Monarch and Psychopsis

[Kevinator]

I just wanted to post this up. A few weeks ago my milkweed got monarch babies! No, not the kind where its a human with a crown (now that would be weird). In my area we rarely ever see any monarchs (probably because of the dry air). They were orphans as I found the mother torn to pieces . Anyway, I took six of them and raised all of them into adulthood. Sadly, three of them came out of the chrysalis with OC, a deadly disease that spreads quickly and leaves the victim's wings crumpled forever. I had to youthenize them as I had no choice . The other three made it out healthily and stayed in the section of the living room devoted to orchids. Here is one on my Psychopsis. (form all of this talk the admins may want to move this thread).

[Tindomul]

Awesome combination!!!

[WhiteRabbit]

Awesome!

[Leafmite]

I raised and released monarchs for many (35) years but stopped a few years ago because I began to see problems arise that were rather unsettling. I had never lost any before then. Very sad.

[wingplum]

Salute !

[twentyseven]

That's so cool!

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

I raised and released monarchs for many (35) years but stopped a few years ago because I began to see problems arise that were rather unsettling. I had never lost any before then. Very sad.

What was happening?

[Fernando]

I raise them over here, too! The only 'problem' up tp now is the milkweed never is allowed to flower... What happened to yours, leafmite?

[BettyE]

To anyone who raises these beautiful insects...That is very kind of you! I salute you...BettyE :-)

[Leafmite]

The problems I began to see:
catapillers hanging upside-down to become chyrsalis and never going through the transformation...they just died. Or, they partially went through the transformation. Some of my 'pillers died...no reason. I was always careful to wash the leaves (I grow my own milkweed), and did everything as I always had done. I collected them as eggs or tiny larva and kept them in individual containers. I have always had the fruit trees which are sprayed but the milkweed isn't where the spray can drift...and, it never caused a problem in the many years before (my parents grew fruit trees, too). It was very sudden that these problems occurred. I love little creatures so I just cannot watch these things.

---------- Post added at 11:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:08 AM ----------

Milkweed doesn't need to flower to spread...it spreads just fine through the roots. It is probably good that it doesn't flower and go too seed...it is quite 'invasive'.
The flowers do smell wonderful, though, and attract bees and all types of butterflies. The other really great (but spreading) butterfly plant is grapefruit mint. When it blooms, the blooms are covered.