This season the Monarch butterflies have been missing from around the gardens here at Struan Farm. I saw one fly over the house around Christmas, but it migrated elsewhere, did not stick around. It may still be a bit early, but I've been keeping an eye out for them. I did see a Painted Lady back in the veggie gardens last week.
This week I was excited to discover two Monarch caterpillars munching away on a swan plant up by our roadside edge, where I'd tossed out seeds for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. There were only two "cats," but I'm happy they're here. I may have to relocate them in due course to the other swan plants I've got growing in the main flower gardens to keep them nourished, but we'll take this one step at a time.
Monarch butterflies are having a hard time globally at the moment. Predators like wasps and beetles kill the caterpillars. We haven't had a problem with wasps here, but last year those beetles were terrible--they look like brown grass grubs and are very sneaky.
Like migrating flocks of birds, Monarchs typically return to the same areas, groves of trees, each year to winter. In many parts of the world those areas are being developed, threatening the butterflies. Here in NZ butterfly specialists tag them to track where it is they go. Christchurch seems to be one destination.
I wish we could encourage them to stay in Piopio!
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