My First Monarch Cats!!!!
Jul 8, 2018 10:12:02 #
I don't know when she made her visit and deposit, because I've not seen any butterflies in my garden so far this summer and I look at the milkweed daily and never spotted any eggs....
What a surprise this morning seeing two almost full grown cats munching away!!! The first is a little bigger and I don't give it long before the J-hook....
I rushed to set up the nursery and totally forgotten what I did last year.... but they will be comfortable in their new room!!
And to all those I gave milkweed seeds to... I found the first one on a little sprout from the seeds I planted!!
Hope this is the start of something big, since it looks like their numbers are down again....
Not good pictures, these were taken with my cell, I was too excited to get my camera!!
What a surprise this morning seeing two almost full grown cats munching away!!! The first is a little bigger and I don't give it long before the J-hook....
I rushed to set up the nursery and totally forgotten what I did last year.... but they will be comfortable in their new room!!
And to all those I gave milkweed seeds to... I found the first one on a little sprout from the seeds I planted!!
Hope this is the start of something big, since it looks like their numbers are down again....
Not good pictures, these were taken with my cell, I was too excited to get my camera!!
The first one I spotted!!!
(Download)
after I set up the nursery, I went back outside and found this smaller one!!!
(Download)
Jul 8, 2018 10:15:41 #
Jul 8, 2018 10:19:48 #
NCMtnMan
Loc: N. Fork New River, Ashe Co., NC
angela k wrote:
I don't know when she made her visit and deposit, ... (show quote)
Excellent! Our project this year in CNPA (Carolina Nature Photographer's Association, www.cnpa.org) is the year of the Monarch. I live in the northern most corner of NC mountains where we have a Monarch migration route. But have not seen any so far this year. In fact, I noted to my wife that there have not been as many butterflies in general as we usually see by this time of the year. Not sure if it has anything to do with the severity or length of cold weather we experienced this past winter.
Jul 8, 2018 10:22:42 #
pumakat wrote:
Yay! Glad for what you are doing.
Oh thank you!!! Last year I raised and released 23 monarchs, from eggs... as a first time monarch mid-wife.... and it was my first time having milkweed in my garden!!!
What a wonderful experience and glad I get to be part of it again this year!! I might not have seen these eggs hatch, but I'm grateful for spotting these two cats to watch the transformation!!
Jul 8, 2018 10:29:56 #
Haven't even seen a butterfly this year yet. I usually see them on my butterfly bushes. I also would be excited over seeing those cats. 
Jul 8, 2018 11:04:35 #
The mosquitoes carry a virus (I think it is pronounced west nile virus) so the decision on Long Island was to have helicopters spraying at night to control the problem. The new problem is that the spraying is killing butterflies, lady bugs, bees, wasps, praying mantis, moths, dragon flies, and other delicate necessary desirable critters. A lot of those critters are also a food source for frogs etc so the negative effect trickles down and is just plain bad.
Jul 8, 2018 11:46:20 #
Jul 8, 2018 12:08:24 #
Jul 8, 2018 13:34:52 #
angela k wrote:
Thanks for doing what you do for Monarchs Angela. You are truly an Angel.. Look forward to your follow up images.I don't know when she made her visit and deposit, ... (show quote)
Jul 8, 2018 14:24:07 #
tracs101 wrote:
The mosquitoes carry a virus (I think it is pronounced west nile virus) so the decision on Long Island was to have helicopters spraying at night to control the problem. The new problem is that the spraying is killing butterflies, lady bugs, bees, wasps, praying mantis, moths, dragon flies, and other delicate necessary desirable critters. A lot of those critters are also a food source for frogs etc so the negative effect trickles down and is just plain bad.
My neighbor next door (and his dog) is alergic to bees. I no longer see any bees in my yard, although I do see a few dead bodies here and there. Coincidence? I think not. So he'd rather kill all living things for miles around then undergo any risk....What are we thinking?
Jul 8, 2018 14:26:43 #
NCMtnMan wrote:
Excellent! Our project this year in CNPA (Carolin... (show quote)
First, thank you for your visit and info... I will look further at your cnpa.org on my pc when I have time!! I'm hearing this from all across the country and it is very upsetting.... last year, as I stated, I raised 23 the flew off.... and the mama would come every day and deposit more and more.... but for some strange reason, I can't figure out... I haven't seen a monarch or any other butterfly and never spotted eggs!! And even if there were eggs, when they hatch they immediately start eating and no leaves were chewed on at all showing they were there.... to look down low on the plant this morning and finding two cats that are pretty big was a surprise and wonderful treat!! I'm keeping my fingers crossed as last year I was raising them well into the end of August and some September.... so maybe they'll find me again!
Hope you spot some soon in your area and if you don't have already, plant milkweed.... that's the only plant a monarch will lay her eggs and the only leaves the cats will eat!!
Jul 8, 2018 14:28:56 #
randave2001 wrote:
Haven't even seen a butterfly this year yet. I usually see them on my butterfly bushes. I also would be excited over seeing those cats.
Dave, the same here.... nothing on my butterfly bushes that are in bloom, only one or two skippers... this was a treat and a mystery, because none of the leaves on the milkweed were chewed by the babies when they hatch... and no sign of eggs... and last year the mama returned daily to make deposits!! Let's hope they come and I hope you have milkweed in your garden... they need that to survive!!
Jul 8, 2018 14:31:59 #
tracs101 wrote:
The mosquitoes carry a virus (I think it is pronounced west nile virus) so the decision on Long Island was to have helicopters spraying at night to control the problem. The new problem is that the spraying is killing butterflies, lady bugs, bees, wasps, praying mantis, moths, dragon flies, and other delicate necessary desirable critters. A lot of those critters are also a food source for frogs etc so the negative effect trickles down and is just plain bad.
I've not heard of them spraying at night and hopefully it's not over residential areas!! I don't spray anything in my garden and still haven't spotted any butterflies.... I don't know how these two big cats found me, but so glad they did... at least I can protect them until they give flight!! No sign at all of eggs and little cats hatching because none of the leaves were eaten, so it's a mystery!
Jul 8, 2018 14:32:32 #
Treepusher wrote:
Congrats on the babies, Angela!
Thanks, Randy.... they know I'm a cat love, any kind I can get!!!
Jul 8, 2018 14:48:03 #
Crossing your fingers will not bring the butterflies back. Convincing the big wigs to stop spraying insecticides will.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.