this post was submitted on 24 Jan 2024
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https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/tools-and-resources/identification/what-is-this-bug/monarch-caterpillar/

It's that time of year again, when the kids (and myself) get overly invested in the lifecycle of these grubs. Last year we managed maybe a 10% success rate (from egg to butterfly) hopefully we'll do better this time round.

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[–] Mojojojo1993 5 points 7 months ago (6 children)

I had about 5 swan plants.

I get why the rate of decline in monarchs.

They would eat a plant to destruction them move on to the next one. I lost hundreds of caterpillars. Still have some cocoons that didn't survive from last year.

They really need to come up with a better plan. Also doesn't help that swam plants are poisonous to a bunch of other animals. So can't plant them anywhere near where other animals are.

[–] invalidname 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Also, wasps eat the caterpillars and if they find the plant, will keep coming back till they’re all gone!

[–] Mojojojo1993 2 points 7 months ago

Ah so they. We have millions of wasps.

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