What's Happenin' Hannah? Caterpillar Carnage!

Just the other morning as I was sipping my morning cup of tea with soy cream and agave nectar, I had to do a double take on the milkweed plants. Or should I say, what was left of them, which was close to nil! Some 60 caterpillars were all chowing down on tiny shreds of what used to be leaves. Most of them on the same two or three plants struggling to get a bite of the quickly diminishing food source. I had to act quick or they would starve.

Luckily, as you may recall from "Monarch lays her eggs," I had an army of baby milkweed plants growing all over the yard and also in pots. I began to move the pots over to the feeding frenzy. This was good for a bit but before long these were green vertical stems too. They began to march across the grass in all directions looking for more little, green, tender leaves. I had to watch every step. Now carefully plucking blades of occupied grass, holding my hand underneath so I wouldn't drop them, I moved my lovelys to rare patches of young plants.

Then Franky's mother Blanca showed up and her eyes became wide as she began to comprehend the natural disaster that was occurring. She immediately started helping me corral the determined buggers. By this time I had already called sixteen garden nurseries looking for emergency milkweed with no luck. The only place to get it was over an hour away and it would have to wait till the next day. So we relaxed, enjoyed the yard for about 45 minutes then we were back to work, setting each caterpillar where it could get a bite or two.

Next we jumped in the Bean (the amazing back yard pool; ten goddesses once splashed in the bean) and had refreshing orange creamsicles. Then we were back to work. This went on all day! But then there was only a tiny bit of food left and the sun was beginning to set. We decided to gather as many caterpillars as we could and put them in a container for the night. I had an emergency mission planned for the morning!

Butterfly World is located west on Sample, down a ways on the left, right after a bridge. If you haven't been there, you must go, it is a beautiful place that makes for a wonderful day! They have milkweed! I had a funny call to one of the nurseries. I said as the phone was answered, "Do you have milkweed?" and the guy on the phone says to me, "No, we don't sell WEED."

Blanca donated $60.00 to saves the caterpillars and I want to send out a humungous THANK YOU to her!

So, I made it home with the tall, flowering goods! It was fun to see my cute friends realize what was in front of their faces. It only took a second or two and they knew immediately what was up. One by one I directed them to eden. They began to stuff themselves. I was smiling ear to ear!

It has been a few days now and all of them have left to become butterflies. I have no idea where as I have not found any of their chrysalis' yet. The metamorphosis process takes eight to fourteen days. I am hoping for lots of fluttering monarchs.

Hope you get a kick out of the video!

P.S. I have to make one correction to my explanation on the video. The monarch caterpillar is not carnivorous, it will resort to cannibalism. For this reason, the caterpillar will hike 30 to 40 feet for a safe location to pupate.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• butterfly
• flowers
• garden
• life
• beautiful
• wildlife
• bugs
• hannah
• florida
• caterpillar
• eggs
• summer
• beauty

[hannahpersons]

where do you live? I am in Miami and there is a butterfly garden sanctuary here. I buy the plants there but you may find them at plant nurseries. Home Depot sometimes. You can order on-line or plant from seeds. The milkweed is so hardy so that is easy but trim the stalks after the leaves are eaten and stick them in dirt. They will grow into new plants and the other plant will rehab better.

[insectmiser]

Do you know where to find/buy milkweed plants? and how can I raise the plants, and monarchs?

[hannahpersons]

Cont. ....I have had great luck with the monarchs. I love them so much!!! They eat a lot and I find myself often having to go on emergency milkweed missions. be prepared for that so they do not starve. They will do the rest.

[AmericanNaturalFiber]

lol..been there ,done that! great job.

[intricatic]

That is creepy and cool all at the same time! I'm in the process of building a butterfly garden right now, so I'll also be stocking up on the milkweed.

[RedWhiteandBetrayed]

i want some....

[bijeto]

Cool. I have only seen a monarch caterpillar up front and personal once in my life. I can't believe you have so many.