We've released hundreds of butterflies already this season. Last year was the first time we had swan plants and we started halfway through the season. As we were losing caterpillars and finding damaged chrysalises from paper wasps we started bringing some plants indoors and hanging chrysalises up.
I didn't want to have to bring too many plants into the house this year (some chrysalises ok). So after we lost the first couple to paper wasps I loudly reminded hubby that he was supposed to have built some kind of enclosure and so he did - using wooden planks and green mesh netting. He puts some plants with caterpillars in there 7 the bulk of our chrysalises are there also. We have a few potted swan plants nearby that we can monitor and move monarchs as needed. We also regularly check the wan plants we have growing in the garden - let butterflies lay eggs on them & then move the caterpillars to the enclosure.
ralta,
Feb 2, 7:31am
Yep I think the "shield" bugs, ants & praying mantis are also culprits to watch for. I'm not sure about birds but paper wasps are the main offenders.
starseeker,
Feb 3, 3:08am
Sometimes the bigger caterpillars will inadvertently eat the eggs & tiny caterpillars as they munch through the leaves. When almost ready to pupate they become ravenous & will strip a small plant in one day & I've even seen them eating a chrysalis.
ralta,
Feb 7, 7:07am
I'm having to babysit our swan plants and monarchs while hubby away. I am so sick of the green wormy things (loopers?) from white cabbage butterflies. They make a mess of the swan plants. I look for and squish them but they just keep on coming.
So went out to show my sister my broccoli growing in the garden and found 5 monarch caterpillars chomping away at my lawn of baby swan plants. I thought the monarchs would all be in hibernation by now.
joanie04,
Jun 13, 11:46pm
We still see the odd one out the smoko room window at work at times when you least expect it.
starseeker,
Jun 14, 2:52am
Some Monarchs are overwintering on some trees in Dominion Park Hamilton. You have to be there early in the morning & know what you are looking for. They cluster together & fold their wings so that the distinctive orange colour is not visible, & tend to disappear into the foliage. If the sun comes out they will spread their wings to absorb its warmth then fly off in search of nectar to sustain them in the cold weeks to come. (I saw two of them united in (un)holy matrimony, a bit late in the season for that!) In spring they will mate & start the cycle of eggs, caterpillars, chrysalises & a new generation of butterflies
autumnwinds,
Jun 14, 4:37am
I saw hardly any over the summer months here in Tauranga, but since April, have seen heaps, and some still laying eggs, too. Have lots of plants growing away. in different areas that get checked daily.
It's the mantises (manti?) that are the absolute pits as predators, worse by far than the paper wasps. Noticed a very fat caterpillar Friday, right at the -ready to crysalize stage as I went out. home two hours later, look over where it was, and just the empty case -with a HUGE mantis still sucking out the carcass. It didn't last long, horrible things, those mantises.
oh_hunnihunni,
Jun 14, 6:16am
Imports that have decimated our native mantis population.
trade4us2,
Jul 19, 12:57pm
I've had a butterfly hatch out, and a number of large caterpillars munching away.
Since the public registrations are closed, you must have an invite from a current member to be able to register and post in this thread.
Have an account? Login here.