Do we have any native California milkweeds & monarch butterfly specialists here? I found a monarch caterpillar feeding on my only 3 Asclepias speciosa seedlings. The seedlings were only 5 inches tall. After a week of feeding, one died, one is now 3 inches tall and the other one with two leaves left. Since I have plenty of Asclepais fascicularis with caterpillars on them, I placed a few leaves inside a clear cup with the caterpillar for its protection. The caterpillar chewed the leaves only twice and doesn’t seem to like it. Don’t California native milkweeds taste the same? I understand caterpillars prefer Tropical Milkweeds over California natives but never thought the tastes can vary amongst California native milkweeds.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 15:26:16 +0000