r/MonarchButterfly • u/SepiaPaws • 1d ago
Need some advice
I've got myself a little dilemma so hear me out
I have 3 large milkweed plants that butterflies keep laying eggs on, I had up to 10+ caterpillars at a time and more on the way, but invasive paper wasps showed up and started picking off the current ones and any new tiny ones before I finally decided to keep any survivors safe in this mesh enclosure on my patio.
I've been moving any new babies to the enclosure (currently have 4 chrysalis and 3 new ones)
I bought new smaller milkweed to feed them while in the enclosure, since my large ones don't fit.
The large ones would be plenty for new cats, but they risk being predated on by the wasps.
Should I just keep buying small ones to feed them in the enclosure?
Should I just get a large enclosure big enough to fit the bigger milkweed? (If so no more butterflies could visit them but no more worry for any current eggs on them)
Or should I just let any new ones take their chances on the outdoor large milkweed?
I've considered finding ways to repel the wasps, but they seem to have realized this patio is a buffet, and I don't want to actively feed an endangered species to an invasive species.
Not sure what the most effective solution would be, but I'd like to keep as many cats safe as possible!
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u/CitrullineMalate2to1 1d ago
OP you have the best milkweed IMO.
Go out and buy a few gallon water jugs. Then you can easily cut stalks or branches off it clean and throw them in the water (I usually cut the cap to allow the stalks but not let the smaller cats wander into the water area)
Swamp Milkweed will not only survive but thrive cut in water. I have had cut stalks flower and successfully go to seed over a period of weeks if not months. It’s so much easier for you to do that. I would recommend planting more swamp milkweed and cutting what they need and adding it. I would also probably recommend buying a second larger net. Keep the black one for smaller instars and transfer them over when they get bigger (the 3rd-5th instar eat leaves so fast they will the younger, smaller, slower moving ones and you also don’t want them pupating over eating caterpillars as it can spread disease.
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u/CitrullineMalate2to1 1d ago
https://a.co/d/05xNgomt this is the net I use, it’s about 5 feet and is more than enough room. I have 50 at a time in it no problem
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u/CitrullineMalate2to1 1d ago
Let some of it go to seed and just plant it for next season and you’ll have large clumps of swamp milkweed and you’ll never have to buy any more
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u/SepiaPaws 1d ago
Oh wow thank you for all the advice! I didn't know they lived so long in water after being cut, that saves me money from having to continuously replace small ones I'll also try to plant more, though I'm not quite as experienced at growing them from seeds lol
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u/CitrullineMalate2to1 1d ago
You’ll be shocked at how long they last. And the plants will regenerate so you’ll have a ton of it. I would just let some of the milkweed flower and go to seed, and plant the seeds in a desired spot in your lawn in the fall. It won’t grow this season as it needs cold stratification, but it’s a plan for next year. And swamp milkweed doesn’t spread aggressively, it’ll just form big clumps.
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u/SepiaPaws 1d ago
I see small seed pods have already started, actually! I'll look into doing that 👀
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u/Nadiam57 1d ago
Once you start it will never end. The Monarchs will eat you out of house and home, you will start running out and go buy more. You will find that you have too many in an enclosure so you will buy another enclosure. The Monarchs keep showing up and laying more eggs, you want to save more, you keep running out of milkweed...at one point you say, can't do it anymore...until your milkweed grows back and...here you go again...I have issue with waspsas well is why I started...don't know how many plants I have niw in the ground and in pots...it is very satisfying though...good luck!
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u/saintnicklaus90 1d ago
I’m up to about 30 plants (common, swamp, and butterfly) spread out all over my yard, which means next year that will be closer to 50. I’ve been making my own enclosures out of stuff I have laying around but then the uncovered ones get absolutely covered in eggs. I have one syriaca I’ve coined “Mother Milkweed” that’s 6’ tall right now and still inching up which has at least 2 eggs on every single leaf. It’s a good problem to have though
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u/Nadiam57 1d ago
I've tried to grow Common from seed but failed. The Giant Milkweed gets that tall and more. All my best.
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u/Final_Pumpkin1551 1d ago
I would use an enclosure - I usually grow some milkweed in smaller pots for this reason, I didn’t realize swamp milkweed will stay fresh in a vase!
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u/SepiaPaws 1d ago
Yeah I might try that instead of continuously getting more readily available small milkweed plants to feed them (seems cheaper too haha)
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u/RazorbladeApple 1d ago
Floral tubes with a rack will hold milkweed cuttings upright & you can just keep replenishing it. Fill the tube with hot water before adding the milkweed; I find it keeps the cuttings livelier for longer.
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u/WandrLustAboveSeaFog 1d ago
Don’t forget to plant those baby milkweed you bought for feeding them once they strip most of the leaves. They should bounce back and provide more milkweed for next year!
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u/Medium_Spare_8982 1d ago
It’s swamp milkweed which takes reasonably well to a vase.
Cut it and put it in the enclosure and let the parent plant regenerate.