Butterflies on Fuerteventura

[OMR + MIN]

Hi Tardis, do the caterpillars eat the bottlebrush leaves?

[Tardis]

Hi Tardis, do the caterpillars eat the bottlebrush leaves?

No, just the milkweed leaves

[OMR + MIN]

I was afraid that would be your answer.

Am growing 2 lots of seeds for next year! Hoping they will grow enough leaves to satisfy several caterpillars.

Still not sure if plants should be grown fresh each year as mine are recovering too well ?   

[Gone Fishing]

I'm pretty sure that milkweeds are perennials, so grow each year and for more than two or three years.


As long as they don't fall foul to disease or drought they should be good for several years at least.

[OMR + MIN]

Thanks for the info GF.

Hoped so.

We have so many plants of all sots in our small garden it's a problem getting enough space to feed these voracious little characters! 

[Gone Fishing]

A quick rummage on t'interweb came up with this:

https://www.gardendesign.com/plants/milkweed.html


https://monarchbutterflygarden.net/harve...-no-fluff/

apologies if these links have previously been posted

[Tardis]

In the last few days, Monarch butterflies have started emerging from the chrysalises.  We were lucky to witness this amazing event happening (see attached photos)

There are now about ten of them in our garden and they are are already mating!

Due to the caterpillars plundering them, we hardly have any milkweed flowers for them to graze on.  They sometimes feed on the bottlebrush plant, as a second choice and occasionally on the marigolds.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Referring back to posts #27 and #28, a yellow Datura has sprung to life in a pot and started blooming. To be honest I thought this one had given up the ghost to red spider mite, so a pleasant surprise.



Looking around the garden today it is noticeable how many plants/shrubs are putting out new growth - it's like we get a second 'spring' when the extreme summer heat eases. It also encourages a re-emergence of the bugs: ants, cochinilla, green (and other colour) fly and scale are all on the increase again.
If anyone growing milkweed has been bothered by a bright yellow/orange fly (like green/black fly) I've discovered it is Oleander Fly. The only way to control it that won't harm your caterpillars is by squashing them by hand - be warned, they stain! Be careful that it is this bug and not butterfly eggs you're squashing!

[OMR + MIN]

Thanks Tamara,

I have a new Angels Trumpet but not as mature as yours.

Thanks for the warning about the bugs on the milkweed too. I saw some in the stalks a while back. 

My new milkweed seedlings are doing well. Both types. Need potting on. May have few to spare in a couple of weeks.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Oleander bug in the Milkweed.

One of the milkweeds is recovering rapidly and back in bloom.

A batch of some sort of eggs - have to wait and see what they are.

and a crop of fungi!