Monarch babies!

15 years ago

I happened to be outside working in my garden the other day when a female Monarch came along and laid eggs on my buttefly weed. I was surprised as I hadn't seen any Monarchs in weeks... but there was she was!

And so today I am happy to report that I have three hatchlings and two eggs that appear to be near hatching. I will continue to search my plants for additional eggs/hatchlings. The wasps heavily patrol my plants so I don't want to leave them outside. I had already rasied a bunch of them back in May so I'm glad to have a few more to tend to especially since I still don't have any swallowtails.

Thanks for letting me share my news - few people outside of here understand why this is so exciting! :-)

~Laura

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Comments (7)

docmom_gw
15 years ago
I"m so jealous, but very glad for you. I'm impatient, though I know I shouldn't expect much until July. Hope you continue to find more and enjoy what you have already.

Martha
wifey2mikey
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks Martha! I just ran outside to do one more sweep - we've got severe weather expected this evening so I wanted to gather them up before the storms hit. I found two more hatchlings! So if both eggs I have hatch, I'll have a total of seven! :-)

It's the small things in life that make me happy!

Martha, I hope you get some soon!

~Laura
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butterflymomok
15 years ago
Laura, so excited for you! I found eggs today, so it appears the Monarchs are back in the Tulsa area. What I have found in the past, is that the Monarchs will hang around until the fall migration. So you may have lots and lots of Monarchs to raise. Last year, they returned on June 17th, so this is the second season I have documented the date of return. Keep me posted, and we will turn in observations to Monarch Watch and Journey North.

Sandy
wifey2mikey
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks Sandy - I went out later and searched again and found a couple more.. so now I have 6 babies and one egg yet to hatch. I've never raised them from this teeny tiny size before, so wish me luck and please share any advice!

~Laura
susanlynne48
15 years ago
Oh, my, what a great find, Laura! They are on your Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa? I have all kinds of milkweed right now, so hope a few will return to the OKC area soon. Right now I have Black Swallowtail cats, and a couple of sphinx cats, and Variegated Frits (thank you friend) in chrysalis. I am beginning to wonder if the Gulf Frits will ever show up!!

MissSherry, were the GFs late in arriving for you?

Susan
wifey2mikey
Original Author
15 years ago
Yes Susan, they are on butterfly weed - I don't know the exact variety I have as they were not labled when I purchased them. I have three yellow ones and they were on two of the larger yellows. (I also have three others but found no babies or eggs on those.)

I haven't seen any gulf frits yet either. I did see one variegated - it was on my passiflora vine but that was a while ago and I never found any eggs. ??

Still no swallowtails here either but I have dinner waiting for them whenever they arrive. :-)

~Laura
bettyd_z7_va
15 years ago
So happy for you! An egg AND cats!!

Still none at my house, yet. :(

Last year was my first try at a dedicated BF garden and I found 4-5 Monarch cats in July. So, I just have to be patient.

Can't wait to see pics!

Betty