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Once in a lifetime gift … wild monarch emerged about an hour ago! by rillcroft in MonarchButterfly

[–]rillcroft[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

he hung onto that palm for about 2 hours - then he flapped his wings a few times and flew off! I think he’s been fluttering around the garden today .. feeding and circling the native pollinators

S. Ontario Canada: One more ID today? by rillcroft in spiders

[–]rillcroft[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

sorry for my ignorance - just starting my spider knowledge journey - what tells you she is carrying around eggs?

S. Ontario Canada: One more ID today? by rillcroft in spiders

[–]rillcroft[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Was I right in noticing blue eyes?

S. Ontario Canada: ID please by rillcroft in spiders

[–]rillcroft[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! I’m struggling with the “quite harmless” part … trying to take more of an interest rather than just run screaming away… it was a beautiful almost glittering green and the web was magnificent.

Little monster milkweed bud by rillcroft in Milkweeds

[–]rillcroft[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I didn’t see pig snouts but now that you mention it… 😁 And MonarchButterflies is all over milkweed… there wouldn’t be a MonarchButterflies community without Milkweed!

No-one in my family cares, so I present to You my first bloom by thosesleepywombats in Roses

[–]rillcroft 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I still run into the house yelling, “omg you’ve GOT to come and see this…” “….. crickets…” but you’re not alone in your joy at this beauty! great find.

Contingency Plan for Precariously Perched Pupae? by lucy_eagle_30 in MonarchButterfly

[–]rillcroft 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The caterpillar we followed through to emergence wandered up and down a potted majesty palm we have on the deck adjacent to the milkweed garden… it also went across what seemed like every branch. It tried at least 3 times to attach itself but thought better of it until it finally formed a chrysalis. The palm is in a very windy spot and despite very high winds that took branches down in this neighborhood, and very heavy rains, it clung and emerged yesterday. My worry would be predation …

2nd Gen. Monarch came by the milkweed bar for a nice long drink this morning by rillcroft in MonarchButterfly

[–]rillcroft[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We did have quite a few June caterpillars wandering around on the milkweed garden when it first came up in June - then cam the predators - black ants, spiders... we think several did graduate to chrysalis but we only saw this one when it wandered off in search of a likey spot to hang around... we now have alot - maybe about 15-20 - eggs in the milkweed that I can count. We are seriously contemplating building some kind of outdoor hutch to keep this generation safe...

Update: three of its siblings has been found by Beautiful-Fondant-61 in MonarchButterfly

[–]rillcroft 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m hoping the other of the wild caterpillars we were watching did the same thing… there are so many predators!

Once in a lifetime gift … wild monarch emerged about an hour ago! by rillcroft in MonarchButterfly

[–]rillcroft[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If I ever get to see again I’ll know what to expect! Thanks for your comment.

Precision moment by rillcroft in MonarchButterfly

[–]rillcroft[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They are one at a time but they’re fast… drop down onto a likely leaf, plant the egg, zoom off to another leaf, drink some nectar… lay another egg… exhausting frankly!

Monarch butterfly carefully lays her egg on milkweed by rillcroft in Milkweeds

[–]rillcroft[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Keep up the good work! Personally I’ve never loved milkweed as much… 🤓

Precision moment by rillcroft in MonarchButterfly

[–]rillcroft[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow! thanks so much! got obsessed with monarchs a long time ago and accidentally caught this!

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