Anyone in Auckland got a safe haven for some caterpillars.The ones in the garden don't survive long because of the paper wasps and am running out of pots on my deck to feed them.
majoba,
Jan 17, 4:03pm
I have a huge plant because the wasps are getting the caterpillars as soon as they hatch. Never had such a disastrous year and never had such a huge plant which is just too big to put netting on. I have found that once the caterpillars are a decent size they seem to be safe from wasps and fortunately have very few mantises this year. You may not wish to take the risk but if you are willing to risk it I would happily give haven to any largish ones which is when they becone so voraciously hungry. I live in Te Atatu.
oh_hunnihunni,
Jan 17, 8:45pm
It helps if you have multiple plants in among other biggish perennials. The butterflies can still find them but the wasps seem to have less luck and more caterpillars survive.
funkydunky,
Jan 17, 11:20pm
I'd much prefer to see endemic butterflies like Red / Yellow Admirals etc but Monarchs are pretty cool. Especially when they are chasing fantails - just priceless.
hazelnut2,
Jan 18, 12:14am
I am sure your pics are lovely, but they won't load on my browser. have asked other people in the computing section of Tradme if they have the same problem. they do!
erra,
Jan 18, 12:57am
Photos did not load for me either.I just got a blank screen.
erra,
Jan 18, 1:00am
These photos can't be seen either on my laptop.Usually I can look at the photos.
blueviking,
Jan 18, 7:34pm
Just thought I'd start a thread for all things about Monarchs. Got my 1st chrysallises.Actually watched a caterpillar turn, quite amazing. Still lost a few to paper wasps though.
oh_hunnihunni,
Jan 18, 8:06pm
They are an absolute delight aren't they? And such a tragedy when things go wrong.
But every year we do it!
unknowndisorder,
Jan 18, 8:17pm
We have had a bumper crop. Had to take a lot of caterpillars elsewhere as our two plants could not handle it. Still got a couple of little ones left, which we may remove, got some chrysallies left, a bunch hatched this week, not allowed to eat Rosemary at the moment, as they have chosen the plant to hang out on (not all, but the majority).
Others in the neighbourhood aren't so lucky, and we have had crappy years in the past.
cabrio1,
Jan 18, 8:30pm
We have lots of butterflies and big swan plants but lots of wasps too, are they a pest for the butterflies?
unknowndisorder,
Jan 18, 8:48pm
They kill the caterpillars.
samanya,
Jan 19, 5:14am
I so hear you. I can have up to 50 chrysalises(sp) & sometimes I have to 'terminate' a deformed newly hatched Monarch & I hate doing it, but euthanasia is the only option. My reasoning is . if people like you & me & countless others, didn't do what we do, well NZ would have less Monarchs. Can't win them all hunni
samanya,
Jan 19, 5:17am
That seems quite late for your climate. I've already had heaps hatch way before Christmas . very early for down here though & now the plants have had time to recover & I have a second batch as caterpillars . hopefully the blardy wasps will leave them alone. This is the first year that I've had wasps gobbling up caterpillars.
blueviking,
Jan 19, 6:07pm
Last year I didn't get any chrysallises till march. Last years plants died, so it's only the seeds I grew and the 20 odd that self seeded this year. My biggest plant is only 1/2metre high.
trade4us2,
Jan 24, 6:54am
I have 100 swan plants and lots of butterflies laying eggs, but hardly any caterpillars. I don't see any wasps.
cabrio1,
Jan 24, 7:31am
Bet she's got way more butterflies than you.
flier3,
Jan 24, 11:47pm
Do you mean keep them and sow them out? We just sprinkled them in a seed tray of potting mix and lightly covered them - I swear that they all germinated! Or you could sprinkle them around your garden. Or hold on to them and sow them next spring.
flier3,
Jan 24, 11:52pm
Because I have two cats, one of which is an avid butterfly catcher!, I cut the chrysalids off the plant with a bit of stem/stalk each side and using sellotape, hang them on the lid of a ventilated shoe box. Put the lid back on the box and check them each day. When the butterfly hatches, it takes several hours for it to get rid of the fluid (meconium) after pumping up its wings. When it drops to the floor of the box, I carefully let it attach to my fingers, cover my hand and put it out on a highish branch of a tree outside. Out of the cat's way. Then I can tell whether it's a male or female as it opens its wings. Fascinating as I'm sure you have all found!
fendie,
Jan 25, 2:09am
How can you tel if it's male or female ? can you show us a photo of the sex identifying patterns? if that what it is. thanks
starseeker,
Jan 25, 3:28am
It's best to wait until they have browned off a bit, then a split will show on the underside. The ripe seeds should be dark, they're no good if still light colored. You can either sow them or keep them til next season. (don't keep in plastic bag, they will rot, keep them in an envelope or such, in a dry place.) Or you can leave them to seed themselves from the plant, they'll blow all over the place in the wind & next year will grow wherever they have landed!
starseeker,
Jan 25, 3:34am
www.monarch.org.nz has lots of info about Monarch butterflies, a really good site The male Monarch has a black dot which can be seen on each of its 2 hind wings (the lower ones) when it opens its wings out
Just let my first 2 go. Bloody paper wasps. Only see the occasional 1, but that seems enough to devour any that start. Had a butterfly visit a few plants Monday, so will keep an eye out for babies
coop19,
Feb 2, 7:20am
trade4us2 wasps are not the only culprits, here in the Waikato ants take away the eggs and newly hatched caterpillars.
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