Description
MADAME BUTTERFLY is one of the many female monarchs I raised this year. Some of the butterflies emerged from eggs I found on the milkweed leaves and others from caterpillars or “cats” I found munching on milkweed leaves. The late season monarchs leave my gardens by the middle of October, heading south for the winter. They return early summer to start the cycle over again. As beautiful as they are, monarchs are foul tasting and poisonous to predators. They acquire this by eating of the milkweed leaves when in the larvae state. There has been a severe decrease in the monarch population due to deforestation. It has become the hobby of many to raise these lovely creatures to help with their survival.
