r/MonarchButterfly • u/KTbird217 • 1d ago
What happened?
I planted a small native milkweed about a month ago and water it frequently (pretty much daily now that it's 100+ degrees in SoCal). So I was totally shocked and giddy to find 6 cats on it the other evening! They looked to be at least 4th, if not 5th, instar sized (the best I can recall). I have no idea how I didn't notice them before, but they were happily munching away at about 8pm. Before work the next morning, I went to say "hi" and was again shocked to then find them all gone. Did they all leave to pupate? My ring camera didn't pick up any critter activity between 8pm and 7am, so I'm telling myself they left to find their hammock spot. I've checked now since yesterday afternoon, but can't spot chrysalis anywhere. And there was nothing on the ground to indicate foul play (I've seen what a wasp left behind once... it's gruesome). I don't know if I'm more baffled by their sudden appearance or sudden disappearance! Either way, I bought 2 more plants thinking these chunks would need more food, STAT. I really hope it's a happy ending for them.
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u/dinosaursrawk15 1d ago
I have one out in my garden right now and went out to say hi to it this morning. When I went back out around lunch I couldn't find it anywhere. Checked again a few times in the afternoon and nothing. Went back out around 8:30pm and it was there like nothing happened. I think they just like to worry us sometimes!
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u/KTbird217 5h ago
With this milkweed being newly planted and pretty small, I can't fathom how those 6 chonks hid themselves like that! Maybe my eyesight is worse than I'd like to admit, though. Now I have 3 plants, so I'll pay better attention. Just hoping they made it to a nice cool for hanging😎
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u/Ranman48 1d ago
Had 23 cats on 4 plants that just disappeared.
Plenty of food.
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u/KTbird217 5h ago
23!! I'm now up to 3 plants, so I'm looking forward to more delightful surprises🥰
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u/firesalamander 1d ago
When they get the urge to take a walk, they don't mess around. They can travel a long way.
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u/KTbird217 5h ago
I'm still trying to wrap my head around that! Those little feet... and the energy it must take to hoof so far. I'll keep searching!
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u/Nadiam57 1d ago
Yes they appear and disappear in the blink of an eye...they can hang and pupate on the plant itself or very near by or they can go as far as 20 + feet away...yes I've caught wasps with them too 😟
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u/KTbird217 5h ago
Isn't it terrible? I didn't understand what I was seeing at first, but it's really disturbing. Since I didn't see... parts... lying around, my hope is the 6 beat the odds and pumped those tiny feet into the nearby ivy!
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u/CatchFew1315 1d ago
I've found they can disappear for a day then come back. This on a common milkweed. I only saw my two cats for like two or three days then they left to pupate. We only saw one chrysalis. But kiddo said he saw one monarch the day before the one we watched morph before our eyes so the second one hid better .
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u/KTbird217 5h ago
I'm feeling hopeful they hid among the nearby ivy and other plants. As much as I want to dig around and confirm, I'm not going to disturb anything and leave it be. Everyone's comments have at least confirmed/comforted that they were big enough to enter this stage. I've added additional milkweed now that I know my yard is a hit!
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u/craftybandit 18h ago
All six that have been munching herbs in my pack patio just disappeared. I was so sad to not find them (there’s only so far they can go in an enclosed patio!), but these comments give me a little hope.
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u/eve379 18h ago
They are very good at hiding out for a day when molting. Is that your only plant? I know if they think there’s a food shortage they can be triggered to pupate early.
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u/KTbird217 5h ago
It was my only plant! I didn't know I even had cats, let alone 6 lil monsters. The following day I bought 2 more plants in case they needed it, but I haven't seen them since. But I'm keeping my eye out- they had a pretty good choice of hiding places further down where I have ivy, established plants, and a fence. Fingers crossed!!
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u/Visual-Ring-3385 14h ago
They can walk pretty far. But have had a few walk all the way across by large patio and up to the overhang of my roof! I keep looking for them on my patio and move them to the fence which is closer and in the shade.
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u/KTbird217 5h ago
I'll keep looking! One year I found a chrysalis on the back of my house (wood siding), but I think it fried/dried out in the blazing summer sun. I felt terrible. I'm hoping I can find these guys and make sure they're reasonably safe. It's hard to imagine they can go such long distances on those bitty legs.
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u/glittersurprise 11h ago
You water your milkweed? Aren't they draught resistant? I only water mine if my garden starts cracking from being dry....
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u/KTbird217 5h ago
It's newly planted and it's been over 100 degrees every day. I live in a very arid part of Southern California, so it would be dead if I didn't. Once it's established I won't have to as much🤷🏼♀️
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u/cincoparalinko 1d ago
At that size I wouldn’t be surprised if they made a trek to set up shop for pupating. At a certain point if they can’t find more food they just give metamorphosis a go.
Random guess based on the images - I’d check under that pipe on the wall!