r/MonarchButterfly • u/Pattie4170 • 1d ago

Please check!

Again, please, please check and check over and over again. Use a magnifying glass if you are checking milkweed leaves for newly hatched eggs, they are almost microscopic in size and u could easily miss them when you toss the leaves in the trash. I take my thoroughly checked leaves and place them in the milkweed patch incase I did miss one. That way instead of the baby dieing in the trash can, he has a chance to live by finding the milkweed. Check both sides of the leaf and in any curls

9 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

7

u/Ghost_Cat_88 1d ago

Remind me, why are you throwing milkweed leaves away?

3

u/Medium_Spare_8982 1d ago

Because they have to be replaced at a minimum of every 24 hours

3

u/Pattie4170 1d ago

Thank you

2

u/Ghost_Cat_88 1d ago

Oh, I see what you're doing.

If it's at all possible, try to feed your caterpillars from actual plants. Like, get some potted milkweed and net that. If that's not possible, the next best option is placing stems in floral tubes. You want to try to keep the leaves hydrated. Cutting them off the plant makes that difficult.

-1

u/Medium_Spare_8982 1d ago

I’ve been doing this for years. They get whole plant cuttings in vases. Floral tubes don’t hold anything (except for the newborns.)

For me to use potted plants with 300 caterpillars? I think not.

1

u/Ghost_Cat_88 22h ago edited 21h ago

Wait, you're not the OP, are you?

Why exactly did you reply?

3

u/Pattie4170 1d ago

I throw away the ones that are starting to turn yellow and shrivel up. I make sure they always have fresh leaves to eat

2

u/Cats-NotKids-33 1d ago

I find they won’t eat leaves that have gone limp.

2

u/nebula_42 18h ago

lol--- I also put old milkweed back outside because I am paranoid of throwing out an egg or little one. Part of the problem is I don't know how many I am supposed to have--- my food plants often have a surprise egg!

1

u/Difficult_Rope7898 17h ago

I always love seeing your posts. I remember the time you put the leaf down hoping to find the baby caterpillar you couldn’t see. Thank you for your compassion and great advice. Putting them back in the milkweed patch is a great way to make sure if you miss one they still have a chance. Thank you for sharing!🦋❤️🦋❤️

2

u/Pattie4170 16h ago

Thank you