kbpaulie Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 We want to raise Monarchs this summer. When can I start looking for eggs or caterpillars? We live in Cincinnati, OH - Soutwest corner of Ohio. I've seen photos of caterpillars on plants w/ blooms, but I've also seen photos of eggs on Milkweed 3" tall. The trees, tulips and daffodils here are just starting to bloom. I know it's too early, but I don't want to miss the chance. Thanks- KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenda in FL Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 Hmm - I can't answer when - but I do know that if you plant a milkweed plant or two the caterpillars will come!! Perhaps a local nursery will be able to tell you when to buy and plant milkweed? In the meantime - we set up an aquarium with a screened top and when we found good sized caterpillars on our plant we transferred them to the aquarium and kept it stocked with leaves and twigs from the plant. If we waited too long the caterpillars would go elsewhere to form their chrysaliss and we could never find where they went. It was fun to do although we had a number that simply did not make it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeanne in MN Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 IN SW MN, we are just starting to see green grass-I'm guessing tulips, daffodils and trees will start showing within a few weeks. We've raised monarch caterpillars for about 5 years now and I don't even begin to look for them until the end of July. Even then we might just start seeing them. We find most in August and the beginning of September. If you think about it, the butterflies need a mature food source from which to eat and the caterpillars do too. It will be quite awhile before milkweed is ready to host caterpillars. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 (edited) You probably aware of this, but you know not to get milkweed sap near your eyes, right? It's always good practice to have anyone who has touched milkweed to wash their hands every well afterward. Helping Monarchs is a beautiful thing. But be very careful with milkweed. Bill Edited March 27, 2009 by Spy Car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamturner Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 You probably aware of this, but you know not to get milkweed sap near your eyes, right? It's always good practice to have anyone whose touch milkweed wash their hands every well afterward. Helping Monarchs is a beautiful thing. But be very careful with milkweed. Bill Yes, I found this out last year! We planted 2 milkweed plants and had 5-6 caterpillars pretty soon afterwards. So we brought them inside and daily brought them new leaves, etc. I made the mistake of rubbing near my eye after handling the leaves (thankfully not on my eye) and I noticed the tingling/burning sensation. We thought it was pretty neat and figured the "milk" from the plant was what made the Monarch butterflies poisonous to creatures who might eat them. I didn't look it up though. It was a very special experience and we had more in October when they began migrating back south to Mexico! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 (edited) Yes, I found this out last year! We planted 2 milkweed plants and had 5-6 caterpillars pretty soon afterwards. So we brought them inside and daily brought them new leaves, etc. I made the mistake of rubbing near my eye after handling the leaves (thankfully not on my eye) and I noticed the tingling/burning sensation. We thought it was pretty neat and figured the "milk" from the plant was what made the Monarch butterflies poisonous to creatures who might eat them. I didn't look it up though. It was a very special experience and we had more in October when they began migrating back south to Mexico! Yes the alkaloids the Monarchs get from the milkweed to make themselves "distasteful" are the same compounds that make the burning/itching sensation. Be glad you didn't get it "in" your eyes because (not to alarm you) but it can cause serious (and potentiality even permanent) damage to ones vision. You had a closer call than you realize. Bill Edited March 27, 2009 by Spy Car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbpaulie Posted March 27, 2009 Author Share Posted March 27, 2009 You probably aware of this, but you know not to get milkweed sap near your eyes, right? It's always good practice to have anyone whose touch milkweed wash their hands every well afterward. Helping Monarchs is a beautiful thing. But be very careful with milkweed. Bill Wow, thanks for telling me this. I had NO idea. We do have milkweed in our garden, but alas no monarchs. I;m sorry to hear that I ahve 3 more months to wait. But thanks for the info! KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbpaulie Posted August 27, 2009 Author Share Posted August 27, 2009 OK, all summer long I've been looking for monarch eggs (likely just didn't recognize them) or caterpillars. We found one just a couple days ago. That was my mission for the summer. (Notice, "my" mission, not "our".) And he's a tiny thing. Wish us luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.