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Butterfly Garden

My first homegrown Monarch and question re: OE

kaboehm (zone 9a, TX USA)

11 years ago

Day 1...hatched from egg on a leaf I pinched off a milkweed at the nursery....I was buying a large plant and couldn't resist a few extras (yes, I know...I stole the leaves!).

Has anyone bleached eggs and leaves to eradicate OE? Someone suggested it, and it sounds like a good idea. Just wondering what the group's experience was with it.

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Comments (5)

KC Clark - Zone 2012-6a OH
11 years ago
There are varying opinions on bleaching. When I've done it, it was for bacterial problems and it was not with milkweed leaves.

Whether to Use Bleach to Prepare Milkweed Leaves Fed to Monarch Caterpillars
kaboehm (zone 9a, TX USA)
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for the info.
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Beth Willett
11 years ago
Thanks for asking that question! I think I killed some eggs when I did that. I just ordered a spray that is supposed to work! I'll send you the site! :) Seems much easier!
kaboehm (zone 9a, TX USA)
Original Author
11 years ago
OH NO!!! I'll see how these turn out. It's early in the season. Looks like I'll have lots of seeds to share. The bees were busy!
Beth Willett
11 years ago
Well some of my sanitized eggs did hatch! So I'm hoping for better luck! I also sanitized a potted milkweed and put it out on a warm day and it has about 7 eggs on it. So now....its in the enclosure, but what if the butterfly had OE and its on the eggs! UGH this is stressful!!!

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