[va-richmond-general] Re: Monarch Butterflies...anyone seeing them ?
- From: Caroline Coe <cccoe@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "lindamcbride@xxxxxxxx" <lindamcbride@xxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 17:09:25 -0400
Linda, Thanks so much for all the butterfly info! It's wonderful to have an
expert on the list! we'll see what the fall brings.
Caroline Coe
Chesterfield County
PS: In our yard we have milkweed but no monarchs or caterpillars. But boy do we
have goldfinches and chickadees!!
Sent from the Coe's iPad
On Sep 16, 2013, at 10:59 PM, "lindamcbride@xxxxxxxx" <lindamcbride@xxxxxxxx>
wrote:
> I have raised butterflies and moths for many years, and in recent years, I
> have been blessed with between 100 and 200 monarchs a year. Only two
> monarchs have been in my garden this year, and their visits produced
> absolutely no eggs/caterpillars. I have had to beg, borrow and steal the few
> caterpillars I have managed to raise. I have had plenty of black
> swallowtails, though, and spicebush and tiger swallowtails have been
> numerous, as well. I recently visited with one of the founders of the VA
> Butterfly Society. She said monarch numbers among the society's members have
> been very inconsistent. One or two members have had many monarch
> caterpillars, but most have had none at all. There appears to be a
> concentration in the area of VA between the Beach and Richmond, just west of
> Williamsburg. A friend who also raises caterpillars and lives just 10
> minutes from me has 40 monarch caterpillars. I am raising a few of hers.
> Numbers have crashed over the last two years, in no small part because of the
> disappearance of large patches of milkweed, pesticide use,
> drought/wildfires/floods and deforestation in their Mexican overwintering
> sites. With good conditions, insect populations can rebound dramatically.
> We can hope for the best, set our sights on next year, and keep our fingers
> crossed!
>
> ---------- Original Message ----------
> From: Kristi Orcutt <botnizn@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: robin.ruth@xxxxxxxxxxx
> Cc: Mary Arginteanu <mary.arginteanu@xxxxxxxxx>, julie kasmarcik
> <juliekazz@xxxxxxxxxxx>, Richmond Birds <va-richmond-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [va-richmond-general] Re: Monarch Butterflies...anyone seeing them?
> Date: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 21:14:00 -0400
>
> found >8 monarch larvae recently on the Tropical Milkweed plants in the
> children's garden at lewis ginter. had none on the other 4 species of
> milkweed.
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Sep 16, 2013 at 9:08 PM, Robin Ruth <robin.ruth@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> We have quite a lot of Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillars at Swansboro.
>> This week we discovered 3 Monarch caterpillars on the common milkweed at
>> Swansboro, but have had no reliable sightings of any Monarch adults. I have
>> had no adults or caterpillars in my own garden where I have had plenty of
>> swamp and common milkweed.
>> Robin
>>
>> On Sep 16, 2013, at 8:52 PM, Mary Arginteanu wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks, Julie:
>>> re Monarchs: they have been absent in our Southampton garden this year. I
>>> saw one adult today
>>>
>>>
>>> We have also seen a nose dive in black Swallowtail eggs/caterpillars. We
>>> have lots of plants to attract Black Swallowtail in various stages---- but
>>> no eggs or caterlpillars.
>>>
>>> mary
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Sep 16, 2013 at 8:33 PM, <juliekazz@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Slightly off topic here, but it does involve a creature with wings...are
>>>> you folks out there seeing any Monarch's or finding caterpillars?
>>>>
>>>> I have seen just one Monarch (Pittsylvania County) and only a few
>>>> caterpillars (Highland County). I have (make that had) my best crop of
>>>> Butterfly Weed ever, until the last 5 days when an army of Swamp Milkweed
>>>> Leaf Beetles has totally denuded the plants.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I do have at least 2 Hummingbirds here...that was a quick peek changing
>>>> the feeders at 6 pm tonight.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> JulieKacmarcik
>>>>
>>>> Chester
>>>>
>
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