the population is on a dealdy decline, I've dedicated my life to raising Cabbage Whites from larvae. So far I've released amour 500 butterflies yearly. I'm currently raising a new batch of caterpillars and I've counted 13 that have chrysilised.
So cool! the video had 1.9k likes and when I clicked 'like', the counter turned to 2k! THANK YOU for making this video! We are in CA and have lost a few Monarchs to the Tachinid flie but we are doing our best. God Bless!
Hello. My wife and I started raising Monarchs after seeing your videos. We had a late start this year August 1st but have released 23 Monarchs, have 4 unhatched chrysalis, and 2 caterpillars left to J. Unfortunately, we lost 1 small caterpillar. We were surprised to find how much roadside milkweed had been mowed down after we collected eggs. We can see how their habitat is disappearing. We are collecting seeds and will be planting milkweed all around our 2 acre property. We are excited about tagging monarchs next year. We are located outside Troy NY. Thank you for your informational videos.... we are fans, and have been spreading the word.
Very cool to have you involved! Late starts are still so beneficial, as you're helping the very important 4th generation. Not only have I had concerns about roadside milkweed, but I've really been noticing how many young plants sprout in the highway medians. Those are mowed down, encourage then new sprouts (which the Monarchs prefer) and are then usually mowed down again with less time in between mowings than the time needed to go from egg to adult. I think we're likely losing many Monarchs in these medians. Anyway, thanks for checking out the videos, and if you have questions, ask away. If I know the answer, I provide it, and if I don't, it's cool to find out a new question I then too will want to know the answer to!
Hi Mr. Lund. First of all, thank you for your wonderful and very informative videos. Everything I know about raising monarchs I learned from you. Using your advice and guidance, I currently have 113 eggs, cats, and butterflies on my dining room table. 😉 I planted six butterfly weed (tuberosa) plants this past spring and boy did the monarchs arrive and lay eggs! I first started bringing in the cats, but they all succumbed to the parasitic T-flies. So easy decision, bring the eggs in and start from the beginning. I have 14 butterflies that I'll be releasing this afternoon (BTW, I live in Kansas). There will be 12 emerging today with around 65 + either as chrysalides or j-hanging, etc. I have always loved nature and to know that me as one person can make a difference is so totally awesome! Thank you again!
That's quite the success story! I'm so pleased to hear that you've had such a plentiful season. Great job! So glad too that the videos could be helpful. Many thanks for checking them out.
Shame there's no way to save caterpillars in time. We found one in our backyard but it's not eating the milkweed. It might be sick already or have eggs inside of it. Good news is even though some died, we managed to release over 20 monarchs and there's still 10 in their chrysalis so we managed to save some of them!
MrLundScience Thanks! It's mainly my mother who started to take care of them. But then I took an interest and learned a lot from your videos on how to raise and take care of them. It helped a lot indeed!
Yeah...earwigs. I hate to hate a species, but I can't stand these guys. Goes back to childhood days. Loved all the other insects I found and explored my backyard with, but these little dudes always creeped me out.
@@MrLundScience I can't stand those little leaf miner flies 😡 Every milkweed plant I have in my backyard has at least 2 of them constantly laying their eggs / larvae on the leaves. Can't spray them, can't really kill them. I'll take those earwigs over these little pests.
I’ve watched two videos so far and I’m so happy I found your channel. I’m in TX and started getting into helping the Monarchs a couple years ago. I even got certified as a Monarch Waystation which I feel is extremely important considering we see Monarchs here twice a year and we a very important region for their survival.I have had issues for the last two years with diseases on my milkweed and especially aphids infecting them. This year (knock on wood) hasn’t been as bad but I’ve been doing more preventative maintenance on the plants hoping to stay ahead of anything. We should start seeing the Monarchs come back this way in a couple weeks for the fall migration so we will see how it goes.
I just came across a milkweed beetle for the first time today. I'm raising my first ever batch of monarch butterflies and worried about the possibility of danger to their food source. I left it alone because I'm not a monster, but I'm glad to hear that they aren't monsters either.
Thank you for another great video! Here in Oklahoma City, I think the percentage of survivors, that are left outside, is about 1% or less. We have SO MANY predators out here. So your suggestion to raise them inside is a fantastic idea! I use several mesh laundry basket huts indoors, to raise them. But this year, I've had an appalling number of tachinid fly attacks INSIDE my huts. And tachinid wasps too. It's so frustrating. For now, I'm checking daily so that I can clear out the bad ones ASAP to minimize the chance of their larvae emerging and starting all over again. I put the failed ones in the freezer immediately. I also discovered one more useful idea. I keep a spray bottle of soapy water handy, so if I spot a foreign flying insect inside the hut, I can spray it through the mesh, without harming the caterpillars (hopefully). This worked well to take down a couple of tachinid wasps to the floor of the hut, and then I reached in and smashed them. But, I've also had a lot of successes. Right now, I have about 25 healthy chrysalides perched inside my huts. So, as discouraging as it is, to be hit by these indoor monsters, I can't quit! That would be much worse. One more question: are Milkweed Tiger Moth larvae OK to leave alone? They're so cute, but some folks seem to intensely hate them. I think I'll adopt your 'leave 'em alone' attitude, and see what happens.
Holly, thank you very much for this comment! I think you see what I was trying to get to in the video. Making a video that deals with *all* pests and predators that Monarchs and milkweed face would be a very daunting, difficult, and I think, futile task. Those raising Monarchs live in so many varied regions, and each area comes with its own set of pests/predators. Still, many over the years have asked for a video such as this one. So, the best I could do was make this, and with some goals in mind: 1) Show what my experience is, and what Michigan (or even just my area of Michigan) deals with. 2) Try and show that regardless of what predators your region might have, the *best* solution to them is to raise your eggs/caterpillars in controlled environments. 3) Try and advocate for some of these "pests" as also being part of our ecosystem, and, if not out of hand, worthy of respect as well. I don't know that everyone likes this take on it, but it's what I felt I could speak on. Some may have wanted a sure-fire way to deal with some of their specific pests, and I didn't offer it. And I might not have it because a sure-fire way to deal with them just might not exist. For raising of the Monarchs, the best solution is to take them indoors. For keeping the milkweed healthy, there just won't be a cure all. It seems that there's two less than ideal options. One is what I described, and that's to let nature do its thing for the most part. While they may be pests to the milkweed, they are also part of the ecosystem, and often aren't going to become out of control. In cases where they are (and I truly did speak to an MSU botanist about this) the most effective way to control them without chemicals is to physically thin the heard by hand. In other words, squishing them. In some other cases, though, people have described to me since the video being released that they have some pests on their milkweed that are just straight up out of control. In those situations, a chemical option (which is the second, non-ideal option) might be necessary, but I didn't want to speak on that in the video because I've never had to do that. I wouldn't want to talk in a video and give advice for something I myself haven't experienced. I think that'd be pretentious of me. As for the Milkweed Tiger Moth, (aka, Tussock Moth), I definitely leave them alone, mostly because I think they are adorable, but also, because they too are a species that depends upon the milkweed. So, if Monarchs are hurting due to lack of milkweed, how is the Tussock Moth doing? We notice, care, and study the Monarch because it's nostalgic, easily recognized by the public, and is known as the "Bambi" of the insect world. Who speaks for the Tussock Moth, though? Now, those caterpillars can REALLY eat through a milkweed plant or plants. They lay a huge number of eggs all in one spot, unlike the spot laying Monarch. So, of the 20-30 eggs, the strategy here is that hopefully *some* of the 20-30 will make it. One clutch of eggs could easily ruin several plants if they can get to them, which usually, they can. In those cases, one might want to just relocate some of them (or all of them) to other milkweed sources they know of. But if they don't know of any good, natural places to keep them, why not let them still do their thing? If that's the only milkweed you have, and Tussock Moths have taken it over, hey, why not raise *them* for a season? (Perhaps *that* is a species I should show a video on how to take care of, too...) It's still a rewarding experience, and they'll actually stay in the cocoon they build throughout the winter, and come out in the spring. It's a cool species! Thanks again for the comment and the kind words. They were very much appreciated!
Thank you so much for this thoughtful and extremely helpful response! That is what I was leaning towards, and now you have eloquently expressed great reasons for it.
Your feeding vid helped me with me black swallowtail, he hatched with bent wings and while I was holding him, his wings fell off! Now he is my pet and he wouldn’t eat nectar from a real flower so I tried the mix and it worked. Thanks
Hey bud. Another great vid. This is my 2nd year raising them. My daughter and I went out to our 8x8 milkweed patch and found 20 eggs last night. Brought them all in. Rinsed all in the bleach solution. 3 hatched over night. More to come. Should have 20 more healthy ones in northern IL skies soon. I think pests are pretty hard on them here too. For how many monarchs we have laying eggs here dont see alot of cats. Saw one 5th instar and spotted a tiny 2nd by some other eggs out there so far in mid July. Have four different types of MW growing in the patch. The seeds go every where and grow in the lawn despite spreading weed killer in the spring. Ive seen monarchs laying eggs on 2 inch plants in the yard that barely support them. Despite 5 ft tall common milkweed right next to them.
Sounds like things are very productive. And yep, I find Monarch eggs often on brand new sprouts that are only a few inches. They seem to have no problem, and even prefer younger plants. Some say it's because the leaves are more tender and easier for the freshly hatched caterpillars to eat. Some hypothesize that it's due to new plants having less of a chance of pests already being on them, such as milkweed beetles, ant troopers, and the like.
I'm so excited to have found this series of videos. I am a lifelong fan of the Monarch. We had a very successful crop of milkweed in our backyard this year. I kept watching for caterpillars and never saw any. Next thing I new I had chrysallides (learned that from you) all over, 21 total. All but 3 ended up beautiful Monarch butterflies. Now I'm seeing plenty of caterpillars. I'm heading out to collect them after watching your videos today. We live in South Texas so I don't expect to see too many more with it being mid October. Thank you so much for making these videos!
Very cool indeed! Yeah, definitely being in Texas, your season is now wrapping up. I hope there's still some nectar producing flowers for those migrating through your region. Perhaps this coming spring, these videos can be helpful!
I'm new to the world of understanding monarch butterflies. Thank you for your incredibly well done and informative videos. I live in central Florida. I planted milkweed early in the year and got a huge crop of plants (along with a huge crop of aphids and milkweed bugs). All during the summer I saw lots of butterflies, plenty of monarchs and many other insects. Then in November I discovered 5 chrysalises which I carefully attached to a box so I could watch them hatch. And that's when it went down hill. The first hatched but refused to fly for about 2.5 days. I have no idea if it survived. The second hatched but was severely deformed. That's when I learned about OE which apparently is very prevalent here. Yesterday one hatched. I put it outside to finish drying and found it on the ground later. I picked it up and put it on a bush. Later I found it on the ground again. It eventually disappeared. I hope if flew away but that didn't seem healthy to me. Today I got some great video of one hatching. After the wings inflated I put it outside so it could finish drying and fly away. Within 1 hour a wasp had killed it and was dismembering it. So this brings up a couple of questions. First, is there a place I can mail in a sample of the dead butterfly to see if it had OE? I did use some tape to collect scales from the abdomen. Next...once a butterfly hatches, where can I put it so it'll be safe to dry out without getting murdered? How long does it take for it to be able to fly? I was afraid to leave it inside my screen porch because once it started flying I wouldn't be able to catch it. Thanks!
You're so awesome! Thank you for sharing your experience! I have a ton of milkweed in my flower garden but have never attempted bringing in any eggs or caterpillars... now... I just might!
Love the butterfly landing on you saying hello n thank you, very sweet. I put my hand out to mine an luck out with them landing on me, though they seem familiar with me, flying around my garden all summer, before migrating off from here to canada. Once a newly hatched monarch landed on my possum cage aviary to dry, and my possum rushes over n pulls it through cage wire n eats it before i could do anything. Had to helplessy watch on listening to crunch crunch an possum even licking claws. WOW nature you got me 😄
Your videos have been a huge help for me. I just released my first Monarch and have 10 caterpillars and one chrysalis about to give me my second butterfly. Thanks!
I love all these questions and comments. I am so glad I watched as many videos as I could before I started. If something comes up I know what to do. I have quite a Monarch Kit now. Thanks Rich for making this easy to understand and for your support. I am really enjoying helping the Monarchs. I just had to ask my son to watch them for a week so we can go on a trip. If we weren’t going to Canada I would bring them with me.😊
Glad that you've dived in. And I definitely appreciate you checking out the past videos. I'm not a UA-camr who cares about views and such nonsense. But when people are willing to see what info has already been put out, they tend to find they have fewer questions, which helps me out. (But definitely, nobody should ever feel timid about asking questions, even if they *have* been answered in other videos. There's soooo many videos now, I wouldn't expect someone to watch them all first.) Good luck with the rest of your season!
Dear MrLund, Thank you so very much for these terrific videos! What an education -- And you have a sensitive and intelligent understanding of nature's precious balance. Thank you for all of that, too, and for encouraging so many people to follow your lead! BRAVO!!
Strong words, Nicole. They are appreciated. Thanks for "getting it". And thank you for doing what you can to help out the Monarchs! You're on the front lines!
Are you still doing this for eight years wow and I love it and I’m still doing that thanks for all the videos you’ve shown us and thanks for all the videos you’ve helped us with I would never figured out how to hunt thanks to you
I'm indeed still doing this. Hasn't been eight years, though. I raised my first ever Monarch in 2012. In 2013, I raised around twenty. Not totally sure on that number, as I wasn't taking data at that time yet. 2014, I would say, was my first "real" year of doing this, and trying to use my refined process, and show others what I was doing, and was also the year I made the first five Raising Monarchs videos. So, some might say I've done this for 7 years, but some could argue I've only "really" been doing it for 5 now. Either way, I have no plans to discontinue doing this, and as long as there's topics worthy of people's time, I'll still make videos. I'm not into the idea of making "filler" videos, or just putting out videos just to do so. I feel that if I'm making a video to be watched, it should have a legitimate reason for existing.
12:15: You have a new best friend.....Well had one before it flew off. I've found some eggs and small caterpillars in the past that I didn't collect. A few days later I went back to the same leaf and never found them. More than likely they became food for some bug.
I've learned so much from watching your videos. I'll be tagging my monarchs this year since watching that video you made. Thanks for teaching those of us who wish to learn.
If I'm teaching, the only thanks needed is the willingness to learn, which you obviously have. Further, I'm a student too, and you guys teach me a lot. Thank you (and all else reading this) for the encouragement and reception of this. I had no idea when I started that so many would want to help out the Monarchs. So cool to see that there is truly such a widespread and diverse community!
Last year I raised eight. I'm on track for about 150 this year. My Dearborn Heights neighborhood has been the beneficiary of my efforts. Butterflies everywhere!
I live in Maine. I discovered some cute tiny caterpillars in a wild common milkweed patch (A. Syrica) that looked a lot like 1st instar Monarch caterpillars. I knew they weren't Monarchs, but thought maybe they were some other butterfly species so I collected a few and took them home to raise. Over about a week they grew larger and fuzzy in appearance. I was then able to identify them and it turns out they were Milkweed Tussock Moths. Also, I learned they are voracious milkweed eaters. I'm so glad I didn't release them into my home milkweed patch.
Yeah, they eat plenty. They are a really cool animal. They have some cool adaptations. The Monarch has its coloration to warn off predators of the poison it has from the milkweed. The orange and black, right? Well, the Tussock Moth caterpillars use the same coloration for the same warning. But, once a moth, coloration won't mean squat because these guys are nocturnal. All of it's predators are out at night, as is it, and no colors are really seen. So, the Tussock Moth is essentially all white, but here's the cool part: To warn off predators, it doesn't rely on coloration, but on sound! It actually makes a clicking noise when it flies around to warn predators about its bad taste! I love the Tussock Moth for this.
In my patch the Tussock Moth prefer the Swamp Milkweed, which is fine, since the Monarch prefer the Common Milkweed. There are very cool to watch grow.
Thats it. All my eggs and catapillars are coming in !!! Iim so glad you told me about the parasitic fly. If i saw dead catapillars and maggots in my cage or on my plants i would have FREAKED out!! Thx 4 your invaluable advice.
Once again, thank you for a bunch of information that is useful and that also resonates with me. Not using chemicals on plants of any kind is a LOT easier than people realize. Targeting certain things as you mentioned, for example, removing aphids and/or the tops of milkweed plants if they are badly infested, is the perfect way to control a population without applying toxic substances or force. Any chemical is potentially not only dangerous to the Monarchs it is also definitely going to be a risk that you are taking yourself and for those who live within range of your home and gardens. Thanks again, and I also agree that we all can learn alot from the old adage of choosing our battles wisely, avoid the toxic stuff and use the squishing and removing techniques. If we are committed to saving the Monarchs and can do it, please everyone give saving the numbers of Monarchs you find , cats and eggs, a try in the amount you can raise them according to your series 1-4 videos and within your own safe interior of the house! It is much more fun than one can even imagine work can be, lol!
Most definitely. When you enjoy it, it definitely doesn't feel like work. Sometimes people think that being a chemist, I'd want to employ chemicals as the answer to these "pests". But, as a chemist, I think that's why I know to avoid them to prevent other potential risks/hazards.
I just learned about a new pest. The milkweed leaf beetle (different than the milkweed beetle). The adults looks a lot like ladybugs, but instead of black polka dots, it has symmetric black ink-like blots that look like a rorschach test. They lay clutches of bright orange eggs, and the larvae almost completed defoliated one of my butterfly milkweed and showy milkweed plants! At first glance, the larvae look like orange beetles with a single row of black dots on each side, but are squishy to touch and no wings (kinda like a round caterpillar).
If you just have a small number of aphids, you can remove them with painter's tape. That way you won't be brushing any of them to the ground. If you can catch them early it works pretty well, but you will probably have to keep doing it for a while.
Hello, My husband and I worked for Dr. Urquhart and discovered the overwintering colonies of Monarchs in Mexico. My picture as a young woman is on the cover of Nat. Geo. I appreciate the education you are providing even thought I do not support what I see as excessive handling and management of the monarch life cycle.
Greetings Mrs. Trail. It's certainly an honor to have a comment from you, for sure! I had not seen that cover of National Geographic, but was able to find it here:www.flightofthebutterflies.com/discovery-story/ I reciprocate the appreciation for appreciating education I'm attempting to provide. I'm a science teacher trying to do what I can to hopefully help their declining numbers. It was definitely a startle, then, to read that you felt excessive handing is occurring. As your opinion is most definitely one worthy of respect, I would be further humbled if you were able to go a bit more into detail as to why you feel this way. Which aspects of the process that I've shown in videos do you feel is excessive? Are you saying that people should not attempt to help an egg reach the adult stage if responsible, sanitary conditions are maintained? If that is the case, can you explain as to why? I'm a genuine guy, only trying to genuinely help. Knowing from studies that have estimated an egg's chance of making it to a mature adult is about 10% in the wild, I have assumed that if through a raising process one is able to be consistently above 10%, that this would only be a benefit to the population, assuming that responsibility and care is taken to produce only healthy Monarchs. Do you feel that this is not the case? I just want to also say that since online comments remove the emotional context of what is being said, definitely these questions are truly heartfelt and honest. If anything, I'm quite excited, and in a way, a bit star struck that you would stumble upon these videos and provide a comment. I'm very curious to hear and understand your point of view, as I've been in touch with various Monarch entomologists and ecologists who are aware of what we are doing, and have not expressed concern, assuming that the Monarchs are reared in sanitary conditions, healthy, and disease free. I'd love to see a more full picture as to what other opinions are out there. I appreciate any time you can give to this and advice that you have to offer. Many thanks! - Rich Lund
I know that these are older videos but and that's a big but I learned so very much about these wonderful pollinators and truly appreciate what you have said. I planted common milkweed in my yard about 2 years ago. Now retired I have more time to try to help them. I saw 2 caterpillars on my plants the other day and as I was watched wasps came and killed both of them. I was horrified. I plant butterfly loving plants but have learned that I need to do more to help the Monarchs. Today I found and collected 10 eggs. I will follow your advice and try my best to raise these little creatures. Having watched all the videos in this series I feel more confident that I can do what needs to be done. I'm nervous but hopeful that in a short time I'll be releasing 10 wonderful and beautiful Monarchs. My wish is that I can help in my small way. Each effort is worth it. Thank you for the valuable information.
Greetings Jeanne! Welcome aboard! It's a great idea to do what you've done, and the first time through, deal with a reasonable number. 10, I'd say, is a good number to start with. It can help you gauge for the future if you could easily do more the next year, or if that number was enough. And, it probably goes without saying, but one of the most important things to remember when first starting is to make sure you don't take in more than you can feed. Sometimes people start out, and go out egg hunting, coming home with 30+ eggs, and aren't yet understanding just how much milkweed that will eventually take to raise them. Again, 10 is a great, reasonable number. Good luck, and ask questions as they come up!
My milk weed bugs are very destructive to my pods. Although them chewing open the pods helps spread the seeds. That's how i got into this whole thing. Milkweed plants blew in from a neighbors house several years ago
Hi Rich! (Okay?) EXCELLENT presentation here and I already posted this in my "Files" section of "Monarchs and Milkweed facebook group!! Everyone on my group LOVE your videos and the advice and knowledge that you share with all of us monarch lovers and raisers! :-) Just wanted to share this article on the Oleander aphids and make a correcton to your statement on your video. Oleander aphids do NOT lay eggs but GIVE BIRTH to live young! This article is from a google search I did and I found it amazing also, as I used to think they laid eggs! But yes, everything else you shared is ON TARGET about the aphids and other pests! As for protecting the milkweed pods, ESPECIALLY on the Common Milkweed, I use what's called Organza bags. These bags are a fine mesh and have a drawstring on the top of the bag which are commonly used in weddings and as bags that contain treats or gifts in them. I actually havenot had ONE SINGLE MILKWEED BUG show up on my milkweeds this year and I'm not surprised since I'm prepared for them and they now don't show up! LOL! Hey, not complaining in case one does shows up and wants to eat the seeds and pods!! Thanks for this GREAT video and I always look forward to more that you make and so do my group members! ;-)
Certainly okay to use my first name. Glad you enjoyed the video! As for the aphids, thanks for bringing this up. It's something, honestly, I've read maybe three times, but then when on camera, "lay eggs" just slipped out. Too late to edit now! But, it turns out, we're both right, though you are more correct than I. Looking further into this, *most* aphids reproduce with a live birth method, but also, *most* aphids can also lay fertilized eggs. This source was pretty cool, discussing it: influentialpoints.com/aphid/Aphid-eggs_biology_morphology.htm Great idea with the milkweed bug prevention!
I’m here a few years later. Maybe this has already been mentioned. I also hate earwigs. One way to reduce their numbers is to lay out damp newspapers at the base of plants where you see them. It makes a place they will climb into to hide during the day. You go collect the papers and throw them out. Reduces their numbers without adding any chemicals.
I have been raising monarch for 2 years now and thank-you for all of your great videos and advice. Today I noticed that 2 caterpillars that I brought home from the beach this past week were looking pretty unhealthy and indeed they had been infiltrated by the tachinid fly maggot. So sad and I guess that' nature. I learned a lot today! Thanks again!
Thank you so much for the information I have been raising monarch butterflies lately and I leave them outside my garden hoping they all will be okay but then I have notice someof them are did not make it. from now on I will bring them inside the covered patio until they are ready and healthy
Bro! We are in MI too, and this is my first successful year raising Monarchs. Had a deformed one last year that I found as a chrysalis and stupidly moved it to our enclosure so my toddler could see it change and enclose. This year I actually have successfully released like 7 monarchs and one swallowtail. One predator I think you should have mentioned is spiders. Maybe it’s self explanatory, but I have found a BUNCH of eggs this season that we never get to see as caterpillars. I find an awful lot of spiders on my milkweed, and lots of different species too. One of my caterpillars was made host to Tachinid fly larva while we were out of town. Weren’t sure what to do with the cats and chrysalis that we had, so we put it outside and left the door open so they could enclose. All but one of the cats got eaten, and that one died while making its chrysalis. Super sad, but now I know better for next year. Anyhow, good on you for these videos. Much appreciated.
Nature is both beautiful, and cruel, in seemingly equal amounts, and sometimes, at the same time. We learn as we go, though, and each year develops improvements for the next year. Good luck!
I loved your how to raise monarchs series! It taught me how to actually find and raise them from eggs so this year I raised over 50 caterpillars and around 30 are in their chrysalises now! I still look for eggs while I get milkweed for the others too (I can never bare to just leave it if I see it knowing its odds of survival if I do)
I tried so many treatments that didnt work, so i wont use chemical anymore, so this year, i let the afids go, and the hover flies then appeared, and a few new birds to eat the afids, and at the end of the season, my sunflowers seeds are developed, despite the infestation i had on the plant. One plant i sprayed, did not develop seeds to completion.morning glories that were affected last year are untouched this year, so i just let nature do its cycles. ❤thanks for your videos!
So I had a crazy miracle happen this year from October 29th to November 4th. I don't know how, but I was going up my ramp (I'm disabled) and right on the under side of the top wooden rail (all warped and falling apart) was my first ever monarch in chrysalis stage, in the new mexico desert. At first I didn't know what it was because I've never seen a monarch in that stage (I'm originally from Southern California and only experienced the butterfly during overwintering). But I took photos and Google lens came into play. Sure enough, it was a monarch. So I quickly googled everything I could find (including your videos) so I could help her to emerge and fly away. It worked and I helped her (and from your videos I know she was a her) and she flew away about 4½ hours after emerging. It was a true miracle. The only thing was, I couldn't figure out how she made it that far to begin with. Where did she come from. Then I realized that I have like a desert milkweed growing in my yard (I didn't know what it was) that has these tiny white flowers that grow in little bushes that lots and lots of tarantula hawks flock to through the summer. Now this year the bushes got bigger and they were growing right in front of my porch steps, and I'm deadly allergic to bee stings and many bug bites etc., so when we were invaded by the tarantula hawks this summer, we got that new spray "vevo hornet and wasp" spray, the one that's supposed to target only certain bugs sensory systems, and we sprayed it to get rid of them so we could cut down "the weeds" in front of the porch that were attracting them. We see all kinds of caterpillar and bugs around here, even once Hairy caterpillar that is still yet to be identified for several years that I turned in a photo of to the "experts", and my fiance and I both swear we saw a monarch caterpillar, now that we know what they look like, but we just leave most everything alone, except that which will harm us. So we sprayed and he did a bit of a cut down of those flowers, but some of the ones that were no more than leaves really, we left alone. We just wanted the "white flowers the hawks like" cut down. Do you think it's possible that the "vivo" didn't do any harm to the monarch, and because it got rid of "the hawks" that it allowed her to freely live off the remaining milk weed and then go find my ramp to go into Crysilis? It's just so puzzling how she even got there in the first place, in the NM desert, plus survived to fly west or southwest. She was quite beautiful and healthy looking, and I even made her a bit of nectar to drink for the road, which she did. I just really don't know. All I know is she was a miracle, and I helped her, and she was beautiful.
Mr. Lund is good looking, Anyone agree with that? On a more serious channel I planted milkweed this year and did not see any Monarchs. This fall I'm planting more seeds and in the spring will plant more. Your videos are very informative and motivational!
Wow, you missed my most aggressive predator here in Oregon - the Crab Spider and then comes ants getting the eggs. It can get bad when the MW is flowering, patrolling is the only way I've found to keep their numbers down as they also snag honey bees. Another great presentation! You do get low marks for your field attire, never wear black on a hot day:))
This was definitely a challenging video to make, I'll admit. Many have been asking for my take on pests & predators and what I do about them. Thing is, there's so many different ones and it's also diverse from region to region. I know that a video could have been made that covers some of the worst, but I don't think that's something I was qualified to do, for I wouldn't want to advise people on how to deal with something I've never dealt with. Crab Spiders, for example, I don't even know if they are in Michigan. If they are, I've never had to deal with them. The conclusion that I was hoping would be understood by the end of the video, though, is that regardless of the predators, taking the eggs inside and raising them in controlled environments is the best way to prevent them from harming your flock. It eliminates the problem. Still, that doesn't always do much as far as helping out the milkweed and what pests might do to your food source. But, I think it's going to be a rough ride when people try to keep the cats in nature, even if it is the back yard. Ants are everywhere, nature is cruel...it's just a tough world out there. So, I hope it gives voice to the idea of taking them inside. Thanks for checking it out, and for the feedback, David!
As they need the plant too, we shouldn't treat the Monarchs as the only insect that has a right to it. Plus, the milkweed beetle's coloration helps to teach birds to stay away from the black and orange/red. When birds eat these guys and then spit them out in disgust, they are helping to educate the birds to stay away from those colors/patterns.
Haven't heard that one yet, and had to look him up (sorry), but yeah, I suppose I see it to some degree. When I was 16, that's when people started giving me the, "You look like a younger Henry Rollins". I didn't know who Henry was at the time (more into nature than music growing up) but checked him out and liked his music. Then, read his books and LOVED them. Since then, I think him and I have aged along different paths and don't exactly resemble each other as much, but the time I met him, he saw the resemblance. Jeff Hardy has some cool face paint!
Thanks for covering the bug. I hadn't seen it before and have struggled to grow any stand of milkweed varieties. But last year, Ta-Da, a tiny patch of butterfly weed. Between the insects & aphids I'm lucky if any plants live. My goats ate every seed pod last year on my butterfly weed, so I will be grabbing these guys & me & Bugsy are fitting them with 'cement gee-loshes' see *in my best gangster voice. Not because I'm anti-nature, but nothing will eat them! If they aren't feeding my wild birds or other wild critters bye! Plus,...I REALLY WANT My SEEDS! If I've learned anything about gardening, bugs (sucking mouth parts TRUE BUGS) are almost impossible to control if left to themselves. If I ever get a monarch egg, I'll bring it in too! 🦋
Hey Mr Lund, Jim here from NW Ohio. Just started raising Monarchs this month. I have a two year old daughter and thought I would let her experience the whole process. Anyways I have 5 Chrysalises at this point and had an experience with Tachinid flies. I came downstairs this morning and two of my chrysalises had white string looking stuff hanging from them. I looked at all your videos and no luck discovering what it was. then I looked in a book I just purchased and it turns out it was the pupae that came out of the chrysalis. I did get rid of the pupae but I am bummed out about two butterflies that will not make it. I do have pics of the chrysalises if you would like them I can send them to you for reference. Thank you for all the great videos and have a great day. Jim.
Greetings Jim (and daughter)! Welcome aboard! I have never dealt with tachinid flies, and honestly, went a few years of doing this without even knowing they existed, or posed problems to Monarchs. It is about 90% due to my procedure, and 10% luck. I say 90% because most of the Monarchs I raise come from eggs that were laid in nature, and since I take them in as an egg and rear them from there, the tachinid fly never has a chance to encounter them as a caterpillar (or at all) and inject eggs into them. The other 10% of luck would be due to the caterpillars that I do sometimes find and take in. I try to keep those caterpillars separated from the rest, not for fear of infecting others, but in case a tachinid fly did get to it, I'll be able to notice that it came from that one, and will likely make a video about it. (Once tachinid eggs are laid in the caterpillar, they can't infect other caterpillars, but also, there's nothing really you can do. The tachinid larva will emerge, and it's fatal to the Monarch.) So, the surefire way to avoid them in the future is to take in the eggs and rear them in controlled environments, which really just means, containers that you keep tachinids from getting into. Because of the ventilation in my containers, I don't even leave them outdoors on my screened in porch, but keep them inside. This is an amazingly rewarding hobby, so I hope you have some great experiences with it. And so cool that you've got your daughter experiencing it with you!
Thanks so much for the info. Managed to capture a caterpillar 🐛 on my milkweeds this year it is now in j hang phase in my makeshift container. I’m so excited to release even its only one. I just recently put in a native garden and live on a lake so I will be making ba puddle for them in my garden for next year. And hopefully be able to raise more as it’s end of season here.
I have been "raising" butterflies in my garden this year, but I have noticed the caterpillars mostly crawling over my wall and to neighbors' yards. I want to photograph the process of forming a chrysalis and emerging as a butterfly, so I am going to try moving the caterpillars into a cage and see if I have better luck. Your videos are very helpful!
We have a horrible problem of Tachinid Flies in Kansas, it is so discouraging to have your caterpillars grow bigger but yet fall victim to these guys. the best defence I have found is to bring the caterpillers inside as soon as possible. Even in egg form, it means you have to check every day but really helps them out.
Before I knew much about just how many predators and parasites were out there, I was already collecting Monarchs primarily as eggs and taking them into containers. I've continued since, and in those years, have never had a tachinid fly experience. I understand, not everyone has the amount of time it requires to raise them from eggs, but if we wish to make tachinid flies a moot issue, I think that it's the only way to go.
Hi Rich, I've been raising Monarch's for the 2nd year now. I've learned a lot from Your videos, Thank You! I'm praying You see My question and reply back soon! I'm in San Diego CA., It's been a very different year for the Monarchs and Me! Pests!! I've lost many eggs due to what I believe to be wasp's getting to the eggs before I get them inside! They've turned black n never hatched. Removed Them quickly B 4 any could hatch in My container I keep the eggs in and the Cat's until They are big enough to transfer to My Cage. (A very well made Cage by Tony Gomez who also has written book's and has a very active Site on Facebook too. He's very helpful.) But, getting to My question. This year I'm dealing with Nat's. I suspect from My house plants. I've never heard anything about Nat's bothering Cat's but, being I've lost 5 at the final stage of being ready to go to Chrysils. These Guy's just stopped eating n just clung to the Milkweed leave until 4 days later I removed Them and had do what I hate doing. Loosing Them at this stage is heartbreaking to say the least. Can you please shed some light on the subject. If it's not Nat's, I don't know what killed Them. The Others in the Cage R Chrysils n I pray come out OK! I'll know in a few days. I've got 20 more in different stages all doing great so far! I'm crossing my fingers They all make it! I look forward to hearing from you Rich. Again, Thanks for All You do to guide and help Us who are trying to help the Monarch Butterflies. Google sure needs a butterfly emoji!! (I grow all My Plant's and Rinse the leaves very throughly B 4 I give Them to the Cat's. So, pesticides are not possible, I've got so many Plant's from the Seed's planting themselves in the yard from last year's Milkweed Seed's naturally blowing in My yard!) (At least 40+ Plant's!)
Greetings Bev. Sorry to hear that you've lost five recently. I want to help, but not sure how to. Just like you, I have not heard of gnats causing caterpillars problems before, and I don't know of any that do. Doesn't mean that they couldn't be, but I don't find any site discussing a type of gnat that harms caterpillars. I would also suspect that if they did harm them, they would harm them at any instar, and thus, when the caterpillars are much smaller and more vulnerable, I would think an attacking gnat would take them out at those earlier stages, not at a later stage. This leans me towards thinking that it's not the gnats, and might be something else. Do they maintain an appetite up until it's time to go into chrysalis? Because this sounds more like a type of infection. It's good that you are cleaning the leaves, but let me ask, are you bleach treating the leaves? Water can help rinse off many pesticides, but if any are oil based, the water won't fully do it. Some pesticides have oil components so that they can survive one or two rains. If bleach treating isn't happening (and I'm not saying it's something that must be done) then certain pesticides, NPV, or bacterial infections are still a possibility. If the caterpillars aren't turning black, it's not likely to be NPV. More likely, a bacterial infection of some sort. Further, if this happened to five around the same time, and they were at the same stage in the life cycle, this too suggests a small outbreak where all five were exposed to the source at the same time. Some questions that might help: Have you had success with others this season prior to these five, and during that time, were the gnats present? If so, it's not likely the gnats, as they should have had a similar effect on the previous ones. Also, have you had successful once since these five, and by successful, I would say, more successful than these five, and making it to the chrysalis stage? If so, and the gnats have been there the whole time, I think this also leads towards it not being the gnats.
Hi, Thanks so much for your videos, I only had 3 stalks of milkweed and somehow got 10 caterpillars and needed info/help to raise them. The last one is hatching today, your videos were a great help! I plan on planting more milkweed and was wondering if there is something sturdy I should put with the milkweed for the chrysalis. I plan to raise more indoors but this would be for those eggs I miss. There is not much twig type stuff near by.
Greetings! If concerned about chrysalis needs, what about just a square of wooden fence? Like, the criss cross, inexpensive type? Just an idea. They don't need anything severely stable, so a butterfly bush, once mature, could do wonders. Thinking long term, I'd plant that, as it can serve multiple purposes around your milkweed. Both a chrysalis supporter, but a Monarch attracting flower at the same time.
An hour ago, I experienced the joy of watching a Monarch, fresh out of its crysallis, strengthen enough to lift off my hand and fly away to its unknown fate. It is a spiritually moving experience.
@@MrLundScience First , thank you for all your very helpful videos. I successfully hatched and "launched" 15 monarchs this past summer. It was my first time, and I'm hooked! I would like to try again next summer with even more, I would also like to raise them outside in a protective environment, any tips?
@@franceshendry5656 I have a video that shows one example of outdoor rearing. I hope it helps in a way and provides ideas/tips: ua-cam.com/video/LjEgU0Ub5hY/v-deo.html
You must be a favorite teacher at your high school. This was super fun and informative. I worried about the milkweed bug (aka Oncopeltus fasciatus) that I was spotting all over my plants, but now I will rest easy. Here is another question I've been scouring the interwebs to get answered: Can I raise monarch and swallowtail caterpillars in the same cage?
I have some students who really like me because I challenge them to think and hold them to high standards. I have some students who really don't like me, though, because I challenge them to think and hold them to high standards. Just part of the teacher game, I suppose. *Can* you raise the two different species in the same cage? I suppose it's possible, and I'd predict as long as they aren't over crowded and have their own food sources, they likely wouldn't pose each other a problem. Even so, I would still advise against it. If for no other reason, mostly because since they are eating different foods and have a different physiology, it's possible that one might have a type of bacteria in its feces that the other species isn't as ready for its immune system to battle. Like going to a different country and drinking the water there that those who live there are just fine with. What bacteria a species can easily handle, or find trouble with can be different. I don't know this to be a fact with Monarchs and Swallowtails, but since it's a possibility, that's why I wouldn't try it out, just to be safe. Hope that helps!
I don't know if I should have done it, but I brang in the plant with the pupa on it and put on my window sill in the kitchen, behind the blinds so some light. If this is a good idea, please let me know. I am going to try to get to a pet store and see if they have something available for butterflies, in the meantime they are safe for now at least until my cat gets home from the vet. I hope they have some kind of screened cage for them. I will also grow more parsley and will try to send for a butterfly plant. Fingers crossed all works out.
Greetings Christine. Sorry that I was a bit tied up for the last couple of days. Have you watched Raising Monarchs Parts 1 - 5? They are the core of the series that will likely answer many questions you have, or don't even know you have yet. Those 5 show my entire process from start to finish. The one that shows how I care for the caterpillars specifically, is Part 3. As you stated that your Monarchs are eating plant material, I assume you meant larva (caterpillar) instead of pupa (chrysalis). Here's Part 3: ua-cam.com/video/sJU8-FpGI78/v-deo.html
Ever look into the frasse with your microscope? Perhaps even to see if 'pillars have any possible signs of OEs? Out of curiosity? Or even see if swabbing the milkweeds where the pillars have been eating around? It would be interesting to see how far they will go, dormant or not, or even someone who owns a microscope finds something besides OE...
To my knowledge, OE spores don't pass in the frass (hey, that rhymes!) but it would be worth looking at and checking. Thing is, I don't really have OE to really look at. It's not that prevalent around Michigan, and since I bleach treat eggs and leaves, it's become a non-issue. Have you seen the bleach treating videos? It's a great way to prevent OE from coming up in the first place.
Yeah, i watched it. And great info. And thanks for the reply. Great answer especially the fact their little OE being found... I'm learning biggest OE issues are from certain milkweed that isn't native in the US and Canada area mostly
I love raising them, I have a Cage and I have them inside my Screened in Florida room...and yes there is always a fly or bug that will try to squeak into the cage....I just kill them as quick as possible,,,except the (Lady Bugs) I leave them there, but maybe not a good idea?? I also have Milkweed plants growing in my yard, my question, should I bring in the Cats...and put them in the cage with the rest of the Cats....or leave them outside, as they my infect the others, if they were already infected by the outside nature??
I’m in FL too. I would bring them in and put them in cages if you’re interested in raising them. I’m on my 2nd round. I got some nice cages from Amazon What about separate cages? One just for the cats you find outside? I can never see the eggs.
I found a (pigeon Tremex) (Tremex Columba) also known as the wood wasp. I don't know if they're harmful, probably not. They look really cool. I found one a few days ago on a tree on a long seed pod forgot the tree name though.
I had a bad tussock moth infestation last year. They stripped my swamp milkweed patch overnight. I looked up what their eggs looked like, so I can nip it in the bud this year.
Mr Lund, hope its ok but I deleted my earlier post with the mistake on it. But wanted to tell you I greatly appreciate all your videos on Monarchs. I so love raising them. Also something of interest the monarchs I had that did get Tachinids were only from ones I gathered in mid August through September in later instars and was around 10%. Also found that these flies also go after Japanese beetles and stink bugs so I don't dislike them as much but sure hated loosing monachs to them.
Yeah, if I could wave a magic wand to make all tachinids go away...I wouldn't. The animal doesn't choose to be what it is when it comes out of the egg. It's just a tachinid fly trying to be the very best tachinid fly it can be. If they are in the way of what I'm trying to do, like grow healthy milkweed or raise healthy Monarchs, I don't like them, but I still find myself respecting them. As for deleting your comment, hey, it's your comment. People can do as they please with it. No problem at all.
I am puzzled! On my Milkweed plants in Western Mass. I have lots of black with a yellow streak soft fuzzy caterpillars. as well as small monarch caterpillars. I thought that they were a stage in the development of the Monarch caterpillar so I brought into my conservatory a bunch of Milkweed with the fuzzy ones and the small monarch caterpillars and placed the bunch in a vase of water. The fuzzy ones grew to about an inch and then disappeared so I thought that the became small regular monarch larva. What are they? They feed on milkweed also and are prolific. But maybe birds are eating them!
If you can, look up "Tussock Moth Caterpillars" and see if those are the missing culprits. They are also a pretty amazing critters too. Once they are ready, they don't make a chrysalis, but go to the ground and form a cocoon using their own silk and whatever available debris is nearby. So, I'd search for what look like little bally things near whatever ground surface is in your conservatory. If you do find them, they usually need a good two weeks at frozen temperatures (though can be frozen for longer) and then brought out to thaw in the spring. They then emerge that spring as a white moth. They too need milkweed in the caterpillar stage, so, likely are suffering similar plights from the decline of milkweed.
I took in a instar 4, and he had tachinid unfortunately, i found out when he was trying become chrysalis, and died. And we are in michigan too. That's very sad
Thank You so much for these videos. It has spurred on my desire to start my butterfly garden and expand the milkweed plants from tiny pockets in and around hay being cleared to one day having it all over as much of my 27 acres of property as is possible. To that end you mentioned that seeds can be frozen once collected and then sprouted in early spring. Would plants not survive the winter if grown indoors throughout the winter? That way they would be larger when replanted in the spring.
As I understand it (and my gardening knowledge is just barely above amateur), that should work fine. If they're getting the sunlight and nutrients they need and are at a reasonable temperature, they'd be a fine house plant. Good luck!
I was given a crysallis in late October….it was already way too cold to release…so I have been feeding daily with hopes that it survives long enough for warm weather and let it go. I let him out daily to fly around and it is now in the middle of January and all is well…I have been called cruel for doing this and told to let it be part of the food chain…I just can’t….any helpful info would be greatly appreciated.
Hi. I would do the same if it’s too cold. Someone told me it should be at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit for the butterfly. Not sure how true or exact that is. I have over 20 chrysalis right now in cages.
I planted swamp milkweed in my backyard. I have common milkweed in my front. Can I feed my common milkweed caterpillars swamp milkweed also? I ask this because I might run out of common and I was wanting to switch to swamp. I have been raising Monarch butterflies for several years now and I absolutely love it so much!!!!
Why do my Large adult butterflies keep going up to go in the J, but than come down again. Should i keep feefing them. They are huge & eating the stems of the milkweed plant????
Thank you again for such great videos!! Question: Have you ever experienced chalcid wasp parasitism of the chrysalis? These tiny wasps are everywhere here and it seems the only way to prevent infection is to raise them indoors.
I have not experienced this, but also, I have the benefit of a screened in porch where I relocate each chrysalis. One possibility is to have an outdoor pop up tent that you reserve just for the chrysalides and emerging adults. I show such a situation here, in "Outdoor Rearing" - ua-cam.com/video/LjEgU0Ub5hY/v-deo.html I hope that helps!
I feel so stupid but I never even thought about the pesticides hurting them. I had 40+ caterpillars that ate up all the milkweed in my yard. I stopped at a family members house to get some more that was on the side of the road.... it poisoned all of my caterpillars. I am still so devastated. I have 15 that are in their chrysalises right now so at least I get to release a few. I’ve lost a few along the way to maggots. Hoping these last 15 will make it out okay. I can’t take losing more monarchs 😥
There's definitely rough patches along this road, but we learn as we go. It helps to see each setback as a chance to learn and improve. It takes a few "devastations" sometimes to improve. But the cool part is certainly the improving part. I've had my own setbacks too, so understand, if we do this long enough, we've all been there. We can sympathize.
Another fab video Mr Lund. I've started raising mine in captivity recently & they've been struck down with some disease, where they shrink & shrivel down to a third the size.. stop eating, writhe around slowly &, over the next day or so, they die. This is fifth instar caterpillars. Have you seen anything like this before? Also, an idea for future videos - how clean to keep your enclosure. Should you clean your enclosure out with bleach daily? How often should the frass be cleared away? Thanks again!
Excellent idea for a video. It was actually on the list as a potential one for this coming season. As for the symptoms your Monarchs are having, I have seen it before, but there are a number of things that can cause it. It's likely bacterial infection of some type. While it might not be NPV (unless they are turning a bit black) I would recommend the NPV Prevention video I made (or any other parasite/bacterial/viral prevention source out there). The prevention tends to be the same for all of these: 5% bleach solution. Check the vid "NPV Prevention" and that should hopefully help.
Thank you MrLund. Your videos have taught me more than the many hours of research I've done & any other group I've joined!! I didn't know about your NPV video. I appreciate your help. I realise, after watching your informative video, that this was my issue :(
That's good to hear. But keep in mind, it might not be NPV. I made the video due partially to my cats having an outbreak of something, but I didn't know 100% what that something was. It was a good opportunity to make the NPV video at the time, as far as how to prevent for it. The more I looked at the situation, though, as none of my cats turned black, I'm less inclined to diagnose it as NPV, but as some other type of likely bacterial infection. Still, the bleach treatment shown in that video can prevent both NPV and occasional bacteria outbreaks. So, if yours had similar symptoms to what I was showing, but didn't turn a bit (or a lot) black by the time they passed, it likely wasn't NPV, but a type of bacteria. Either way, bleach treatment of the leaves (and a *very thorough rinsing afterwards*) has prevented any of this from happening to me again.
Hi, it is obviously such a charmed porch you have where you are able to hang the chrysalides along a string and let the Monarchs eclude and prepare to fly away! Does it provide somehow screening that does not permit any pests that could harm them like ants/spiders/etc.? I would love to have a screened porch as we once had in another house, and this could be a good excuse, ha, to build one! Thanks.
Indeed. It's fully screened, and came with the house. The previous owner had built it. If you check out the very first Indy Labs episode, it shows it from the outside. ua-cam.com/video/WVEpT5sfy9s/v-deo.html (Fair warning...you might be inspired to find micrometeorites from your roof if you watch it!)
Hi Rich, I just started raising Monarchs a little over two months ago, since the passing of my husband Les. It has helped me tremendously as we both have always felt a strong connection with butterflies. I have a girlfriend who raises them and she has helped me a lot, but your videos have been fabulous in filling in the blanks, so please keep them coming. I saw one of your videos last week about a malformed Butterfly and identifying it. This morning I had three butterflies emerge, and one of them, turned out to be malformed. He’s having trouble even climbing up the inside of my enclosure. any suggestions on what to do at this point? Thanks again for your very informative series, and because of you, I’ve started growing milkweed, I can’t keep enough of it, my caterpillars🐛devour it like there’s no tomorrow! It’s gonna take time for that Milkweed to grow, but I’m happy to say it’s happening much quicker than I thought it would. Charlene Henig🦋
I have 2 Monarch Pupa and they are pretty big. They are on my Italian Parsley in my S. Philadelphia back yard (in the city),and love eating it. I am afraid a bird or some other bug may get them. What can I do ? how do I bring them in and protect them from my cat ? Is there a screen cage or something available at a pet store ? something, anything? please let me know as soon as you possibly can. This is the second year on my parsley, but I haven't seen any Monarch butterflies in a long time and I hope these 2 make it. I am really concerned. Please let me know. I am really hoping they succeed to fly away some day. Thank You
I only stick with Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca, as it produces the largest leaves. I don't plant my milkweed with the primary purpose being to attract Monarchs and have them lay eggs, but to have both seed pods for those who want seeds (students and neighbors) and to use the leaves for feeding caterpillars. So, the larger the leaf, the better for my purposes. Also, for some raising Monarchs they wish to know which species will cause the most egg laying, but I've not been too concerned with that. Common Milkweed is the only option they've had in my yard, and I've been able to find enough eggs to keep me busy at home, and at the various places I look for eggs.
Hi, I am in Florida and have only found swamp milkweed here at the butterfly house. Where could i get a few seeds of the common milkweed to plant? I have released about 2 dozen or so Monarchs last year, had alot of cocoons killed by flys. I need to plant more milkweed as the cats ate all of it, it is coming back slowly.
A year ago i ordered monarch catepillars online and after that i had leftover milkweed and then a butterfly layed 16 eggs on it and when they all hatched i saw one just burnt so i put it in the shade and still the all burned to death before they could even be a chrysalis
I spray the milkweed fodder with dilute castile soap which has an insecticidal soap effect. Since doing this I haven't had aphid problems and have reduced spider and lacy wing larva incidents. I use a spray bottle - like for window spray, that you can get at hardware or dollar stores. I put a teaspoon to table spoon of soap in the bottle, fill with water and shake it up. When picking fodder 1) - I cut off however much plant I need 2) check for eggs and caterpillars thoroughly and let sit for a few seconds 4) spray off soap with garden hose with nozzle set to "mist". 5) shake off or spin to get off excess water. to spin rub stem between palms - like the fire drill method of fire starting. But caterpillars aren't fussy about damp milkweed. will put those into a vase of water with a foil cover - to prevent drowning.
could you make a video about the end of a monarch butterfly's life? what is the cause of death when it's not eaten by some predator & naturally dies. the other request, I noticed the monarch butterfly I released kept coming back to the milkweed after already laying eggs & I wondered if she was depositing more eggs or visiting the baby caterpillars? also, if she mated with a male, then laid her eggs, then why are the caterpillars all different sizes? some are as tiny as a fingernail clipping while others are the size of my pinky finger .. so can the female monarch have many different mates? how long do they take to lay the eggs they are carrying? it seemed she was returning daily for weeks. thanks for making these videos!
Greetings Dr. Jekyll. To give better answers to your questions, I'd have to ask a few questions myself: First, how are you sure that it is the same Monarch that is returning? What has made that clear for you? With my experience with Monarchs, I'm not even sure I could tell one Monarch from the next unless there was a specific indicator, like a specific part of the wing being damaged or something like that. Second question, related to the first - Is it possible that you are not witnessing the same Monarch, but a different one visiting your milkweed? Third question - Concerning the caterpillars that are different sizes, are you certain that these came from eggs that all hatched the same day? When a caterpillar is the size of a finger nail clipping, they are either a 1st or 2nd instar caterpillar. When they are the size of your pinky (and I don't exactly know how large or small your pinky finger is) they are likely 4th or 5th instar. This is the difference of about a week, give or take a day or two. What I'm getting at is that this size difference really suggests that these caterpillars are very much at different developmental stages, and thus, were not from eggs that were laid at the same time. One question I can answer, though, is that adult Monarchs have no behavior that I'm aware of that would cause them to visit their offspring, or even have an understanding of what a caterpillar is. The female has the instinct to lay her eggs, and that's it. While this animal is to be celebrated and respected, we should also recognize, it is fairly lacking much other than instinct. Certainly not knowledge of what caterpillars are, nor which ones are their specific offspring. I hope that doesn't disappoint you. There's definitely plenty about this animal that makes it incredible and interesting without it having a maternal instinct. As for your first request, about the natural causes of death of a Monarch, I think that's a great idea. I've wanted to research and see what I can find about how some generations only live for about 6 weeks, while the migrating generation lives for about 7 - 8 months. What is the environmental change that triggers this in the animal to "know" to stay alive longer? In looking into this, perhaps I can stumble upon the answer to your question. Cool questions, my friend!
Great suggestion. Teehee. Checking in on my babies! My 1st batch too. So Cal, Think we have more diseases and predators out here. And never seen milkweed,huge, as in your videos. Its all quick wilting tropical out here. Ca. is having A"BIG season. according to all my neighbors, and local butterfly farms..
MrLundScience Thanks Rich for Your Videos! I too would be very interested in learning more about the Monarch Life Span and how it knows when to live longer due to migration time. That's an interesting question B cuz here in San Diego CA, I have found its not as "Active" as far as eggs and Seeing a lot of Monarchs in the time frame They are going to Mexico/S. Ca. . I raise Them also from the egg only. Too many Tachid flies & so many other Pests here. I believe in San Diego it's year round due to the winter being so mild n getting warmer every year. The Pests don't die off here like where it snow's or gets cold enough to kill the Pests. I'm in My 2nd year and I've got a lot of Milkweed plants growing all over My yard from the Seed's that planted themselves in My yard from last year. But it's as if the Pests have gotten worse. Anyway, I'm very interested in the "Life Span" and I subscribe to your videos and will be waiting for that and looking for the answer Myself. Thanks again!
Hi mr Lund. I am looking for caterpillars, but I'm only able to find 2 eggs after lots of looking and watching episode 1 in your series. Is illinois short on butterflys?
Well, technically one could say that all of North America is short on Monarch butterflies, hence why we are all doing this, right? ;-) But as far as there being significantly less in IL compared to last year? Not to my knowledge. Some have contacted me near Chicago saying it's been their best year yet in finding eggs. Some years are hit or miss, and I've had my own spotty years. They're out there, though. I wouldn't give up, if you still wish to find some.
I just started to bring monarchs inside this week. What prompted me to was the fact that I was outside and was watching this beautiful monarch caterpillar just eating away when this huge red wasp came down and literally killed and started to eat it in front of me. It broke my heart so I seen another on the bottom so I ran inside and grabbed a Tupperware and when I came back out it had killed the other as well. That's when I pulled my adt security sign from the ground and had batting practice with that wasp. I took care of it but knew others would probably come. So ever since I've been bringing in all I see. I honestly didn't even know what I had was milk weed until I started to see these huge pods hanging from it. I thought it was ivy because it looks identical. I have a few tiki tpurchs in the front yard and they have grown and surrounded them to where you can't even tell it a a tiki torch. Anyway now that I know what it is I'm going to just let the seeds do their thing so more will come up next year. I now have 15 eggs, one j just started to hang today, one that's a couple inches smaller and then about 15 that look as if they just hatched. I had no idea what I was looming for or what to do until I seen your videos and now everyday I go outside I'm looking for more because I know there has got to be alot more on that plant. Funny thing is that's the only milk weed plant that has them all the others don't. It also has a TON of aphids and I've seen quite a few milk weed bugs. I figure since it's late in the season I will let them be since they aren't hurting the plant so much it will kill it and there probably won't be too many more monarchs laying eggs on it. Anyway next year I plan to control the aphid issue for sure. Anyway awesome videos. They have helped me out alot
It's definitely a learning process, and we learn more each year. That's certainly been true for me, at least. Thanks for deciding to help them out in these ways. I assure you, they appreciate it!
Hey, something relative to this discussion came up about predators/critters on milkweed on a Facebook page I belong to, "How to Raise Monarch Butterflies". There is a question regarding what several people refer to as "Oleander Aphids" that actually appear to be the red nymphs laid by the Milkweed Bug. I shared your video and hope for the best as are there many different opinions, ideas, and some post tactics to rid the plants of them or not. Its difficult to explain this better than by using your science-based information and suggest everyone ultimately must make their own decisions. I, and a number of people who are the voices if reason & they are main moderators, encourage them not to spray plants using soap, nor order Lady Bugs( yes you read it correctly!), to eat the "Oleander Aphids", & I honestly doubt the average person even actually understands that they are from the MW Bugs. I saw photos of entire plants so infested with red nymphs the person had to of course cut it down & hope for clean new growth. Thanks for all of this work, it continues to help guide and console me👍😊🐛🌱
Pretty cool that you undertake it to moderate such a group. I've resisted fully the Facebook revolution. Not on there. I don't hate it...but I know if I was on there, I could subtract even more hours from my life. People have asked that I join FB to be part of groups sometimes (usually for Monarch reasons) and I've asked, "Would you want me to join FB if that also meant fewer RM videos would be put out?" They often say no, and I explain, realistically no matter what I did, that would ultimately be the result. If you're trying to guide hands, it's probably best to keep it simple, and also offer up easy information. For example, you could ask them to: 1) Google Image Search "milkweed bug nymphs". 2) Google Image Search "red aphids". 3) Compare images to decide what you have. That only takes a second, and while not all will do it, many will. Then, you have a base within the group equipped with the knowledge of what they are actually dealing with, and it's easier to guide such a group. Others will become on board with the idea, and help advocate the message without even asking them to. Also, when I did those two Google Image Searches, I quickly saw two images I've seen in real life. The image of the milkweed bug nymphs on the developing seed pods of the milkweed, and the image of the red aphids stuck head first all in a row on a stalk of some plant. I see both in my yard. Likely, people encountering them in their yard will be able to quickly identify which culprit they have. I don't think it's a bad idea, necessarily, to rid some of the milkweed bug nymphs from seed pods if one of the reasons you have milkweed is to have access to seeds to use or distribute to others. So, that is understandable. I don't try to harm animals, save for what I eat, and in self-defense, and I do define defending my home territory as self-defense. I wouldn't be worried too much about what the adult milkweed bugs do, but I know that if I had an explosion of nymphs and they were all over all of my seed pods, I'd probably squish a good amount of them, or if someone preferred, a quick blast from a garden hose is quite effective too. As for the red aphids, they've been on wild flowers I have in my yard, but I've never seen them on my milkweed. Not saying it's impossible, but I've never seen it. If I did, they are voracious at taking the nutrients from the plant, and they'd probably earn a squish sentence for their crime. But, if they're not on my milkweed, from my stand point, I say live and let live. They are an important food source for various other garden dwellers. But, that's just me. I don't like telling people what to do. I think it's pretentious. People will do what they want. The best way to operate, I think, is just to provide the same information you used to come to your conclusion. If people can see the logic to it, they usually start to agree. Then, they feel as though they came to the decision on their own, and they feel much less like someone told them what to do. I know that even I can be stubborn to not want to do something just because I was told to. When it comes to chemicals, though, and even soap, I don't do any of that. From the mind of a chemist, I know too well how many unexpected consequences that can have, and just how potent even small trace amounts of left over chemicals can be. There's been countless times people have tried to consult with me through the comments about what might be causing health problems with their Monarchs, and so often when questions start being asked, it turns out that some type of spray happened, or even soapy water on the milkweed at one point. And despite the person insisting they very thoroughly rinsed their plant, well, the health issues still happened. What is "thorough" to us in the big world is usually not thorough at all in the world of molecules. As for Ladybugs, I suppose the easiest and simplest thing to point out is that Ladybugs will eat Monarch eggs and small enough caterpillars if they find them. That would hopefully seal the deal as to why it's not a good idea to use them. After they eat the aphids, they'll still be there, and they'll be hungry. Definitely creates a conflict of interest. I hope that helps!
MrLundScience thanks, this is all helpful. It is why I follow & learn through your classic methods of teaching and working. Funny there are 200+ moderators on one Fbook page, ( I still do not understand the logic behind it), and still I do understand how much time could easily be spent answering questions for others seeking help. I like your thinking about getting folks to come to their own conclusions based on facts presented through shared resourced information or Googled, which are both pretty easily obtained. You are right: this is a wonderful way to have a following that trusts logic and their own conclusions drawn in order to carry out the needed solution , & they then are enabled to guide others. Varied opinions given just do not ring true as solid answers when people ask the same questions on the same subject matter but see different resulting answers. Isn't nature a great teacher?? I learned that it is beneficial to keep checking-in on the status of the health of the garden's milkweed every day or two to help prevent the milkweed nymphs from getting completely out of hand which is much better than discovering them after they have over-populated the tender top leaves & begun destroying the seed pods. It seems there are new discoveries every day. Knowledge is a powerful force once we begin & continue to seek the truth. How we use it is best-guided by nature itself. Oh, by the way, I have seen only several large praying mantis lately that made it past their newly-hatched size observed earlier in spring, but as usual nothing-except for the army of nymphs- seems to be over-populating thanks to a good balance of creatures out there. This contributes to a real and noticeable balance happening. Maintaining a practice of using no intrusive chemicals, yes including soaps, is real and works. If we can simply allow everything possible that is good ( I agree of course we must respect our ability to make wise decisions around self-protection), to just happen as intended by the gentle forces of nature. My garden is like a lab of lessons every day!
@@Debbiesnc I once collected an ootheca (the mantis egg sack) without knowing what it was. Kept it in a jar in my old apartment. One day, having come home, I discovered two things quickly: 1) The ootheca was a mantis egg sack that had contained around 2-3 hundred baby mantids, which had by that time hatched. An explosion of little mantid babies. 2) My wife had never told me that this is the one insect that completely freaks her out. She was quite on edge with that jar. I released the majority back where I found the ootheca to let them play it out from there, but kept 20 to rear. Only 6 made it to the adult stage, at which point, they were released. And I promise, I took good care of them. Looked up all on how to rear them. (There's lots of info out there, as oothecas can be ordered for educational mantis rearing in classrooms, and there's tons of info on raising them.) What I had read turned out to be quite correct: The molting process is a pretty dangerous thing for them. They molt their exoskeleton 4 or 5 times (I don't remember). And each time it was time to molt, despite not being disturbed and despite the proper humidity for it being maintained, many would not make it out of their molt. Any adult mantis you ever see in nature made it over MANY hurdles already. When very young, they'll eat whatever is small enough that they can find, but that includes their brothers and sisters. And the molting process is brutal!
MrLundScience, hi, one more comment, but first I have to say it must have been terrifying for your poor wife seeing that! Last fall I also found one of their "egg cases" which are so strange looking, as if holding something left behind by aliens! The branch to which it was attached went back into the evergreens where we had unknowingly removed it, so as not to disturb it thinking maybe it was a cocoon or chrysalis that would eclose. I did not do the "google-photo-search" that I have come to enjoy now. As you know now, too, it appeared to have lines and depressions on the ootheca surface that to me resembled symmetrical impressions indicative of wings or some creature. This spring the many baby praying mantids appeared on the then-young spring milkweed on a separate part of the house from where I left the ootheca. Thankfully this was before the monarchs ever arrived, and the good balance of nature somehow took most of them out though they seem to be predators to more creatures than they fall prey to. It never dawned on me that the large green single praying mantis in a totally separate part of the yard/garden last fall may have left us a surprise. She/he held my interest daily, observing how slowly the movements were and also I could see that little head with two eyes following me even a yard or so away from her! She was somewhere in the range of 4-6". Thanks for sharing this story here as I have learned a lot about the praying mantis. It still eludes me what the differences are between the brown and green ones, and I am also wondering if all of them do turn into the size of that huge one that was on our front porch garden. I recall reading that there are several types of praying mantis, including ones that are not originally native to North America, like many other species we have here in the Eastern part of the U. S. Interestingly despite their struggle to survive as young mantids they apparently can be quite invasive though there is no way I could harm one. At one point I was considering moving a few away from the common milkweed, though!
@@Debbiesnc The three most common mantids found in North America are the Carolina Mantis, the European Mantis, and the Chinese Mantis, with the Chinese Mantis being the largest of these three and likely the one you are describing. And of those three, just as the names sound, two of them are not native (the European and the Chinese) but got over here a long time ago, likely in the 1800's when there was ample chance to be aboard a ship or otherwise introduced. Something cool about both of those species, though, is that both the European and the Chinese mantids are not invasive. Not every species that is introduced becomes an invasive species. It will always remain an introduced species, but to be considered also "invasive", this means that it is able to out compete something else in the ecosystem it is introduced to, or in some other way causes damage to the ecosystem. With these introduced mantids, their populations have been able to "fit in" to the ecosystems they've been introduced to, and haven't exploded, or been able to out compete others in that ecosystem. They take out insects (both beneficial ones, but also ones that we wish to keep in check anyway, so it's a wash) and provide themselves as a food source to other predators. When they're young, the mantids that came out of the same ootheca are already feeling the trials of nature, as their major predators are each other! Nymph mantids, when unable to find enough food (usually very small insects, such as fruit flies), they will prey upon each other. A "survival of the fittest" situation immediately begins, so it's not uncommon to see a huge number of them on a bush one day, and then half that number a couple days later, and so on. Something else really cool about mantids is that (as far as I know) it's the only kind of animal that has an ear, but just one. And by ear, I don't necessarily mean something shaped like one, but an auditory sense that is actually on their thorax (chest area). Other animals that sense sound usually do it with two ears, which allows them to hear in stereo, but the mantis only has one. And these ears are able to sense very high pitched sound unavailable to us humans with our ears. The sounds they can detect, though, fall within most frequencies that bats produce. Upon experimentation that came out a few years ago, it was shown that a flying mantis, when a high pitch sound is sent out, will immediately cease flight and drop to the ground. Most likely, this ear is for letting the mantis detect the frequencies bats use to echo-locate their prey. Cool, huh!?
I have a problem with my milkweed/monarch raising. I have about 7 cats in later stages, and one tiny one, but I have Probably over 50 milkweed with many signs of caterpillar activity, but find VERY few cats! My milkweed seem to each have a black patrolling, and have read that they protect aphids and drive away ladybugs and other predators on the aphids. Do you think that they might destroying my monarchs? I have put a boric acid/sugar/water bait to help get rid of them, but I am wondering if this is anything you have heard of? I am excited about my monarchs, but think I should have many more cats on my milkweed than I can find. Thanks for you work on these wonderful butterflies! I am a gardener, and this was a tough year in NW Indiana (about 6 miles from MI border), and my dahlias are normally very good for butterflies, but my first blooms are not yet open! Luckily, they will bloom until frost..... I enjoy your posts, and have a wonderful toad in my garden. Hope it is more than one that I just see occasionally!
I'm mostly a live and let live kind of guy. But what you are describing is exactly why I will not tolerate aphids, and squash them when I can. They attract ants, and yes, ants can deter other predators, such as lady bugs. However, just like one burglar scaring off another ("Back off man, this house is my mark..."), the original burglar remains and the damage will be done. Ants have no problem munching down an egg (or taking it back to the colony for others to munch on), and if the caterpillar is small enough, they too can be a nice piece of protein, which queen ants are always in need of. I wish you luck with the boric acid mixture, but ants are tenacious. If I were you, I'd focus on removing the aphids. That's the root of the issue. Good luck!
@@MrLundScience I will continue to work on the ants, but you are right about the aphids. I spray neem oil/soap on my garden to discourage certain problems, but fear using it around the milkweed. Too many things I do not want to harm!
@@MrLundScience I do not have an aphid problem. I have encouraged natural predators by NOT using any chemicals for years in the garden, but the darn black ants are a real problem! I am kinda shutting down for the year as things are so quiet here. Saw lots of monarch butterflies at a friends garden, and a county park, but that was the only sunny day for awhile. I will check today, but not much activity here. Asters are starting to bloom, and I will have more monarch friendly blooms next year!
My first caterpillar I have raised became a crysallis and it just turned clear today! I can see the wings! I found it on my milkweed plants in my garden.
Awesome! It's a rewarding experience!
@@MrLundScience
I'm currently raising Cabbage Whites. Since the population is on a dealdy decline, I've dedicated my life to raising Cabbage Whites from larvae. So far I've released amour 500 butterflies yearly. I'm currently raising a new batch of caterpillars and I've counted 13 that have chrysilised.
So cool! the video had 1.9k likes and when I clicked 'like', the counter turned to 2k! THANK YOU for making this video! We are in CA and have lost a few Monarchs to the Tachinid flie but we are doing our best. God Bless!
Hello. My wife and I started raising Monarchs after seeing your videos. We had a late start this year August 1st but have released 23 Monarchs, have 4 unhatched chrysalis, and 2 caterpillars left to J. Unfortunately, we lost 1 small caterpillar. We were surprised to find how much roadside milkweed had been mowed down after we collected eggs. We can see how their habitat is disappearing. We are collecting seeds and will be planting milkweed all around our 2 acre property. We are excited about tagging monarchs next year. We are located outside Troy NY. Thank you for your informational videos.... we are fans, and have been spreading the word.
Very cool to have you involved! Late starts are still so beneficial, as you're helping the very important 4th generation.
Not only have I had concerns about roadside milkweed, but I've really been noticing how many young plants sprout in the highway medians. Those are mowed down, encourage then new sprouts (which the Monarchs prefer) and are then usually mowed down again with less time in between mowings than the time needed to go from egg to adult. I think we're likely losing many Monarchs in these medians.
Anyway, thanks for checking out the videos, and if you have questions, ask away. If I know the answer, I provide it, and if I don't, it's cool to find out a new question I then too will want to know the answer to!
Hi Mr. Lund. First of all, thank you for your wonderful and very informative videos. Everything I know about raising monarchs I learned from you. Using your advice and guidance, I currently have 113 eggs, cats, and butterflies on my dining room table. 😉
I planted six butterfly weed (tuberosa) plants this past spring and boy did the monarchs arrive and lay eggs! I first started bringing in the cats, but they all succumbed to the parasitic T-flies. So easy decision, bring the eggs in and start from the beginning. I have 14 butterflies that I'll be releasing this afternoon (BTW, I live in Kansas). There will be 12 emerging today with around 65 + either as chrysalides or j-hanging, etc.
I have always loved nature and to know that me as one person can make a difference is so totally awesome! Thank you again!
That's quite the success story! I'm so pleased to hear that you've had such a plentiful season. Great job! So glad too that the videos could be helpful. Many thanks for checking them out.
You are as crazy as I am !
Shame there's no way to save caterpillars in time. We found one in our backyard but it's not eating the milkweed. It might be sick already or have eggs inside of it. Good news is even though some died, we managed to release over 20 monarchs and there's still 10 in their chrysalis so we managed to save some of them!
Hey, now, that's pretty cool. 30 Monarchs is great! Good job!
MrLundScience Thanks! It's mainly my mother who started to take care of them. But then I took an interest and learned a lot from your videos on how to raise and take care of them. It helped a lot indeed!
@@superbrawlpikachufan seerd599
"Just flick it off, the Earwig will find something else to do"
Oh Goodness, you got me laughing with that one. 😂😂😂😂
Yeah...earwigs. I hate to hate a species, but I can't stand these guys. Goes back to childhood days. Loved all the other insects I found and explored my backyard with, but these little dudes always creeped me out.
@@MrLundScience
LMFAO! Flick the earwig and it'll just go do something else. Yeah it's called being dead.
@@MrLundScience
I can't stand those little leaf miner flies 😡
Every milkweed plant I have in my backyard has at least 2 of them constantly laying their eggs / larvae on the leaves.
Can't spray them, can't really kill them.
I'll take those earwigs over these little pests.
This is very helpful for my butterfly’s! This was my first year raising eggs. Those pears are nasty! Especially those red orange and black bugs.
I’ve watched two videos so far and I’m so happy I found your channel. I’m in TX and started getting into helping the Monarchs a couple years ago. I even got certified as a Monarch Waystation which I feel is extremely important considering we see Monarchs here twice a year and we a very important region for their survival.I have had issues for the last two years with diseases on my milkweed and especially aphids infecting them. This year (knock on wood) hasn’t been as bad but I’ve been doing more preventative maintenance on the plants hoping to stay ahead of anything. We should start seeing the Monarchs come back this way in a couple weeks for the fall migration so we will see how it goes.
I knew preying manti , soldier beetles and wasps ate them but I didn't know about ear wigs etc. It's a miracle we have monarchs at all...
I just came across a milkweed beetle for the first time today. I'm raising my first ever batch of monarch butterflies and worried about the possibility of danger to their food source. I left it alone because I'm not a monster, but I'm glad to hear that they aren't monsters either.
This video answered so many questions I had, especially regarding aphids!! Thank you so much for your knowledge about these beautiful creatures 🦋
Me too. I need to squish those aphids. I had one caterpillar with the fly larvae. Gross.
Thank you for another great video! Here in Oklahoma City, I think the percentage of survivors, that are left outside, is about 1% or less. We have SO MANY predators out here. So your suggestion to raise them inside is a fantastic idea! I use several mesh laundry basket huts indoors, to raise them. But this year, I've had an appalling number of tachinid fly attacks INSIDE my huts. And tachinid wasps too. It's so frustrating. For now, I'm checking daily so that I can clear out the bad ones ASAP to minimize the chance of their larvae emerging and starting all over again. I put the failed ones in the freezer immediately. I also discovered one more useful idea. I keep a spray bottle of soapy water handy, so if I spot a foreign flying insect inside the hut, I can spray it through the mesh, without harming the caterpillars (hopefully). This worked well to take down a couple of tachinid wasps to the floor of the hut, and then I reached in and smashed them.
But, I've also had a lot of successes. Right now, I have about 25 healthy chrysalides perched inside my huts. So, as discouraging as it is, to be hit by these indoor monsters, I can't quit! That would be much worse.
One more question: are Milkweed Tiger Moth larvae OK to leave alone? They're so cute, but some folks seem to intensely hate them. I think I'll adopt your 'leave 'em alone' attitude, and see what happens.
Holly, thank you very much for this comment! I think you see what I was trying to get to in the video.
Making a video that deals with *all* pests and predators that Monarchs and milkweed face would be a very daunting, difficult, and I think, futile task. Those raising Monarchs live in so many varied regions, and each area comes with its own set of pests/predators. Still, many over the years have asked for a video such as this one. So, the best I could do was make this, and with some goals in mind:
1) Show what my experience is, and what Michigan (or even just my area of Michigan) deals with.
2) Try and show that regardless of what predators your region might have, the *best* solution to them is to raise your eggs/caterpillars in controlled environments.
3) Try and advocate for some of these "pests" as also being part of our ecosystem, and, if not out of hand, worthy of respect as well.
I don't know that everyone likes this take on it, but it's what I felt I could speak on. Some may have wanted a sure-fire way to deal with some of their specific pests, and I didn't offer it. And I might not have it because a sure-fire way to deal with them just might not exist. For raising of the Monarchs, the best solution is to take them indoors. For keeping the milkweed healthy, there just won't be a cure all. It seems that there's two less than ideal options. One is what I described, and that's to let nature do its thing for the most part. While they may be pests to the milkweed, they are also part of the ecosystem, and often aren't going to become out of control. In cases where they are (and I truly did speak to an MSU botanist about this) the most effective way to control them without chemicals is to physically thin the heard by hand. In other words, squishing them. In some other cases, though, people have described to me since the video being released that they have some pests on their milkweed that are just straight up out of control. In those situations, a chemical option (which is the second, non-ideal option) might be necessary, but I didn't want to speak on that in the video because I've never had to do that. I wouldn't want to talk in a video and give advice for something I myself haven't experienced. I think that'd be pretentious of me.
As for the Milkweed Tiger Moth, (aka, Tussock Moth), I definitely leave them alone, mostly because I think they are adorable, but also, because they too are a species that depends upon the milkweed. So, if Monarchs are hurting due to lack of milkweed, how is the Tussock Moth doing? We notice, care, and study the Monarch because it's nostalgic, easily recognized by the public, and is known as the "Bambi" of the insect world. Who speaks for the Tussock Moth, though? Now, those caterpillars can REALLY eat through a milkweed plant or plants. They lay a huge number of eggs all in one spot, unlike the spot laying Monarch. So, of the 20-30 eggs, the strategy here is that hopefully *some* of the 20-30 will make it. One clutch of eggs could easily ruin several plants if they can get to them, which usually, they can. In those cases, one might want to just relocate some of them (or all of them) to other milkweed sources they know of. But if they don't know of any good, natural places to keep them, why not let them still do their thing? If that's the only milkweed you have, and Tussock Moths have taken it over, hey, why not raise *them* for a season? (Perhaps *that* is a species I should show a video on how to take care of, too...) It's still a rewarding experience, and they'll actually stay in the cocoon they build throughout the winter, and come out in the spring. It's a cool species!
Thanks again for the comment and the kind words. They were very much appreciated!
Thank you so much for this thoughtful and extremely helpful response! That is what I was leaning towards, and now you have eloquently expressed great reasons for it.
Well hey...thanks. I appreciate the kind words.
Your videos are amazing!! Everything I know about Monarchs I've learned from you and have been very successful in raising Monarchs. Thank YOu!!!
Your feeding vid helped me with me black swallowtail, he hatched with bent wings and while I was holding him, his wings fell off! Now he is my pet and he wouldn’t eat nectar from a real flower so I tried the mix and it worked. Thanks
You're very welcome. Sorry that this occurred.
Hey bud. Another great vid. This is my 2nd year raising them. My daughter and I went out to our 8x8 milkweed patch and found 20 eggs last night. Brought them all in. Rinsed all in the bleach solution. 3 hatched over night. More to come. Should have 20 more healthy ones in northern IL skies soon. I think pests are pretty hard on them here too. For how many monarchs we have laying eggs here dont see alot of cats. Saw one 5th instar and spotted a tiny 2nd by some other eggs out there so far in mid July. Have four different types of MW growing in the patch. The seeds go every where and grow in the lawn despite spreading weed killer in the spring. Ive seen monarchs laying eggs on 2 inch plants in the yard that barely support them. Despite 5 ft tall common milkweed right next to them.
Sounds like things are very productive. And yep, I find Monarch eggs often on brand new sprouts that are only a few inches. They seem to have no problem, and even prefer younger plants. Some say it's because the leaves are more tender and easier for the freshly hatched caterpillars to eat. Some hypothesize that it's due to new plants having less of a chance of pests already being on them, such as milkweed beetles, ant troopers, and the like.
I'm so excited to have found this series of videos. I am a lifelong fan of the Monarch. We had a very successful crop of milkweed in our backyard this year. I kept watching for caterpillars and never saw any. Next thing I new I had chrysallides (learned that from you) all over, 21 total. All but 3 ended up beautiful Monarch butterflies. Now I'm seeing plenty of caterpillars. I'm heading out to collect them after watching your videos today. We live in South Texas so I don't expect to see too many more with it being mid October. Thank you so much for making these videos!
Very cool indeed! Yeah, definitely being in Texas, your season is now wrapping up. I hope there's still some nectar producing flowers for those migrating through your region. Perhaps this coming spring, these videos can be helpful!
I'm new to the world of understanding monarch butterflies. Thank you for your incredibly well done and informative videos. I live in central Florida. I planted milkweed early in the year and got a huge crop of plants (along with a huge crop of aphids and milkweed bugs). All during the summer I saw lots of butterflies, plenty of monarchs and many other insects. Then in November I discovered 5 chrysalises which I carefully attached to a box so I could watch them hatch. And that's when it went down hill. The first hatched but refused to fly for about 2.5 days. I have no idea if it survived. The second hatched but was severely deformed. That's when I learned about OE which apparently is very prevalent here. Yesterday one hatched. I put it outside to finish drying and found it on the ground later. I picked it up and put it on a bush. Later I found it on the ground again. It eventually disappeared. I hope if flew away but that didn't seem healthy to me. Today I got some great video of one hatching. After the wings inflated I put it outside so it could finish drying and fly away. Within 1 hour a wasp had killed it and was dismembering it. So this brings up a couple of questions. First, is there a place I can mail in a sample of the dead butterfly to see if it had OE? I did use some tape to collect scales from the abdomen. Next...once a butterfly hatches, where can I put it so it'll be safe to dry out without getting murdered? How long does it take for it to be able to fly? I was afraid to leave it inside my screen porch because once it started flying I wouldn't be able to catch it. Thanks!
I am sad that nobody responded to your cry for help. xoxo :(
You're so awesome! Thank you for sharing your experience! I have a ton of milkweed in my flower garden but have never attempted bringing in any eggs or caterpillars... now... I just might!
Been watching your videos. You have a GREAT attitude with lots of good information.
Thanks. Much appreciated. And thank you for showing an interest in helping them!
Love the butterfly landing on you saying hello n thank you, very sweet. I put my hand out to mine an luck out with them landing on me, though they seem familiar with me, flying around my garden all summer, before migrating off from here to canada. Once a newly hatched monarch landed on my possum cage aviary to dry, and my possum rushes over n pulls it through cage wire n eats it before i could do anything. Had to helplessy watch on listening to crunch crunch an possum even licking claws. WOW nature you got me 😄
It's 2021 and this video has been the most helpful and informational on this platform. Thank you.
Your videos have been a huge help for me. I just released my first Monarch and have 10 caterpillars and one chrysalis about to give me my second butterfly. Thanks!
I love all these questions and comments. I am so glad I watched as many videos as I could before I started. If something comes up I know what to do. I have quite a Monarch Kit now. Thanks Rich for making this easy to understand and for your support. I am really enjoying helping the Monarchs. I just had to ask my son to watch them for a week so we can go on a trip. If we weren’t going to Canada I would bring them with me.😊
Glad that you've dived in. And I definitely appreciate you checking out the past videos. I'm not a UA-camr who cares about views and such nonsense. But when people are willing to see what info has already been put out, they tend to find they have fewer questions, which helps me out. (But definitely, nobody should ever feel timid about asking questions, even if they *have* been answered in other videos. There's soooo many videos now, I wouldn't expect someone to watch them all first.) Good luck with the rest of your season!
Dear MrLund, Thank you so very much for these terrific videos! What an education -- And you have a sensitive and intelligent understanding of nature's precious balance. Thank you for all of that, too, and for encouraging so many people to follow your lead! BRAVO!!
Strong words, Nicole. They are appreciated. Thanks for "getting it". And thank you for doing what you can to help out the Monarchs! You're on the front lines!
Are you still doing this for eight years wow and I love it and I’m still doing that thanks for all the videos you’ve shown us and thanks for all the videos you’ve helped us with I would never figured out how to hunt thanks to you
I'm indeed still doing this. Hasn't been eight years, though. I raised my first ever Monarch in 2012. In 2013, I raised around twenty. Not totally sure on that number, as I wasn't taking data at that time yet. 2014, I would say, was my first "real" year of doing this, and trying to use my refined process, and show others what I was doing, and was also the year I made the first five Raising Monarchs videos. So, some might say I've done this for 7 years, but some could argue I've only "really" been doing it for 5 now. Either way, I have no plans to discontinue doing this, and as long as there's topics worthy of people's time, I'll still make videos. I'm not into the idea of making "filler" videos, or just putting out videos just to do so. I feel that if I'm making a video to be watched, it should have a legitimate reason for existing.
Your video was excellent showing and explaining the different milkweed predators. Specifically helpful regarding aphids. Thanks
Glad you found it useful! Thanks for the feedback, for sure.
12:15: You have a new best friend.....Well had one before it flew off.
I've found some eggs and small caterpillars in the past that I didn't collect. A few days later I went back to the same leaf and never found them. More than likely they became food for some bug.
I've learned so much from watching your videos. I'll be tagging my monarchs this year since watching that video you made. Thanks for teaching those of us who wish to learn.
If I'm teaching, the only thanks needed is the willingness to learn, which you obviously have. Further, I'm a student too, and you guys teach me a lot. Thank you (and all else reading this) for the encouragement and reception of this. I had no idea when I started that so many would want to help out the Monarchs. So cool to see that there is truly such a widespread and diverse community!
Last year I raised eight. I'm on track for about 150 this year. My Dearborn Heights neighborhood has been the beneficiary of my efforts. Butterflies everywhere!
Next time I'm driving through Metro Detroit, if I see a Monarch, I'll go ahead and assume it was one of yours. I'll be like, "Thanks Sandy!"
I live in Maine. I discovered some cute tiny caterpillars in a wild common milkweed patch (A. Syrica) that looked a lot like 1st instar Monarch caterpillars. I knew they weren't Monarchs, but thought maybe they were some other butterfly species so I collected a few and took them home to raise. Over about a week they grew larger and fuzzy in appearance. I was then able to identify them and it turns out they were Milkweed Tussock Moths. Also, I learned they are voracious milkweed eaters. I'm so glad I didn't release them into my home milkweed patch.
Yeah, they eat plenty. They are a really cool animal. They have some cool adaptations. The Monarch has its coloration to warn off predators of the poison it has from the milkweed. The orange and black, right? Well, the Tussock Moth caterpillars use the same coloration for the same warning. But, once a moth, coloration won't mean squat because these guys are nocturnal. All of it's predators are out at night, as is it, and no colors are really seen. So, the Tussock Moth is essentially all white, but here's the cool part: To warn off predators, it doesn't rely on coloration, but on sound! It actually makes a clicking noise when it flies around to warn predators about its bad taste! I love the Tussock Moth for this.
In my patch the Tussock Moth prefer the Swamp Milkweed, which is fine, since the Monarch prefer the Common Milkweed. There are very cool to watch grow.
Thats it. All my eggs and catapillars are coming in !!! Iim so glad you told me about the parasitic fly. If i saw dead catapillars and maggots in my cage or on my plants i would have FREAKED out!! Thx 4 your invaluable advice.
Once again, thank you for a bunch of information that is useful and that also resonates with me. Not using chemicals on plants of any kind is a LOT easier than people realize. Targeting certain things as you mentioned, for example, removing aphids and/or the tops of milkweed plants if they are badly infested, is the perfect way to control a population without applying toxic substances or force. Any chemical is potentially not only dangerous to the Monarchs it is also definitely going to be a risk that you are taking yourself and for those who live within range of your home and gardens. Thanks again, and I also agree that we all can learn alot from the old adage of choosing our battles wisely, avoid the toxic stuff and use the squishing and removing techniques. If we are committed to saving the Monarchs and can do it, please everyone give saving the numbers of Monarchs you find , cats and eggs, a try in the amount you can raise them according to your series 1-4 videos and within your own safe interior of the house! It is much more fun than one can even imagine work can be, lol!
Most definitely. When you enjoy it, it definitely doesn't feel like work.
Sometimes people think that being a chemist, I'd want to employ chemicals as the answer to these "pests". But, as a chemist, I think that's why I know to avoid them to prevent other potential risks/hazards.
I just learned about a new pest. The milkweed leaf beetle (different than the milkweed beetle). The adults looks a lot like ladybugs, but instead of black polka dots, it has symmetric black ink-like blots that look like a rorschach test. They lay clutches of bright orange eggs, and the larvae almost completed defoliated one of my butterfly milkweed and showy milkweed plants! At first glance, the larvae look like orange beetles with a single row of black dots on each side, but are squishy to touch and no wings (kinda like a round caterpillar).
Great advice !!! I have 2 monarchs flying in my garden I haven’t seen any in years. I am trying to raise them at home , first time will see . Thanks
You're definitely welcome!
If you just have a small number of aphids, you can remove them with painter's tape. That way you won't be brushing any of them to the ground. If you can catch them early it works pretty well, but you will probably have to keep doing it for a while.
Hello, My husband and I worked for Dr. Urquhart and discovered the overwintering colonies of Monarchs in Mexico. My picture as a young woman is on the cover of Nat. Geo. I appreciate the education you are providing even thought I do not support what I see as excessive handling and management of the monarch life cycle.
Greetings Mrs. Trail. It's certainly an honor to have a comment from you, for sure! I had not seen that cover of National Geographic, but was able to find it here:www.flightofthebutterflies.com/discovery-story/
I reciprocate the appreciation for appreciating education I'm attempting to provide. I'm a science teacher trying to do what I can to hopefully help their declining numbers. It was definitely a startle, then, to read that you felt excessive handing is occurring. As your opinion is most definitely one worthy of respect, I would be further humbled if you were able to go a bit more into detail as to why you feel this way. Which aspects of the process that I've shown in videos do you feel is excessive? Are you saying that people should not attempt to help an egg reach the adult stage if responsible, sanitary conditions are maintained? If that is the case, can you explain as to why?
I'm a genuine guy, only trying to genuinely help. Knowing from studies that have estimated an egg's chance of making it to a mature adult is about 10% in the wild, I have assumed that if through a raising process one is able to be consistently above 10%, that this would only be a benefit to the population, assuming that responsibility and care is taken to produce only healthy Monarchs. Do you feel that this is not the case?
I just want to also say that since online comments remove the emotional context of what is being said, definitely these questions are truly heartfelt and honest. If anything, I'm quite excited, and in a way, a bit star struck that you would stumble upon these videos and provide a comment. I'm very curious to hear and understand your point of view, as I've been in touch with various Monarch entomologists and ecologists who are aware of what we are doing, and have not expressed concern, assuming that the Monarchs are reared in sanitary conditions, healthy, and disease free. I'd love to see a more full picture as to what other opinions are out there.
I appreciate any time you can give to this and advice that you have to offer. Many thanks!
- Rich Lund
@@MrLundScience And I enjoyed reading the article today. Love the internet. Love you!
I know that these are older videos but and that's a big but I learned so very much about these wonderful pollinators and truly appreciate what you have said. I planted common milkweed in my yard about 2 years ago. Now retired I have more time to try to help them. I saw 2 caterpillars on my plants the other day and as I was watched wasps came and killed both of them. I was horrified. I plant butterfly loving plants but have learned that I need to do more to help the Monarchs. Today I found and collected 10 eggs. I will follow your advice and try my best to raise these little creatures. Having watched all the videos in this series I feel more confident that I can do what needs to be done. I'm nervous but hopeful that in a short time I'll be releasing 10 wonderful and beautiful Monarchs. My wish is that I can help in my small way. Each effort is worth it. Thank you for the valuable information.
Greetings Jeanne! Welcome aboard! It's a great idea to do what you've done, and the first time through, deal with a reasonable number. 10, I'd say, is a good number to start with. It can help you gauge for the future if you could easily do more the next year, or if that number was enough. And, it probably goes without saying, but one of the most important things to remember when first starting is to make sure you don't take in more than you can feed. Sometimes people start out, and go out egg hunting, coming home with 30+ eggs, and aren't yet understanding just how much milkweed that will eventually take to raise them. Again, 10 is a great, reasonable number.
Good luck, and ask questions as they come up!
My milk weed bugs are very destructive to my pods. Although them chewing open the pods helps spread the seeds. That's how i got into this whole thing. Milkweed plants blew in from a neighbors house several years ago
Great info and observations.
Very well spoken , excellent video . Thank you !
Glad that it was enjoyed. Thank you!
Hi Rich! (Okay?)
EXCELLENT presentation here and I already posted this in my "Files" section of "Monarchs and Milkweed facebook group!! Everyone on my group LOVE your videos and the advice and knowledge that you share with all of us monarch lovers and raisers! :-)
Just wanted to share this article on the Oleander aphids and make a correcton to your statement on your video. Oleander aphids do NOT lay eggs but GIVE BIRTH to live young! This article is from a google search I did and I found it amazing also, as I used to think they laid eggs! But yes, everything else you shared is ON TARGET about the aphids and other pests! As for protecting the milkweed pods, ESPECIALLY on the Common Milkweed, I use what's called Organza bags. These bags are a fine mesh and have a drawstring on the top of the bag which are commonly used in weddings and as bags that contain treats or gifts in them. I actually havenot had ONE SINGLE MILKWEED BUG show up on my milkweeds this year and I'm not surprised since I'm prepared for them and they now don't show up! LOL! Hey, not complaining in case one does shows up and wants to eat the seeds and pods!! Thanks for this GREAT video and I always look forward to more that you make and so do my group members! ;-)
Certainly okay to use my first name. Glad you enjoyed the video!
As for the aphids, thanks for bringing this up. It's something, honestly, I've read maybe three times, but then when on camera, "lay eggs" just slipped out. Too late to edit now!
But, it turns out, we're both right, though you are more correct than I. Looking further into this, *most* aphids reproduce with a live birth method, but also, *most* aphids can also lay fertilized eggs. This source was pretty cool, discussing it: influentialpoints.com/aphid/Aphid-eggs_biology_morphology.htm
Great idea with the milkweed bug prevention!
I’m here a few years later. Maybe this has already been mentioned. I also hate earwigs. One way to reduce their numbers is to lay out damp newspapers at the base of plants where you see them. It makes a place they will climb into to hide during the day. You go collect the papers and throw them out. Reduces their numbers without adding any chemicals.
I have been raising monarch for 2 years now and thank-you for all of your great videos and advice. Today I noticed that 2 caterpillars that I brought home from the beach this past week were looking pretty unhealthy and indeed they had been infiltrated by the tachinid fly maggot. So sad and I guess that' nature. I learned a lot today! Thanks again!
Thank you so much for the information I have been raising monarch butterflies lately and I leave them outside my garden hoping they all will be okay but then I have notice someof them are did not make it. from now on I will bring them inside the covered patio until they are ready and healthy
Thank you also for sharing your advice on raising Monarchs!!!
Bro! We are in MI too, and this is my first successful year raising Monarchs. Had a deformed one last year that I found as a chrysalis and stupidly moved it to our enclosure so my toddler could see it change and enclose. This year I actually have successfully released like 7 monarchs and one swallowtail. One predator I think you should have mentioned is spiders. Maybe it’s self explanatory, but I have found a BUNCH of eggs this season that we never get to see as caterpillars. I find an awful lot of spiders on my milkweed, and lots of different species too.
One of my caterpillars was made host to Tachinid fly larva while we were out of town. Weren’t sure what to do with the cats and chrysalis that we had, so we put it outside and left the door open so they could enclose. All but one of the cats got eaten, and that one died while making its chrysalis. Super sad, but now I know better for next year.
Anyhow, good on you for these videos. Much appreciated.
Nature is both beautiful, and cruel, in seemingly equal amounts, and sometimes, at the same time. We learn as we go, though, and each year develops improvements for the next year. Good luck!
I loved your how to raise monarchs series! It taught me how to actually find and raise them from eggs so this year I raised over 50 caterpillars and around 30 are in their chrysalises now! I still look for eggs while I get milkweed for the others too (I can never bare to just leave it if I see it knowing its odds of survival if I do)
And it doesn't get old, does it?
Thank you for taking the time and effort to help them out!
@@MrLundScience It really doesn't! They're such sweet little critters!
I tried so many treatments that didnt work, so i wont use chemical anymore, so this year, i let the afids go, and the hover flies then appeared, and a few new birds to eat the afids, and at the end of the season, my sunflowers seeds are developed, despite the infestation i had on the plant. One plant i sprayed, did not develop seeds to completion.morning glories that were affected last year are untouched this year, so i just let nature do its cycles. ❤thanks for your videos!
So I had a crazy miracle happen this year from October 29th to November 4th. I don't know how, but I was going up my ramp (I'm disabled) and right on the under side of the top wooden rail (all warped and falling apart) was my first ever monarch in chrysalis stage, in the new mexico desert. At first I didn't know what it was because I've never seen a monarch in that stage (I'm originally from Southern California and only experienced the butterfly during overwintering). But I took photos and Google lens came into play. Sure enough, it was a monarch. So I quickly googled everything I could find (including your videos) so I could help her to emerge and fly away. It worked and I helped her (and from your videos I know she was a her) and she flew away about 4½ hours after emerging. It was a true miracle. The only thing was, I couldn't figure out how she made it that far to begin with. Where did she come from. Then I realized that I have like a desert milkweed growing in my yard (I didn't know what it was) that has these tiny white flowers that grow in little bushes that lots and lots of tarantula hawks flock to through the summer. Now this year the bushes got bigger and they were growing right in front of my porch steps, and I'm deadly allergic to bee stings and many bug bites etc., so when we were invaded by the tarantula hawks this summer, we got that new spray "vevo hornet and wasp" spray, the one that's supposed to target only certain bugs sensory systems, and we sprayed it to get rid of them so we could cut down "the weeds" in front of the porch that were attracting them. We see all kinds of caterpillar and bugs around here, even once Hairy caterpillar that is still yet to be identified for several years that I turned in a photo of to the "experts", and my fiance and I both swear we saw a monarch caterpillar, now that we know what they look like, but we just leave most everything alone, except that which will harm us. So we sprayed and he did a bit of a cut down of those flowers, but some of the ones that were no more than leaves really, we left alone. We just wanted the "white flowers the hawks like" cut down. Do you think it's possible that the "vivo" didn't do any harm to the monarch, and because it got rid of "the hawks" that it allowed her to freely live off the remaining milk weed and then go find my ramp to go into Crysilis? It's just so puzzling how she even got there in the first place, in the NM desert, plus survived to fly west or southwest. She was quite beautiful and healthy looking, and I even made her a bit of nectar to drink for the road, which she did. I just really don't know. All I know is she was a miracle, and I helped her, and she was beautiful.
How do you make the nectar? I have a monarch that just hatched. How long does it take for her to open her wings? It is a she.
Mr. Lund is good looking, Anyone agree with that? On a more serious channel I planted milkweed this year and did not see any Monarchs. This fall I'm planting more seeds and in the spring will plant more. Your videos are very informative and motivational!
Good looking? I don't know. From editing, I know if you pause the video when I'm talking, I can have quite the hilarious, awkward face!
Wow, you missed my most aggressive predator here in Oregon - the Crab Spider and then comes ants getting the eggs. It can get bad when the MW is flowering, patrolling is the only way I've found to keep their numbers down as they also snag honey bees. Another great presentation! You do get low marks for your field attire, never wear black on a hot day:))
This was definitely a challenging video to make, I'll admit. Many have been asking for my take on pests & predators and what I do about them. Thing is, there's so many different ones and it's also diverse from region to region. I know that a video could have been made that covers some of the worst, but I don't think that's something I was qualified to do, for I wouldn't want to advise people on how to deal with something I've never dealt with. Crab Spiders, for example, I don't even know if they are in Michigan. If they are, I've never had to deal with them.
The conclusion that I was hoping would be understood by the end of the video, though, is that regardless of the predators, taking the eggs inside and raising them in controlled environments is the best way to prevent them from harming your flock. It eliminates the problem.
Still, that doesn't always do much as far as helping out the milkweed and what pests might do to your food source. But, I think it's going to be a rough ride when people try to keep the cats in nature, even if it is the back yard. Ants are everywhere, nature is cruel...it's just a tough world out there. So, I hope it gives voice to the idea of taking them inside.
Thanks for checking it out, and for the feedback, David!
Ummmm wearing black is the best for heat in case you’ve never experienced it 🤷🏽♀️
Geez, so glad I saw this video. I thought the amphids were hatching monarchs!!
so happy to hear that you leave the milkweed beetles alone. I think they are cute as well and I always leave them alone.
As they need the plant too, we shouldn't treat the Monarchs as the only insect that has a right to it. Plus, the milkweed beetle's coloration helps to teach birds to stay away from the black and orange/red. When birds eat these guys and then spit them out in disgust, they are helping to educate the birds to stay away from those colors/patterns.
Has anyone ever said that you look like Jeff Hardy? Anyway, love the info! Got started on my first milkweed plants this year thanks to you.
Haven't heard that one yet, and had to look him up (sorry), but yeah, I suppose I see it to some degree. When I was 16, that's when people started giving me the, "You look like a younger Henry Rollins". I didn't know who Henry was at the time (more into nature than music growing up) but checked him out and liked his music. Then, read his books and LOVED them. Since then, I think him and I have aged along different paths and don't exactly resemble each other as much, but the time I met him, he saw the resemblance. Jeff Hardy has some cool face paint!
Thanks for covering the bug.
I hadn't seen it before and have struggled to grow any stand of milkweed varieties. But last year, Ta-Da, a tiny patch of butterfly weed. Between the insects & aphids I'm lucky if any plants live.
My goats ate every seed pod last year on my butterfly weed, so I will be grabbing these guys & me & Bugsy are fitting them with 'cement gee-loshes' see *in my best gangster voice. Not because I'm anti-nature, but nothing will eat them! If they aren't feeding my wild birds or other wild critters bye! Plus,...I REALLY WANT My SEEDS!
If I've learned anything about gardening, bugs (sucking mouth parts TRUE BUGS) are almost impossible to control if left to themselves.
If I ever get a monarch egg, I'll bring it in too! 🦋
Hey Mr Lund, Jim here from NW Ohio. Just started raising Monarchs this month. I have a two year old daughter and thought I would let her experience the whole process. Anyways I have 5 Chrysalises at this point and had an experience with Tachinid flies. I came downstairs this morning and two of my chrysalises had white string looking stuff hanging from them. I looked at all your videos and no luck discovering what it was. then I looked in a book I just purchased and it turns out it was the pupae that came out of the chrysalis. I did get rid of the pupae but I am bummed out about two butterflies that will not make it. I do have pics of the chrysalises if you would like them I can send them to you for reference. Thank you for all the great videos and have a great day. Jim.
Greetings Jim (and daughter)! Welcome aboard!
I have never dealt with tachinid flies, and honestly, went a few years of doing this without even knowing they existed, or posed problems to Monarchs. It is about 90% due to my procedure, and 10% luck. I say 90% because most of the Monarchs I raise come from eggs that were laid in nature, and since I take them in as an egg and rear them from there, the tachinid fly never has a chance to encounter them as a caterpillar (or at all) and inject eggs into them. The other 10% of luck would be due to the caterpillars that I do sometimes find and take in. I try to keep those caterpillars separated from the rest, not for fear of infecting others, but in case a tachinid fly did get to it, I'll be able to notice that it came from that one, and will likely make a video about it. (Once tachinid eggs are laid in the caterpillar, they can't infect other caterpillars, but also, there's nothing really you can do. The tachinid larva will emerge, and it's fatal to the Monarch.) So, the surefire way to avoid them in the future is to take in the eggs and rear them in controlled environments, which really just means, containers that you keep tachinids from getting into. Because of the ventilation in my containers, I don't even leave them outdoors on my screened in porch, but keep them inside.
This is an amazingly rewarding hobby, so I hope you have some great experiences with it. And so cool that you've got your daughter experiencing it with you!
Thanks so much for the info. Managed to capture a caterpillar 🐛 on my milkweeds this year it is now in j hang phase in my makeshift container. I’m so excited to release even its only one. I just recently put in a native garden and live on a lake so I will be making ba puddle for them in my garden for next year. And hopefully be able to raise more as it’s end of season here.
I have been "raising" butterflies in my garden this year, but I have noticed the caterpillars mostly crawling over my wall and to neighbors' yards. I want to photograph the process of forming a chrysalis and emerging as a butterfly, so I am going to try moving the caterpillars into a cage and see if I have better luck. Your videos are very helpful!
Glad that these were helpful. Good luck with your project!
We have a horrible problem of Tachinid Flies in Kansas, it is so discouraging to have your caterpillars grow bigger but yet fall victim to these guys. the best defence I have found is to bring the caterpillers inside as soon as possible. Even in egg form, it means you have to check every day but really helps them out.
Before I knew much about just how many predators and parasites were out there, I was already collecting Monarchs primarily as eggs and taking them into containers. I've continued since, and in those years, have never had a tachinid fly experience. I understand, not everyone has the amount of time it requires to raise them from eggs, but if we wish to make tachinid flies a moot issue, I think that it's the only way to go.
Hi Rich,
I've been raising Monarch's for the 2nd year now. I've learned a lot from Your videos, Thank You!
I'm praying You see My question and reply back soon! I'm in San Diego CA., It's been a very different year for the Monarchs and Me! Pests!!
I've lost many eggs due to what I believe to be wasp's getting to the eggs before I get them inside! They've turned black n never hatched. Removed Them quickly B 4 any could hatch in My container I keep the eggs in and the Cat's until They are big enough to transfer to My Cage. (A very well made Cage by Tony Gomez who also has written book's and has a very active Site on Facebook too. He's very helpful.) But, getting to My question. This year I'm dealing with Nat's. I suspect from My house plants. I've never heard anything about Nat's bothering Cat's but, being I've lost 5 at the final stage of being ready to go to Chrysils. These Guy's just stopped eating n just clung to the Milkweed leave until 4 days later I removed Them and had do what I hate doing. Loosing Them at this stage is heartbreaking to say the least. Can you please shed some light on the subject. If it's not Nat's, I don't know what killed Them. The Others in the Cage R Chrysils n I pray come out OK! I'll know in a few days. I've got 20 more in different stages all doing great so far! I'm crossing my fingers They all make it!
I look forward to hearing from you Rich. Again, Thanks for All You do to guide and help Us who are trying to help the Monarch Butterflies. Google sure needs a butterfly emoji!!
(I grow all My Plant's and Rinse the leaves very throughly B 4 I give Them to the Cat's. So, pesticides are not possible, I've got so many Plant's from the Seed's planting themselves in the yard from last year's Milkweed Seed's naturally blowing in My yard!) (At least 40+ Plant's!)
Greetings Bev. Sorry to hear that you've lost five recently. I want to help, but not sure how to. Just like you, I have not heard of gnats causing caterpillars problems before, and I don't know of any that do. Doesn't mean that they couldn't be, but I don't find any site discussing a type of gnat that harms caterpillars. I would also suspect that if they did harm them, they would harm them at any instar, and thus, when the caterpillars are much smaller and more vulnerable, I would think an attacking gnat would take them out at those earlier stages, not at a later stage. This leans me towards thinking that it's not the gnats, and might be something else. Do they maintain an appetite up until it's time to go into chrysalis? Because this sounds more like a type of infection. It's good that you are cleaning the leaves, but let me ask, are you bleach treating the leaves? Water can help rinse off many pesticides, but if any are oil based, the water won't fully do it. Some pesticides have oil components so that they can survive one or two rains. If bleach treating isn't happening (and I'm not saying it's something that must be done) then certain pesticides, NPV, or bacterial infections are still a possibility. If the caterpillars aren't turning black, it's not likely to be NPV. More likely, a bacterial infection of some sort. Further, if this happened to five around the same time, and they were at the same stage in the life cycle, this too suggests a small outbreak where all five were exposed to the source at the same time.
Some questions that might help: Have you had success with others this season prior to these five, and during that time, were the gnats present? If so, it's not likely the gnats, as they should have had a similar effect on the previous ones.
Also, have you had successful once since these five, and by successful, I would say, more successful than these five, and making it to the chrysalis stage? If so, and the gnats have been there the whole time, I think this also leads towards it not being the gnats.
did you mist your eggs so they dont dry out? I am in No Cal...
Hi, Thanks so much for your videos, I only had 3 stalks of milkweed and somehow got 10 caterpillars and needed info/help to raise them. The last one is hatching today, your videos were a great help! I plan on planting more milkweed and was wondering if there is something sturdy I should put with the milkweed for the chrysalis. I plan to raise more indoors but this would be for those eggs I miss. There is not much twig type stuff near by.
Greetings! If concerned about chrysalis needs, what about just a square of wooden fence? Like, the criss cross, inexpensive type? Just an idea. They don't need anything severely stable, so a butterfly bush, once mature, could do wonders. Thinking long term, I'd plant that, as it can serve multiple purposes around your milkweed. Both a chrysalis supporter, but a Monarch attracting flower at the same time.
I'm glad you are having a nice monrchs
An hour ago, I experienced the joy of watching a Monarch, fresh out of its crysallis, strengthen enough to lift off my hand and fly away to its unknown fate. It is a spiritually moving experience.
It never gets old, either, from my point of view.
@@MrLundScience First , thank you for all your very helpful videos. I successfully hatched and "launched" 15 monarchs this past summer. It was my first time, and I'm hooked! I would like to try again next summer with even more, I would also like to raise them outside in a protective environment, any tips?
@@franceshendry5656 I have a video that shows one example of outdoor rearing. I hope it helps in a way and provides ideas/tips: ua-cam.com/video/LjEgU0Ub5hY/v-deo.html
You must be a favorite teacher at your high school. This was super fun and informative. I worried about the milkweed bug (aka Oncopeltus fasciatus) that I was spotting all over my plants, but now I will rest easy. Here is another question I've been scouring the interwebs to get answered: Can I raise monarch and swallowtail caterpillars in the same cage?
I have some students who really like me because I challenge them to think and hold them to high standards.
I have some students who really don't like me, though, because I challenge them to think and hold them to high standards. Just part of the teacher game, I suppose.
*Can* you raise the two different species in the same cage? I suppose it's possible, and I'd predict as long as they aren't over crowded and have their own food sources, they likely wouldn't pose each other a problem. Even so, I would still advise against it. If for no other reason, mostly because since they are eating different foods and have a different physiology, it's possible that one might have a type of bacteria in its feces that the other species isn't as ready for its immune system to battle. Like going to a different country and drinking the water there that those who live there are just fine with. What bacteria a species can easily handle, or find trouble with can be different. I don't know this to be a fact with Monarchs and Swallowtails, but since it's a possibility, that's why I wouldn't try it out, just to be safe. Hope that helps!
I don't know if I should have done it, but I brang in the plant with the pupa on it and put on my window sill in the kitchen, behind the blinds so some light. If this is a good idea, please let me know. I am going to try to get to a pet store and see if they have something available for butterflies, in the meantime they are safe for now at least until my cat gets home from the vet. I hope they have some kind of screened cage for them. I will also grow more parsley and will try to send for a butterfly plant. Fingers crossed all works out.
Greetings Christine. Sorry that I was a bit tied up for the last couple of days.
Have you watched Raising Monarchs Parts 1 - 5? They are the core of the series that will likely answer many questions you have, or don't even know you have yet. Those 5 show my entire process from start to finish. The one that shows how I care for the caterpillars specifically, is Part 3. As you stated that your Monarchs are eating plant material, I assume you meant larva (caterpillar) instead of pupa (chrysalis).
Here's Part 3: ua-cam.com/video/sJU8-FpGI78/v-deo.html
This was quite informative. Thanks so much 🙂.
Very welcome! Glad it could help.
Ever look into the frasse with your microscope? Perhaps even to see if 'pillars have any possible signs of OEs? Out of curiosity?
Or even see if swabbing the milkweeds where the pillars have been eating around? It would be interesting to see how far they will go, dormant or not, or even someone who owns a microscope finds something besides OE...
To my knowledge, OE spores don't pass in the frass (hey, that rhymes!) but it would be worth looking at and checking. Thing is, I don't really have OE to really look at. It's not that prevalent around Michigan, and since I bleach treat eggs and leaves, it's become a non-issue. Have you seen the bleach treating videos? It's a great way to prevent OE from coming up in the first place.
Yeah, i watched it. And great info. And thanks for the reply. Great answer especially the fact their little OE being found... I'm learning biggest OE issues are from certain milkweed that isn't native in the US and Canada area mostly
I love raising them, I have a Cage and I have them inside my Screened in Florida room...and yes there is always a fly or bug that will try to squeak into the cage....I just kill them as quick as possible,,,except the (Lady Bugs) I leave them there, but maybe not a good idea?? I also have Milkweed plants growing in my yard, my question, should I bring in the Cats...and put them in the cage with the rest of the Cats....or leave them outside, as they my infect the others, if they were already infected by the outside nature??
I’m in FL too. I would bring them in and put them in cages if you’re interested in raising them. I’m on my 2nd round. I got some nice cages from Amazon
What about separate cages? One just for the cats you find outside? I can never see the eggs.
YAY your a fan of me!!! Love your videos
I found a (pigeon Tremex) (Tremex Columba) also known as the wood wasp. I don't know if they're harmful, probably not. They look really cool. I found one a few days ago on a tree on a long seed pod forgot the tree name though.
I had a bad tussock moth infestation last year. They stripped my swamp milkweed patch overnight. I looked up what their eggs looked like, so I can nip it in the bud this year.
Mr Lund, hope its ok but I deleted my earlier post with the mistake on it. But wanted to tell you I greatly appreciate all your videos on Monarchs. I so love raising them. Also something of interest the monarchs I had that did get Tachinids were only from ones I gathered in mid August through September in later instars and was around 10%. Also found that these flies also go after Japanese beetles and stink bugs so I don't dislike them as much but sure hated loosing monachs to them.
Yeah, if I could wave a magic wand to make all tachinids go away...I wouldn't. The animal doesn't choose to be what it is when it comes out of the egg. It's just a tachinid fly trying to be the very best tachinid fly it can be. If they are in the way of what I'm trying to do, like grow healthy milkweed or raise healthy Monarchs, I don't like them, but I still find myself respecting them.
As for deleting your comment, hey, it's your comment. People can do as they please with it. No problem at all.
I am puzzled! On my Milkweed plants in Western Mass. I have lots of black with a yellow streak soft fuzzy caterpillars. as well as small monarch caterpillars. I thought that they were a stage in the development of the Monarch caterpillar so I brought into my conservatory a bunch of Milkweed with the fuzzy ones and the small monarch caterpillars and placed the bunch in a vase of water. The fuzzy ones grew to about an inch and then disappeared so I thought that the became small regular monarch larva. What are they? They feed on milkweed also and are prolific. But maybe birds are eating them!
If you can, look up "Tussock Moth Caterpillars" and see if those are the missing culprits. They are also a pretty amazing critters too. Once they are ready, they don't make a chrysalis, but go to the ground and form a cocoon using their own silk and whatever available debris is nearby. So, I'd search for what look like little bally things near whatever ground surface is in your conservatory. If you do find them, they usually need a good two weeks at frozen temperatures (though can be frozen for longer) and then brought out to thaw in the spring. They then emerge that spring as a white moth. They too need milkweed in the caterpillar stage, so, likely are suffering similar plights from the decline of milkweed.
Thanks for all the information
You're very welcome. Thank you for having an interest in the Monarch's well being!
You're so awesome dude. Love all your videos.
Those poor caterpillars, no wonder we have a shortage of monarchs...tuff life
I raised 3 Monarch Caterpillars and I’ve released 2 so far. I’m keeping one because it won’t leave yet. It seems to be comfortable with me.
love what you are doing keep up the good work
Thanks. I'll do my best.
@@MrLundScience i have tons of milkweed in my yard i have two caterpillars and another one in its cresols
I took in a instar 4, and he had tachinid unfortunately, i found out when he was trying become chrysalis, and died. And we are in michigan too. That's very sad
Thank You so much for these videos. It has spurred on my desire to start my butterfly garden and expand the milkweed plants from tiny pockets in and around hay being cleared to one day having it all over as much of my 27 acres of property as is possible. To that end you mentioned that seeds can be frozen once collected and then sprouted in early spring. Would plants not survive the winter if grown indoors throughout the winter? That way they would be larger when replanted in the spring.
As I understand it (and my gardening knowledge is just barely above amateur), that should work fine. If they're getting the sunlight and nutrients they need and are at a reasonable temperature, they'd be a fine house plant. Good luck!
I was given a crysallis in late October….it was already way too cold to release…so I have been feeding daily with hopes that it survives long enough for warm weather and let it go. I let him out daily to fly around and it is now in the middle of January and all is well…I have been called cruel for doing this and told to let it be part of the food chain…I just can’t….any helpful info would be greatly appreciated.
Hi. I would do the same if it’s too cold. Someone told me it should be at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit for the butterfly. Not sure how true or exact that is.
I have over 20 chrysalis right now in cages.
I planted swamp milkweed in my backyard. I have common milkweed in my front. Can I feed my common milkweed caterpillars swamp milkweed also? I ask this because I might run out of common and I was wanting to switch to swamp. I have been raising Monarch butterflies for several years now and I absolutely love it so much!!!!
Why do my Large adult butterflies keep going up to go in the J, but than come down again. Should i keep feefing them. They are huge & eating the stems of the milkweed plant????
I have had that happen. They eventually go into the J.
And then chrysalis. How did yours do? Did it survive?
Thank you again for such great videos!! Question: Have you ever experienced chalcid wasp parasitism of the chrysalis? These tiny wasps are everywhere here and it seems the only way to prevent infection is to raise them indoors.
I have not experienced this, but also, I have the benefit of a screened in porch where I relocate each chrysalis. One possibility is to have an outdoor pop up tent that you reserve just for the chrysalides and emerging adults. I show such a situation here, in "Outdoor Rearing" - ua-cam.com/video/LjEgU0Ub5hY/v-deo.html
I hope that helps!
Thank you. I'm learning so much.
Seeing that Monarch honor you by landing on your neck was wonderful!!! was that a Monarch?
That was pretty cool!
I feel so stupid but I never even thought about the pesticides hurting them. I had 40+ caterpillars that ate up all the milkweed in my yard. I stopped at a family members house to get some more that was on the side of the road.... it poisoned all of my caterpillars. I am still so devastated. I have 15 that are in their chrysalises right now so at least I get to release a few. I’ve lost a few along the way to maggots. Hoping these last 15 will make it out okay. I can’t take losing more monarchs 😥
There's definitely rough patches along this road, but we learn as we go. It helps to see each setback as a chance to learn and improve. It takes a few "devastations" sometimes to improve. But the cool part is certainly the improving part. I've had my own setbacks too, so understand, if we do this long enough, we've all been there. We can sympathize.
Another fab video Mr Lund.
I've started raising mine in captivity recently & they've been struck down with some disease, where they shrink & shrivel down to a third the size.. stop eating, writhe around slowly &, over the next day or so, they die. This is fifth instar caterpillars. Have you seen anything like this before?
Also, an idea for future videos - how clean to keep your enclosure. Should you clean your enclosure out with bleach daily? How often should the frass be cleared away?
Thanks again!
Excellent idea for a video. It was actually on the list as a potential one for this coming season.
As for the symptoms your Monarchs are having, I have seen it before, but there are a number of things that can cause it. It's likely bacterial infection of some type. While it might not be NPV (unless they are turning a bit black) I would recommend the NPV Prevention video I made (or any other parasite/bacterial/viral prevention source out there). The prevention tends to be the same for all of these: 5% bleach solution. Check the vid "NPV Prevention" and that should hopefully help.
Thank you MrLund. Your videos have taught me more than the many hours of research I've done & any other group I've joined!! I didn't know about your NPV video. I appreciate your help. I realise, after watching your informative video, that this was my issue :(
That's good to hear. But keep in mind, it might not be NPV. I made the video due partially to my cats having an outbreak of something, but I didn't know 100% what that something was. It was a good opportunity to make the NPV video at the time, as far as how to prevent for it. The more I looked at the situation, though, as none of my cats turned black, I'm less inclined to diagnose it as NPV, but as some other type of likely bacterial infection. Still, the bleach treatment shown in that video can prevent both NPV and occasional bacteria outbreaks. So, if yours had similar symptoms to what I was showing, but didn't turn a bit (or a lot) black by the time they passed, it likely wasn't NPV, but a type of bacteria. Either way, bleach treatment of the leaves (and a *very thorough rinsing afterwards*) has prevented any of this from happening to me again.
Thanks so much! Appreciate your time :)
Hi, it is obviously such a charmed porch you have where you are able to hang the chrysalides along a string and let the Monarchs eclude and prepare to fly away! Does it provide somehow screening that does not permit any pests that could harm them like ants/spiders/etc.? I would love to have a screened porch as we once had in another house, and this could be a good excuse, ha, to build one! Thanks.
Indeed. It's fully screened, and came with the house. The previous owner had built it. If you check out the very first Indy Labs episode, it shows it from the outside.
ua-cam.com/video/WVEpT5sfy9s/v-deo.html
(Fair warning...you might be inspired to find micrometeorites from your roof if you watch it!)
2:45 I think the needed some privacy here XD
Hi Rich, I just started raising Monarchs a little over two months ago, since the passing of my husband Les. It has helped me tremendously as we both have always felt a strong connection with butterflies. I have a girlfriend who raises them and she has helped me a lot, but your videos have been fabulous in filling in the blanks, so please keep them coming. I saw one of your videos last week about a malformed Butterfly and identifying it. This morning I had three butterflies emerge, and one of them, turned out to be malformed. He’s having trouble even climbing up the inside of my enclosure. any suggestions on what to do at this point? Thanks again for your very informative series, and because of you, I’ve started growing milkweed, I can’t keep enough of it, my caterpillars🐛devour it like there’s no tomorrow! It’s gonna take time for that Milkweed to grow, but I’m happy to say it’s happening much quicker than I thought it would.
Charlene Henig🦋
I have 2 Monarch Pupa and they are pretty big. They are on my Italian Parsley in my S. Philadelphia back yard (in the city),and love eating it. I am afraid a bird or some other bug may get them. What can I do ? how do I bring them in and protect them from my cat ? Is there a screen cage or something available at a pet store ? something, anything? please let me know as soon as you possibly can. This is the second year on my parsley, but I haven't seen any Monarch butterflies in a long time and I hope these 2 make it. I am really concerned. Please let me know. I am really hoping they succeed to fly away some day. Thank You
When do they begin to morph, is it a constant reliable time, and how long are they typically in the cocoon before they come out?
Do you grow swamp milk weed, Asclepias incarnata? I've noticed the Monarch's here seem to prefer it.
I only stick with Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca, as it produces the largest leaves. I don't plant my milkweed with the primary purpose being to attract Monarchs and have them lay eggs, but to have both seed pods for those who want seeds (students and neighbors) and to use the leaves for feeding caterpillars. So, the larger the leaf, the better for my purposes. Also, for some raising Monarchs they wish to know which species will cause the most egg laying, but I've not been too concerned with that. Common Milkweed is the only option they've had in my yard, and I've been able to find enough eggs to keep me busy at home, and at the various places I look for eggs.
Hi, I am in Florida and have only found swamp milkweed here at the butterfly house. Where could i get a few seeds of the common milkweed to plant? I have released about 2 dozen or so Monarchs last year, had alot of cocoons killed by flys. I need to plant more milkweed as the cats ate all of it, it is coming back slowly.
A year ago i ordered monarch catepillars online and after that i had leftover milkweed and then a butterfly layed 16 eggs on it and when they all hatched i saw one just burnt so i put it in the shade and still the all burned to death before they could even be a chrysalis
I spray the milkweed fodder with dilute castile soap which has an insecticidal soap effect. Since doing this I haven't had aphid problems and have reduced spider and lacy wing larva incidents. I use a spray bottle - like for window spray, that you can get at hardware or dollar stores. I put a teaspoon to table spoon of soap in the bottle, fill with water and shake it up.
When picking fodder
1) - I cut off however much plant I need
2) check for eggs and caterpillars
thoroughly and let sit for a few seconds
4) spray off soap with garden hose with nozzle set to "mist".
5) shake off or spin to get off excess water. to spin rub stem between palms - like the fire drill method of fire starting. But caterpillars aren't fussy about damp milkweed. will put those into a vase of water with a foil cover - to prevent drowning.
3) spray with soap thoroughly ... ( sorry about that)
could you make a video about the end of a monarch butterfly's life? what is the cause of death when it's not eaten by some predator & naturally dies.
the other request, I noticed the monarch butterfly I released kept coming back to the milkweed after already laying eggs & I wondered if she was depositing more eggs or visiting the baby caterpillars? also, if she mated with a male, then laid her eggs, then why are the caterpillars all different sizes? some are as tiny as a fingernail clipping while others are the size of my pinky finger .. so can the female monarch have many different mates? how long do they take to lay the eggs they are carrying? it seemed she was returning daily for weeks.
thanks for making these videos!
Greetings Dr. Jekyll.
To give better answers to your questions, I'd have to ask a few questions myself:
First, how are you sure that it is the same Monarch that is returning? What has made that clear for you? With my experience with Monarchs, I'm not even sure I could tell one Monarch from the next unless there was a specific indicator, like a specific part of the wing being damaged or something like that.
Second question, related to the first - Is it possible that you are not witnessing the same Monarch, but a different one visiting your milkweed?
Third question - Concerning the caterpillars that are different sizes, are you certain that these came from eggs that all hatched the same day? When a caterpillar is the size of a finger nail clipping, they are either a 1st or 2nd instar caterpillar. When they are the size of your pinky (and I don't exactly know how large or small your pinky finger is) they are likely 4th or 5th instar. This is the difference of about a week, give or take a day or two. What I'm getting at is that this size difference really suggests that these caterpillars are very much at different developmental stages, and thus, were not from eggs that were laid at the same time.
One question I can answer, though, is that adult Monarchs have no behavior that I'm aware of that would cause them to visit their offspring, or even have an understanding of what a caterpillar is. The female has the instinct to lay her eggs, and that's it. While this animal is to be celebrated and respected, we should also recognize, it is fairly lacking much other than instinct. Certainly not knowledge of what caterpillars are, nor which ones are their specific offspring. I hope that doesn't disappoint you. There's definitely plenty about this animal that makes it incredible and interesting without it having a maternal instinct.
As for your first request, about the natural causes of death of a Monarch, I think that's a great idea. I've wanted to research and see what I can find about how some generations only live for about 6 weeks, while the migrating generation lives for about 7 - 8 months. What is the environmental change that triggers this in the animal to "know" to stay alive longer? In looking into this, perhaps I can stumble upon the answer to your question.
Cool questions, my friend!
Great suggestion. Teehee. Checking in on my babies! My 1st batch too. So Cal, Think we have more diseases and predators out here. And never seen milkweed,huge, as in your videos. Its all quick wilting tropical out here. Ca. is having A"BIG season. according to all my neighbors, and local butterfly farms..
MrLundScience
Thanks Rich for Your Videos! I too would be very interested in learning more about the Monarch Life Span and how it knows when to live longer due to migration time. That's an interesting question B cuz here in San Diego CA, I have found its not as "Active" as far as eggs and Seeing a lot of Monarchs in the time frame They are going to Mexico/S. Ca. . I raise Them also from the egg only. Too many Tachid flies & so many other Pests here. I believe in San Diego it's year round due to the winter being so mild n getting warmer every year. The Pests don't die off here like where it snow's or gets cold enough to kill the Pests. I'm in My 2nd year and I've got a lot of Milkweed plants growing all over My yard from the Seed's that planted themselves in My yard from last year. But it's as if the Pests have gotten worse. Anyway, I'm very interested in the "Life Span" and I subscribe to your videos and will be waiting for that and looking for the answer Myself. Thanks again!
Hi mr Lund. I am looking for caterpillars, but I'm only able to find 2 eggs after lots of looking and watching episode 1 in your series. Is illinois short on butterflys?
Well, technically one could say that all of North America is short on Monarch butterflies, hence why we are all doing this, right? ;-)
But as far as there being significantly less in IL compared to last year? Not to my knowledge. Some have contacted me near Chicago saying it's been their best year yet in finding eggs. Some years are hit or miss, and I've had my own spotty years. They're out there, though. I wouldn't give up, if you still wish to find some.
MrLundScience I found 13 after lots of looking (:
Excellent! Glad to hear you weren't just stuck at two. (Though having only two can make those two even more special.)
I just started to bring monarchs inside this week. What prompted me to was the fact that I was outside and was watching this beautiful monarch caterpillar just eating away when this huge red wasp came down and literally killed and started to eat it in front of me. It broke my heart so I seen another on the bottom so I ran inside and grabbed a Tupperware and when I came back out it had killed the other as well. That's when I pulled my adt security sign from the ground and had batting practice with that wasp. I took care of it but knew others would probably come. So ever since I've been bringing in all I see. I honestly didn't even know what I had was milk weed until I started to see these huge pods hanging from it. I thought it was ivy because it looks identical. I have a few tiki tpurchs in the front yard and they have grown and surrounded them to where you can't even tell it a a tiki torch. Anyway now that I know what it is I'm going to just let the seeds do their thing so more will come up next year. I now have 15 eggs, one j just started to hang today, one that's a couple inches smaller and then about 15 that look as if they just hatched. I had no idea what I was looming for or what to do until I seen your videos and now everyday I go outside I'm looking for more because I know there has got to be alot more on that plant. Funny thing is that's the only milk weed plant that has them all the others don't. It also has a TON of aphids and I've seen quite a few milk weed bugs. I figure since it's late in the season I will let them be since they aren't hurting the plant so much it will kill it and there probably won't be too many more monarchs laying eggs on it. Anyway next year I plan to control the aphid issue for sure. Anyway awesome videos. They have helped me out alot
It's definitely a learning process, and we learn more each year. That's certainly been true for me, at least. Thanks for deciding to help them out in these ways. I assure you, they appreciate it!
dont spray with pesticides...they wash off easily with water
Hey, something relative to this discussion came up about predators/critters on milkweed on a Facebook page I belong to, "How to Raise Monarch Butterflies". There is a question regarding what several people refer to as "Oleander Aphids" that actually appear to be the red nymphs laid by the Milkweed Bug. I shared your video and hope for the best as are there many different opinions, ideas, and some post tactics to rid the plants of them or not. Its difficult to explain this better than by using your science-based information and suggest everyone ultimately must make their own decisions. I, and a number of people who are the voices if reason & they are main moderators, encourage them not to spray plants using soap, nor order Lady Bugs( yes you read it correctly!), to eat the "Oleander Aphids", & I honestly doubt the average person even actually understands that they are from the MW Bugs. I saw photos of entire plants so infested with red nymphs the person had to of course cut it down & hope for clean new growth. Thanks for all of this work, it continues to help guide and console me👍😊🐛🌱
Pretty cool that you undertake it to moderate such a group. I've resisted fully the Facebook revolution. Not on there. I don't hate it...but I know if I was on there, I could subtract even more hours from my life. People have asked that I join FB to be part of groups sometimes (usually for Monarch reasons) and I've asked, "Would you want me to join FB if that also meant fewer RM videos would be put out?" They often say no, and I explain, realistically no matter what I did, that would ultimately be the result.
If you're trying to guide hands, it's probably best to keep it simple, and also offer up easy information. For example, you could ask them to:
1) Google Image Search "milkweed bug nymphs".
2) Google Image Search "red aphids".
3) Compare images to decide what you have.
That only takes a second, and while not all will do it, many will. Then, you have a base within the group equipped with the knowledge of what they are actually dealing with, and it's easier to guide such a group. Others will become on board with the idea, and help advocate the message without even asking them to.
Also, when I did those two Google Image Searches, I quickly saw two images I've seen in real life. The image of the milkweed bug nymphs on the developing seed pods of the milkweed, and the image of the red aphids stuck head first all in a row on a stalk of some plant. I see both in my yard. Likely, people encountering them in their yard will be able to quickly identify which culprit they have.
I don't think it's a bad idea, necessarily, to rid some of the milkweed bug nymphs from seed pods if one of the reasons you have milkweed is to have access to seeds to use or distribute to others. So, that is understandable. I don't try to harm animals, save for what I eat, and in self-defense, and I do define defending my home territory as self-defense. I wouldn't be worried too much about what the adult milkweed bugs do, but I know that if I had an explosion of nymphs and they were all over all of my seed pods, I'd probably squish a good amount of them, or if someone preferred, a quick blast from a garden hose is quite effective too. As for the red aphids, they've been on wild flowers I have in my yard, but I've never seen them on my milkweed. Not saying it's impossible, but I've never seen it. If I did, they are voracious at taking the nutrients from the plant, and they'd probably earn a squish sentence for their crime. But, if they're not on my milkweed, from my stand point, I say live and let live. They are an important food source for various other garden dwellers. But, that's just me.
I don't like telling people what to do. I think it's pretentious. People will do what they want. The best way to operate, I think, is just to provide the same information you used to come to your conclusion. If people can see the logic to it, they usually start to agree. Then, they feel as though they came to the decision on their own, and they feel much less like someone told them what to do. I know that even I can be stubborn to not want to do something just because I was told to.
When it comes to chemicals, though, and even soap, I don't do any of that. From the mind of a chemist, I know too well how many unexpected consequences that can have, and just how potent even small trace amounts of left over chemicals can be. There's been countless times people have tried to consult with me through the comments about what might be causing health problems with their Monarchs, and so often when questions start being asked, it turns out that some type of spray happened, or even soapy water on the milkweed at one point. And despite the person insisting they very thoroughly rinsed their plant, well, the health issues still happened. What is "thorough" to us in the big world is usually not thorough at all in the world of molecules.
As for Ladybugs, I suppose the easiest and simplest thing to point out is that Ladybugs will eat Monarch eggs and small enough caterpillars if they find them. That would hopefully seal the deal as to why it's not a good idea to use them. After they eat the aphids, they'll still be there, and they'll be hungry. Definitely creates a conflict of interest.
I hope that helps!
MrLundScience thanks, this is all helpful. It is why I follow & learn through your classic methods of teaching and working. Funny there are 200+ moderators on one Fbook page, ( I still do not understand the logic behind it), and still I do understand how much time could easily be spent answering questions for others seeking help. I like your thinking about getting folks to come to their own conclusions based on facts presented through shared resourced information or Googled, which are both pretty easily obtained. You are right: this is a wonderful way to have a following that trusts logic and their own conclusions drawn in order to carry out the needed solution , & they then are enabled to guide others. Varied opinions given just do not ring true as solid answers when people ask the same questions on the same subject matter but see different resulting answers. Isn't nature a great teacher?? I learned that it is beneficial to keep checking-in on the status of the health of the garden's milkweed every day or two to help prevent the milkweed nymphs from getting completely out of hand which is much better than discovering them after they have over-populated the tender top leaves & begun destroying the seed pods. It seems there are new discoveries every day. Knowledge is a powerful force once we begin & continue to seek the truth. How we use it is best-guided by nature itself. Oh, by the way, I have seen only several large praying mantis lately that made it past their newly-hatched size observed earlier in spring, but as usual nothing-except for the army of nymphs- seems to be over-populating thanks to a good balance of creatures out there. This contributes to a real and noticeable balance happening. Maintaining a practice of using no intrusive chemicals, yes including soaps, is real and works. If we can simply allow everything possible that is good ( I agree of course we must respect our ability to make wise decisions around self-protection), to just happen as intended by the gentle forces of nature. My garden is like a lab of lessons every day!
@@Debbiesnc I once collected an ootheca (the mantis egg sack) without knowing what it was. Kept it in a jar in my old apartment. One day, having come home, I discovered two things quickly:
1) The ootheca was a mantis egg sack that had contained around 2-3 hundred baby mantids, which had by that time hatched. An explosion of little mantid babies.
2) My wife had never told me that this is the one insect that completely freaks her out. She was quite on edge with that jar.
I released the majority back where I found the ootheca to let them play it out from there, but kept 20 to rear. Only 6 made it to the adult stage, at which point, they were released. And I promise, I took good care of them. Looked up all on how to rear them. (There's lots of info out there, as oothecas can be ordered for educational mantis rearing in classrooms, and there's tons of info on raising them.)
What I had read turned out to be quite correct: The molting process is a pretty dangerous thing for them. They molt their exoskeleton 4 or 5 times (I don't remember). And each time it was time to molt, despite not being disturbed and despite the proper humidity for it being maintained, many would not make it out of their molt. Any adult mantis you ever see in nature made it over MANY hurdles already. When very young, they'll eat whatever is small enough that they can find, but that includes their brothers and sisters. And the molting process is brutal!
MrLundScience, hi, one more comment, but first I have to say it must have been terrifying for your poor wife seeing that! Last fall I also found one of their "egg cases" which are so strange looking, as if holding something left behind by aliens! The branch to which it was attached went back into the evergreens where we had unknowingly removed it, so as not to disturb it thinking maybe it was a cocoon or chrysalis that would eclose. I did not do the "google-photo-search" that I have come to enjoy now. As you know now, too, it appeared to have lines and depressions on the ootheca surface that to me resembled symmetrical impressions indicative of wings or some creature. This spring the many baby praying mantids appeared on the then-young spring milkweed on a separate part of the house from where I left the ootheca. Thankfully this was before the monarchs ever arrived, and the good balance of nature somehow took most of them out though they seem to be predators to more creatures than they fall prey to. It never dawned on me that the large green single praying mantis in a totally separate part of the yard/garden last fall may have left us a surprise. She/he held my interest daily, observing how slowly the movements were and also I could see that little head with two eyes following me even a yard or so away from her! She was somewhere in the range of 4-6". Thanks for sharing this story here as I have learned a lot about the praying mantis. It still eludes me what the differences are between the brown and green ones, and I am also wondering if all of them do turn into the size of that huge one that was on our front porch garden. I recall reading that there are several types of praying mantis, including ones that are not originally native to North America, like many other species we have here in the Eastern part of the U. S. Interestingly despite their struggle to survive as young mantids they apparently can be quite invasive though there is no way I could harm one. At one point I was considering moving a few away from the common milkweed, though!
@@Debbiesnc The three most common mantids found in North America are the Carolina Mantis, the European Mantis, and the Chinese Mantis, with the Chinese Mantis being the largest of these three and likely the one you are describing. And of those three, just as the names sound, two of them are not native (the European and the Chinese) but got over here a long time ago, likely in the 1800's when there was ample chance to be aboard a ship or otherwise introduced. Something cool about both of those species, though, is that both the European and the Chinese mantids are not invasive. Not every species that is introduced becomes an invasive species. It will always remain an introduced species, but to be considered also "invasive", this means that it is able to out compete something else in the ecosystem it is introduced to, or in some other way causes damage to the ecosystem. With these introduced mantids, their populations have been able to "fit in" to the ecosystems they've been introduced to, and haven't exploded, or been able to out compete others in that ecosystem. They take out insects (both beneficial ones, but also ones that we wish to keep in check anyway, so it's a wash) and provide themselves as a food source to other predators.
When they're young, the mantids that came out of the same ootheca are already feeling the trials of nature, as their major predators are each other! Nymph mantids, when unable to find enough food (usually very small insects, such as fruit flies), they will prey upon each other. A "survival of the fittest" situation immediately begins, so it's not uncommon to see a huge number of them on a bush one day, and then half that number a couple days later, and so on.
Something else really cool about mantids is that (as far as I know) it's the only kind of animal that has an ear, but just one. And by ear, I don't necessarily mean something shaped like one, but an auditory sense that is actually on their thorax (chest area). Other animals that sense sound usually do it with two ears, which allows them to hear in stereo, but the mantis only has one. And these ears are able to sense very high pitched sound unavailable to us humans with our ears. The sounds they can detect, though, fall within most frequencies that bats produce. Upon experimentation that came out a few years ago, it was shown that a flying mantis, when a high pitch sound is sent out, will immediately cease flight and drop to the ground. Most likely, this ear is for letting the mantis detect the frequencies bats use to echo-locate their prey. Cool, huh!?
I have a problem with my milkweed/monarch raising. I have about 7 cats in later stages, and one tiny one, but I have Probably over 50 milkweed with many signs of caterpillar activity, but find VERY few cats! My milkweed seem to each have a black patrolling, and have read that they protect aphids and drive away ladybugs and other predators on the aphids. Do you think that they might destroying my monarchs? I have put a boric acid/sugar/water bait to help get rid of them, but I am wondering if this is anything you have heard of? I am excited about my monarchs, but think I should have many more cats on my milkweed than I can find. Thanks for you work on these wonderful butterflies! I am a gardener, and this was a tough year in NW Indiana (about 6 miles from MI border), and my dahlias are normally very good for butterflies, but my first blooms are not yet open! Luckily, they will bloom until frost..... I enjoy your posts, and have a wonderful toad in my garden. Hope it is more than one that I just see occasionally!
I'm mostly a live and let live kind of guy. But what you are describing is exactly why I will not tolerate aphids, and squash them when I can. They attract ants, and yes, ants can deter other predators, such as lady bugs. However, just like one burglar scaring off another ("Back off man, this house is my mark..."), the original burglar remains and the damage will be done. Ants have no problem munching down an egg (or taking it back to the colony for others to munch on), and if the caterpillar is small enough, they too can be a nice piece of protein, which queen ants are always in need of. I wish you luck with the boric acid mixture, but ants are tenacious. If I were you, I'd focus on removing the aphids. That's the root of the issue. Good luck!
@@MrLundScience I will continue to work on the ants, but you are right about the aphids. I spray neem oil/soap on my garden to discourage certain problems, but fear using it around the milkweed. Too many things I do not want to harm!
@@MrLundScience I do not have an aphid problem. I have encouraged natural predators by NOT using any chemicals for years in the garden, but the darn black ants are a real problem! I am kinda shutting down for the year as things are so quiet here. Saw lots of monarch butterflies at a friends garden, and a county park, but that was the only sunny day for awhile. I will check today, but not much activity here. Asters are starting to bloom, and I will have more monarch friendly blooms next year!