Butterflies on Fuerteventura

[Tardis]

Hi Tardis
I have 2 smallish milkweed plants, growing healthily, and no sign of any eggs/caterpillars at the moment. Whereabouts are you? I'd love 1 or 2 caterpillars please.

Hi Tamara

I have sent you a PM

[OMR + MIN]

       

Hi, going to try attaching pics. of the Monarch??? 

Done but seem quite small. What size should they be ? Ohhh! 

[Tardis]

I've attached three photos of Monarch butterflies in our garden.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

I visited Tardis this morning and collected 2 caterpillars, 1 for each of my plants. I've christened them Bill & Ben and they seem to have survived the move very happily, munching away on their new homes. Thank you Tardis for letting me adopt!

I will be delighted if at some point in the future I get butterflies in quantity like in Tardis's garden - it was amazing to see all these Monarchs fluttering around, just beautiful!

I've sown a load of milkweed seed (about half of what I had collected) in the hope of increasing food supply for them - if others have grown from seed please can they post if they needed to do anything special like chilling the seed first, or letting the seeds dry out, or sowing fresh etc. Do cuttings work better?

[OMR + MIN]

Great pics Tardis! Thanks. Wish I had your patience.

With mine couldn't get to the other side of it & it kept moving all the time!  

Just found another caterpillar but oh dear, hardly any leaves left to eat.  

I have sown new seeds from my original plants & they are up & looking really healthy. Next years food! 

[OMR + MIN]

Hi Tamara,

As above; I opened the seed pod before they all blew away. Immediately planted them in general compost in a small pot 4 inches, lightly covered, carefully watered. I put my seed pots in a see through plastic bag for about a week (keeps the water in & don't water again). As I said they are up in about 6 days. Also sowed the new variety, just coming through. Stand them outside in semi shade to start.  Need some light to germinate.

Hope helpful. 

[OMR + MIN]

Thought i saw some painted lady butterflies this morning.

Has anyone else seen them?

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Loads in the garden today!

[OMR + MIN]

Great pic. Tamara.

We have loads too.

Good to see them back here again.

[Gone Fishing]

Thought i saw some painted lady butterflies this morning.  

Has anyone else seen them?

I think the Canaries, Fuerte especially, is on (or just off) the migration route of painted ladies.

April 2008 La Concha beach was festooned with them, probably on their return journey, and this was one of several that landed on Mrs GF's beach towel that day.


   
(click to enlarge photo)

Apparently, this year has been a good year in the UK for them.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/...utterflies