- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Monarch Caterpillars Missing This Year?
Posted on 6/24/26 at 7:34 am
Posted on 6/24/26 at 7:34 am
For the last few years, our family has really enjoyed watching the monarch life cycle at the house. By this point in the season, our milkweed plants are usually wiped out two or three times by batches of caterpillars. Our two little girls get a kick out of counting the caterpillars then seeing where they set up their chrysalis around our porch.
This year has been a completely different story. We’ve seen a few monarch butterflies here and there, but haven’t found a single caterpillar. Located n the South Baton Rouge area, and our milkweed plants are as thick and healthy as ever.
Has anyone else noticed a similar drop-off this year?
This year has been a completely different story. We’ve seen a few monarch butterflies here and there, but haven’t found a single caterpillar. Located n the South Baton Rouge area, and our milkweed plants are as thick and healthy as ever.
Has anyone else noticed a similar drop-off this year?
11
Posted on 6/24/26 at 7:38 am to SpeckledScrap
haven’t had any monarchs but lots of black swallowtail. I’ve got 5 cocoons going right now from my dill plants
Posted on 6/24/26 at 8:43 am to SpeckledScrap
Same
Florida
Florida
Posted on 6/24/26 at 10:17 am to SpeckledScrap
quote:
Has anyone else noticed a similar drop-off this year?
Yes
Posted on 6/24/26 at 10:21 am to SpeckledScrap
Giant monarch caterpillars are tearing my lemon trees up this year!
Posted on 6/24/26 at 10:29 am to Spankum
those are probably giant swallowtail. If you want to get rid of them pluck them off and put them in a box I’ll take them
Posted on 6/24/26 at 11:41 am to SpeckledScrap
Just had three come out of their cocoons yesterday on my milkweed. Still have another cocoon about ready to hatch
Posted on 6/24/26 at 12:33 pm to SpeckledScrap
Live in St George, milk weed has zero leaves, and have 9 chrysalis on my ponytail plant, have had 2 hatch and watching the rest grow
Posted on 6/24/26 at 8:00 pm to cgrand
They got my one little 2 week old dill plant. Ate it down to where it was only stalks. Pulled 5 fat caterpillars off
How the hell did they find that random dill plant?!?!
Fed them to the chickens because I was mad at them. Next time I’ll keep a few and watch the show.
How the hell did they find that random dill plant?!?!
Fed them to the chickens because I was mad at them. Next time I’ll keep a few and watch the show.
Posted on 6/25/26 at 1:02 am to cgrand
quote:
those are probably giant swallowtail. If you want to get rid of them pluck them off and put them in a box I’ll take them
You are right, thats what they are. Look like bird shite!
Posted on 6/25/26 at 12:03 pm to Sir Drinksalot
Monarchs do not lay eggs on or eat anything except milkweed. That's why their population is endangered. Milkweed habitats are running low.
Posted on 6/25/26 at 12:11 pm to AUstar
yes…the caterpillars on dill are black swallowtail and the ones on citrus are giant swallowtail, both very common and not endangered
Posted on 6/25/26 at 2:00 pm to cgrand
i cant keep them out of my parsley
Posted on 6/27/26 at 1:06 am to SpeckledScrap
In Prairieville and we've had a few butterflies (less than usual), but we have a lot of caterpillars right now.
Posted on 6/27/26 at 5:45 am to SpeckledScrap
Not at my house, they are everywhere, I have native milkweed and tropical, I have been cutting of seed pods, I have one bed, covered in milkweed with some Zinnias mixed in . I'm sure a lot of these Monarchs are natives and don't migrate but I have a lot of butterflies
Posted on 6/27/26 at 5:48 am to Spankum
Those are swallowtails, not monarchs citrus trees are one of many host plants for swallowtails, along with Fennel and Dill I seem to have trouble growing fennell at my house
Posted on 6/28/26 at 7:23 am to SpeckledScrap
Seen a couple of females laying eggs on my milkweed, seen a chrysalis or 2 and a few mid sized cats wandering around. But no where the usual activity. Once I see that I have cats on a plant I will cover it with fine mesh to keep the damn red wasps away they hunt the young caterpillars
Posted on 6/28/26 at 7:40 am to SpeckledScrap
You’re right. I have milkweed planted and still have all my leaves.
Posted on 6/28/26 at 7:45 am to SpeckledScrap
Go to one of the local big box stores selling milkweed...buy a plant that you see eggs or caterpillars on and bring it home. That one plant won't be enough for them anyway.
Call it a rehoming deal...for the price of one milkweed plant.
Call it a rehoming deal...for the price of one milkweed plant.
Posted on 6/30/26 at 7:43 am to DMAN1968
Just an update. We have been getting egg bombed routinely. I've got 60 caterpillars right now who have eaten almost all of the milkweed we've got. We're brought in a few more plants and moved some to larger, less desirable apparently milkweed. Hopefully they'll turn into chrysalises soon.
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News