Where did my Caterpillars go? | Raising Monarchs to Solve the Mystery

Рет қаралды 9,336

3 жыл бұрын

You want to save the MONARCH BUTTERFLY! You planted a milkweed garden, you started raising monarch caterpillars in the wild... but, they have gone missing. Where did they go? Killed by pesticides? Eaten by predators? Or something else? My monarch caterpillars kept going missing; so I collected caterpillar eggs and first instar caterpillars to see if I could take my monarchs through the whole butterfly life cycle and solve my mystery.
In this series, we will be covering the butterfly garden basics. I'll take you through how to attract butterflies, plants that attract butterflies, flowers that attract butterflies, how to make a butterfly garden at home, nectar plants, host plants and native butterfly garden. Come join me in my butterfly garden in Florida as we start our journey into butterfly gardening!
________
FREE SEASONAL GARDENING CALENDAR
www.wildfloridian.net/calendar
________
SUPPORT
KZfaq Membership • Wild Floridian Membership
_________
CATTLE PANEL TRELLIS SUPPLIES
Cattle Panel (1 per arch)
7ft T-post (4 per arch)
T-post Clips (1 bag per three arches)
T-post Driver
Tractor Supply Affiliate Link: www.pjatr.com/t/TUJGRU1GSEJHR...
_________
GARDEN TOOLS
Yard Cart: amzn.to/3m0Ak5r
9 Piece Garden Tool Set: amzn.to/339WgCx
Machete / Hatchet: amzn.to/3h8Coor
Hedge Trimmers: amzn.to/3m5GBx4
Hand Saw: amzn.to/3ha9pkd
GARDEN GEAR
Boots: amzn.to/3m11gSO
Shirt: teespring.com/stores/wild-flo...
ORGANIC GARDENING
Miracle-Gro Fertilizer amzn.to/3rhl7Q2
Miracle-Gro Organic Fertilizer amzn.to/38mEw9J
Miracle-Gro Organic Container Soil amzn.to/3aunNEk
The Soil in Video can be picked up at store and was not available on Amazon at this time
IN THE KITCHEN
Food Scale amzn.to/34XRVEv
Stasher Reusable Storage Bags amzn.to/3n5OIc5
FILMING EQUIPMENT
iPhone 8: amzn.to/3ka9kz1
Protective iPhone 8 Case: amzn.to/3i5tuJH
Gimbal: amzn.to/3jYEZDm
Tripod with Ring Light: amzn.to/32b76cl
DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links. As an affiliate associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
_________
CONNECT
Twitter @WildFloridian / wildfloridian
Instagram wild_floridian / wild_floridian
Facebook Wild Florida / wildfloridian
________
MUSIC CREDIT
Childhood by Mike Chino / mike-chino
Creative Commons - Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported - CC BY-SA 3.0
Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/childhood_
Music promoted by Audio Library • Childhood - Mike Chino...

Пікірлер: 72

@marcipotts7397 2 жыл бұрын

THIS VIDEO GAVE MY HEART SO MUCH JOY ESPECIALLY YOUR SON FLAPPING HIS WINGS THANK YOU FOR SHARING !💞

@srar118 Жыл бұрын

Great video! I got a milk weed and so so excited to see 7 caterpillars then 2 days later, they’re all gone. I need to get a little house like you have if I get more on the plant. Thanks for sharing

@theresagrimes1376 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! I switched to the large mesh laundry bags that you can purchase at a large discount store. They have zippers on top as well as the side which make it a lot easier getting in & out of the enclosures. Plus, I can place an entire potted plant inside of it for the caterpillars to eat. Like you, I’d rather let nature take its course. But, sometimes you need to step in to educate yourself about something, or to save some cats from predators. I’m doing that today with some Atala Butterfly caterpillars & chrysalis.’

@festive101 Жыл бұрын

Love how careful and gentle your babies were with ur new babies!!! Great kids :)

@mariebarnes416 2 жыл бұрын

That was a great experience for your son. Thanks for sharing.

@RevAcres01 3 жыл бұрын

What a great learning experience I really enjoyed watching and cheering those little guys on. Had no idea how much they ate and pooped. 🐛🌿

@WildFloridian 3 жыл бұрын

Yay! I know! Right?!?

@cheriboone 2 жыл бұрын

That was a great comment for hanging the leaves. I have a bit larger of an enclosure but gonna do that right now. Thank you

@tomquintero7583 2 жыл бұрын

That was fun to watch, thanks for sharing!

@patriciavarga4204 3 жыл бұрын

Dampen the silk and carefully remove. They don’t need to be hung.. they can be laid on the bottom after all have pupated.

@WildFloridian 3 жыл бұрын

OH! Good to know!

@maryjane9842 Жыл бұрын

WOW, miami-dade county heya, dont know if you'll see this or not, we are in the KENDALE LAKES area, near the HAMMOCKS and just off of KENDALL DRIVE/SW 88th street! AND west of the Fla. Turnpike down here. Well to my story, better-half noticed the caterpillars were going somewhere, and didnt know where, so we bought the large one, it is 4 foot tall, and the zipper is on the side instead of like this video, on the top. Cost more, but I think worth it. So than, we have like 7 cocoons right now, and a few caterpillars, so things are getting interesting. 1. this netting is large enough, so we are placing real plants/pots into the netting/cage and i noticed already, we dont seem to have the pooping problem to deal with, which a huge plus 2. the leaves in the netting and hanging is a good idea and will try that, the leaves on the ground, I have mixed feelings about. [and ya right, they sure seem to poop alot. So thank you for your awesome video, and I did learn alot, well, that I will now bring to the attention to my better-half, LOL {HOWARD} THIS IS THE ONE I BOUGHT AND USE, does anyone else have this one??? and I love it, now though better-half and I are thinking of trying to build one, a larger one! www.ebay.com/itm/185794896168

@lisaburnette6850 2 жыл бұрын

Omg! Your baby is so cute and sweet ❤️

@laurenrhoads9712 3 жыл бұрын

Your child is so cute. Congratulations on your monarch caterpillars 🐛

@WildFloridian 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

@awrensgarden3754 3 жыл бұрын

You are awesome. I’ve learned so much by watching your videos. Been adding more and more native plants to my garden and loving the frog fruit because of you! I had no idea they were a host plant. It’s so great you get your little ones involved! He’s so cute!! I’ve been growing milkweed for a long time and just recently heard that some of the milkweed grown now they do something to the plant that makes it so the caterpillars can’t or get sick if they eat it - so they can sell more plants- makes me so sad. Main reason to grow milkweed is to help the monarchs! Now I only buy plants from people that are looking out for the caterpillars. Im so glad you didn’t have the tainted milkweed! Thanks so much for al you share- you’re an excellent teacher. Have an awesome weekend!

@WildFloridian 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much Madai!!!! You are warming my heart! I'm so happy I was able to help you! And you are growing natives!!! So happy and excited for you 🥰

@maryjane9842 Жыл бұрын

hope that ya dont mind me asking, why dont ya grow from seed, and wouldnt that help staying away from those plants that would harm cats, and or butterflys? just saying. Or are you saying even some of those seeds are bad, well, depending on where you get them. I have right now tons of seeds, and plan to grow them all. AND those seeds I do have right now, came from plants I already am growing, and own, SO i think that I may now claim they are good and wont harm our little friends, right? If anyone here only buys plants, I have from the start grown those plants from seeds bought online, and so far had no problems, and those plants provide us with tons of good seeds. I have some pods right now coming out with even more.

@hollaceparadis6591 11 ай бұрын

I live in South Fl, I planted a butterfly garden at my mom's , the caterpillars grew fast and decimated all the leaves on the milkweed and when the caterpillars were exposed they were decimated by the the little green lizards that are rampant here. No butterflies and no plants, without leaves they died.

@larrystone5749 3 жыл бұрын

Another great video enjoyed it Be safe

@WildFloridian 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, you too!

@brittanystansbury7339 3 жыл бұрын

This video inspired me to order a mesh kit and save some of my monarch caterpillars! I go outside every day to watch them grow on the milkweed, and have seen all of them been eaten by predators since the first caterpillar of the season. I know it’s natural, but breaks my heart knowing they are vulnerable as a species. I feel like I should help them to offset that by raising some in safety... thanks for the video!

@WildFloridian 3 жыл бұрын

Yay! I hope you enjoy. Love to hear how it goes for you!

@lyndabrown3402 3 жыл бұрын

Very interesting!

@WildFloridian 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you think so! 😄

@mariap.894 3 жыл бұрын

For the butterfly cage, I find it easier to put the paper towels at the bottom sometimes I damp one so they can "drink". And put a dried branch and on it I will hang the leaves. I find it that it "mimics" nature and makes it easier to change the leaves and the towels at the bottom (compost them 😉).It also helps for them to form the chrysalis, so they don't do it by the zipper. Hope this helps ❤️🌷

@WildFloridian 3 жыл бұрын

That helps a lot!!!! 🥰

@luisaradusinovic9403 3 жыл бұрын

So glad you made this video. I came across the same thing . I think lizards get mine . I will have to get an enclosure or make one

@WildFloridian 3 жыл бұрын

Yay! 🦎 I hope it goes well!

@TheTrapperGuy 3 жыл бұрын

Had very little monarch activity this year. I have some milkweed that wasn't even touched. Last 2 years it was all munched up.

@WildFloridian 3 жыл бұрын

My milkweed activity has been slower too. Some of my neighbors have said their milkweed was eaten to sticks but not all. So it may be there is more milkweed in the area... so we are spreading out the eggs a little more. That is my hope

@larastrazdas6961 Ай бұрын

Just FYI, you can tell male from female by looking at the hind wings. Males have a small spot on the main vein on each hind wing. Females don’t have the spot and they have thicker veins.

@carolschwankoff3243 3 жыл бұрын

How do you like your ironweed? I have heard they can be a bit aggressive growers. I'm kind of scared to start my seeds next year 😳

@WildFloridian 3 жыл бұрын

I love the ironweed! I'm a big layer of mulch so I tend to suppress small seeds.

@ElijahFriesenChannel2 Жыл бұрын

I can tell that the first monarch butterfly to emerge that it's a male because of the black dots scent glands on the bottom of the wings.

@PaulinaGRul Жыл бұрын

Hi! Thanks so much for this video ❤ I had a chrysalis that disappeared, any idea about predators for this?? 😢

@marilynwagner7807 Жыл бұрын

There's prob a few but caterpillars if they don't have fresh milkweed in a cage. They will eat a crysalis. Or so I've heard never experienced it.

@patriciavarga4204 3 жыл бұрын

Ur in dade county? I thought you were in central or north Florida.

@WildFloridian 3 жыл бұрын

LOL! I live in Pinellas county. BUT I grew up in Broward county and my first hurricane was Hurricane Andrew (my parents were both emergency service workers ) and I know about the building code changes that were made over there due to the sweeping destruction. So when I moved over to the west coast; I've been shocked that they haven't taken the learnings from the east coast and integrated them in the building codes. When we moved into our house the garage door broke and we had to replace and we got a garage door that met the dade county building codes which are higher than Pinellas county codes.

@rsmalesk 2 жыл бұрын

A few years ago I planted quite a bit of tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) and it thrived and I had lots of monarchs. However, in my concern about this species, this year I planted tuberosa and am starting swamp milkweed. Both are slower growing than curassavica, so I think I'll need to keep that one more season until the others catch up. To minimize impact, I want to cut the curassavica completely back. When is the best time to do this? I live in Jacksonville.

@anissapearson7454 2 жыл бұрын

I know I didn't make the video, but I live in your area and I've grown tropical milkweed! I usually cut it back in around October or November, I try to do it before the first few frosts so the monarchs have time to leave. If you wanted, you could root the cut branches to get more plants for later, or you could toss the branches--its up to you!

@maryjane9842 Жыл бұрын

@@anissapearson7454 I REALLY need to ask you, I need to also start doing the same, and do know how. with as much detail are you can, how are you doing the rooting the cut branches, I do have some rooting power that I bought, and now when better-half says we need to cut back, I will be doing just that, and instead of throwing them out, using them to grow more plants. [and please, incase Pearson doesnt see this to answer, anyone that know, please do so, thank you, HOWARD] And it is no problem none at all for others and yourself to answer because there are only 24hours in a day, and if we dont help each-other when we can, there may never be an answer when the OP/others doesn't see the question they were asked, good luck everyone with saving our little friends from becoming dinner for others in our south florida butterfly jungle as it were....LOL

@festive101 Жыл бұрын

@@maryjane9842 So what do you need help with like exactly?

@silverdf1 11 ай бұрын

Well it’s August in South Florida and we have a big heat wave which I’m sure you’re aware of. The only place I can keep my caterpillars is in my shaded porch area but it’s extremely hot in there. I’m getting where the caterpillars some not all are getting overheated and they don’t get to finish making their chrysalis they seem to die. I guess it’s just expected there’s no other place I can put it. Anyone else having problems like this? I did just read that they slowed down immensely with any temperature over 91.5 and of course we’re having many days with the heat index over 110 so I guess this is to be expected. At this point I have released 163 butterflies this year and I still have 5 chrysalis’s and 10 caterpillars left in a habitat on the porch. Fingers crossed that most make it.

@WildFloridian 11 ай бұрын

Poor caterpillars. And yes I usually see the caterpillar and butterfly populations slow down in the hottest months for Florida. Hopefully the heat break a bit soon.

@katiecannon8186 3 жыл бұрын

We want to see your really nice screened in area. I mean, like green cushions? Teal pillows? We need a better tour !!!!!

@WildFloridian 3 жыл бұрын

LOL! Maybe some day I'll sneak it in.

@mwnemo 3 жыл бұрын

I did this with giant swallowtails with my niece and nephew. It took them two months to hatch from their cocoons.

@WildFloridian 3 жыл бұрын

Oh wow! That is a long time.

@maryjane9842 Жыл бұрын

WOW, that is a long time, for us and those monarch, its more like perhaps 2 weeks or so at the most, now ya got me thinking, why so long, i mean two months.

@reenagupta3377 2 жыл бұрын

Oo now I get it on my lemon plant there was almost 30 caterpillar were present and when they become green they fade away after some time I thought that birds eat them up

@WildFloridian 2 жыл бұрын

They might be or maybe they have become butterflies.

@reenagupta3377 2 жыл бұрын

@@WildFloridian I wish all of them to have become butterfly

@BulbasaurLeaves Жыл бұрын

My fifth instar monarch caterpillar got out of its enclosure in my very cluttered screened-in porch. Any tips on finding it? I'm hoping it just wandered off to spin its chrysalis. Otherwise, if it wasn't ready, I'm worried it might starve if it can't find any milkweed

@WildFloridian Жыл бұрын

They can potentially find their way back.

@BulbasaurLeaves Жыл бұрын

@@WildFloridian I found it! Just when I thought it was a goner, I lifted up a cardboard box and found a perfect little green chrysalis hanging from the bottom!

@PoatoSpud 3 жыл бұрын

When is your propagating milkweed video going to be released?

@WildFloridian 3 жыл бұрын

I'm delaying it. I've propagated butterfly weed from cuttings (and that is growing well), but the swamp milkweed is having issues and I want to figure out why before I show y'all. I wouldn't expect it in the next 2 to 3 months.

@jessicawoods814 26 күн бұрын

Are those monarch eggs @ 0:18

@marilynwagner7807 Жыл бұрын

The eggs you show at the beginning are lacewigs not monarch. Im not sure if you show one at one point or not.

@mariangie1544 3 жыл бұрын

OMG I have to go to work! But this is 😍 beautiful! I can’t stop watching. How do you know sex? Or you are just telling your son?

@WildFloridian 3 жыл бұрын

LOL! I didn't make it up. Look at the picture for this video and you will notice two black dots near the butt of the butterfly. The two dots are there for boys and missing for girls. If you look at he picture/thumbnail for attracting more monarchs video that is a girl. Hope that helps!

@knyghtryder3599 11 ай бұрын

A lot of our stuff disappeared , then noticed a large praying mantis. ...........

@velmaherrig6877 3 жыл бұрын

the caterpillars want to go to the top to form their chrysalis. Unfortunately yours has a plastic top. I don't think they can attach to the plastic. I have one that is net on all 4 sides. What you could do is lay the container on its side and then they can all attach to the net.

@WildFloridian 3 жыл бұрын

That is a great idea!!! If/When I do it again, I will try that.

@ieeshamroczek6583 3 жыл бұрын

What about aphids on my milkweed will they eat the caterpillars

@laurenrhoads9712 3 жыл бұрын

No they only suck the sap out of the plant attract ladybug or hummingbird that eat aphids

@WildFloridian 3 жыл бұрын

Agree with Lauren's comments. The aphids don't bother the caterpillars.

@mariangie1544 3 жыл бұрын

Lol! I am 305 too!

@WildFloridian 3 жыл бұрын

Alas... I'm no longer 305... not since the 90s. Fun fact Broward county was also 305 until the 90s.

@maryjane9842 Жыл бұрын

AND so am I, WOW, miami-dade county heya, dont know if you'll see this or not, we are in the KENDALE LAKES area, near the HAMMOCKS and just off of KENDALL DRIVE/SW 88th street! AND west of the Fla. Turnpike down here. And have been living down here since 1971 and from NYC, would love to compare notes sometime on how your doing the BUTTERFLY thingy, with plants/netting and such, HOWARD. And this video is awesome, is it not? My better-half is gone love it, and also BTW, was there now and after one year an update, Wild???