Hey Paul. I always rinse leaves with water before serving to caterpillars just to be on the safe side. A recently published study finds a new threat: warming temperatures may be making milkweed, the only plant monarch caterpillars can eat, too toxic for the butterflies. Tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, has been much debated as a significant factor in monarch decline and disease for almost a decade. for several years, with much success. Thank you for your support. Is this infestation dangerous for the monarchs? That population, much smaller, less famous and even more at risk than those east of the Rocky Mountains that migrate north from Mexico each spring, moves around various sites along the Pacific coast. Calling folks names, especially those who could or should be on your side, does not move things in a positive direction. Ok I think thats it. This alone is reason enough for us to support its use as a just in case food source. On my tropical, I raise and release about a hundred Monarch up to October when I cut back. Then last week we had this unprecedented freeze that killed all Monarchs at all stages from now on I will cut my milkweed down to the roots in the fall they would have been better to migrating. 2. Scott says that the hottest water your faucet can produce is sufficient- 110 to 120 F . I should take notes so I can share real info on conditions and effects. THIS IS NOT THE CASE WRONG. Each fall it seeds abundantly. Which has now gone to seed and I have been spreading the seed in different areas of the property that I do not mow. Curious why the breeding cycle was so late. It's important to understand the effects that increased planting of this particular milkweed might have for monarch migration. A Tropical Solution: Once again, cutting back milkweed plants (or potting them to bring indoors) can make a huge difference. Many are lethargic and spitting green liquid. Then its up to the gardener to decide if a milkweed or nectar plant will work for their particular situation. Enlightening article. I appreciate your insight and I sure hope you are right! Hi Terri, thank you for your thoughtful comment. Hi Michele, up north I have noticed that the younger plants always look healthier. I dont know yet if the Tropical is coming back this year. The tropical are doing fantastic. Perhaps people should be encouraged to tag in Florida to see if any of those butterflies are also recovered in Mexico. I agree that responsible diversity is a reasonable goal in a garden setting. This year the Monarchs were later than usual and I had to feed with tropical early on and must say there was some mortality of young larvae but no more than what Ive seen in years past. I have about 50 milkweed plants Yellow Ascepias and Asclepias curassavica. Hi Colleen, in places where tropical milkweed grows year round more precautions should be taken to decrease potential spread of disease and to encourage the fall migration. In an article published on the NABA website in 2015, he called Tropical milkweed a life buoy for monarchs. This non-native milkweed has exploded in popularity as demand for milkweed grows to support declining monarch butterfly populations. I am letting you know all of this information because I also wish for you to know that I also use the non-native milkweed to promote large numbers of monarchs. The purpose of milkweed is to encourage monarchs to lay eggs and allow monarch caterpillars to develop. Leaf spots on milkweed plants are usually red, brown, or black. Hence our drought. Monarch Swan plant seed pods with monarch caterpillar. Background: North American monarchs (Danaus plexippus) are well-known for their long-distance migrations; however, some monarchs within the migratory range have adopted a resident lifestyle and breed year-round at sites where tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) is planted in the southern coastal United States. James' early research suggests that non-reproductive and migratory monarch populations in Australia are not adversely affected by the presence of non-native and other "tropical" milkweeds such as Gomphocarpus fruticosus, an African milkweed sometimes called Swan plant or Balloon plant. My main question is with first frost rapidly approaching, can I take flowering cuttings in the hope of them going to seed while overwintering under my growlights? But as some species enter senescence [even after cutting them back] late in the season, the tropical milkweed is the last ditch fresh food standing, in many cases. Boy was I wrong. We still need conclusive dataon this issue to understand how the reuse of tropical milkweed is negatively impacting the monarch population. My point is, all the native milkweed to my area (non coastal Southern California) barely grows at all, and are incredibly difficult to germinate. I suspect we are seeing a similar shift with the migrating Monarchs not needing to go all the way to Mexico (where, I assume, their native tropical milkweed is found). This has really given me pause. If I didnt have Tropical Milkweed, Id have NO milkweed. I hadnt visited in quite awhile so my last visit a couple years ago was a shock. There are many people in this country who like native plants & have them in their landscapes to benefit the insects they have evolved with for thousands of years. I bought several of them and they bloomed great this summer and lo and behold in the fall a female monarch laid eggs. However, I do raise migration generation monarchs indoors because cool nights can slow down metamorphosis. Southern Milkweed ASCLEPIAS CURASSAVICA is classified as native in at least 4 states. After the dainty milkweed flowers stop blooming in late summer, their 2- to 4-inch seed pods burst open to reveal silky seeds that fly away with the wind, starting the growing cycle anew. The plant is also attractive, both to humans and monarchs, providing flowers and lush green foliage throughout the . You can buy native Florida milkweed at native plant nurseries around the state. According to James, the Australian population has remained relatively steady since. Hopefully we will get some insight into the behavior patterns of the western monarchs when the counts are finished later this month. The issue in your region is that its continuously growing so it needs to be cut back because pathogens and OE spores can build up on the plantsunfortunately, many predators seem to have adapted to the toxins in all milkweed. I live in north central WI and have seen many chrysalises that became frozen because the monarchs try right up to the end , maybe this is normal and helps to keep the constant reproduction cycles going on during the summers until they migrate. Neonicotinoids are so invasive it will even make your soil toxic. Asclepias curassavica thrives as a potted plant. it will be interesting to hear what the naysayers say if their is a substantial population increase this season. I am also going to cut the tropical down when the common turns yellow. It is in trouble and we can all do our little parts to help. http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/79381/j.1461-0248.2010.01537.x.pdf?sequence=1 Ive let the number of caterpillars that occur on each milkweed species guide me as to what to increase the next year. The tropical variety is the only one which grows with any success or vigor. [] David James, an entomologist at Washington State University who conducted research in Australia claims that changes in temperature likely due to climate change are to blame for the declining monarch populations, not [], [] Supply: https://texasbutterflyranch.com/2021/02/22/tropical-milkweed-impact-on-monarch-butterflies-vastly-ov… []. Are you looking for plants that add purple flower power of to your butterfly garden? Hi Nancy, we keep our plants under grow lights. Should you remove milkweed bugs? As far as I know OE spores are ingested on egg shells and the outside leaves and stalks. However, the implications of this for monarchs are more complicated. Tropical milkweed ( Asclepias curassavica) is a non-native milkweed that has exploded in popularity in response to the demand for milkweed. And finally, they all are advocating against pesticides like the ones found on plants sold in most nurseries and in the big box stores. Monarch caterpillars feed exclusively on the leaves of milkweed, the only host plant for this iconic butterfly species. And yet I had horrifically deformed butterflies when I fed without disinfecting. 2014 Monarch Butterfly Migration: Worst Year in History or Hopeful Rebound? We capture the seeds and let the pods dry out over the winter. I live a little over a mile inland from the Monarch Sanctuary at Natural Bridges State Park that is by the beach. (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=3108d1b0-63fc-4616-9fcb-0add6b6278fa&cid=877050e7-52c9-4c33-a20b-d8301a08f96d'; cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: "3108d1b0-63fc-4616-9fcb-0add6b6278fa" }).render("5212e74440ae48d78157447a3a77ab51"); }); The Monarch Joint Venture recommends the following regional milkweed species for California gardeners. The eggs are always left on the Swamp Milkweed leaves and brought indoors into sterile containers where I can monitor their progress. In this paper, female monarch butterflies infected with OE parasites preferentially deposited their eggs on tropical milkweed vs Swamp milkweed. I believe the concern is lies in growers planting it far south, where it wont die off. Last year I bought 3 milkweed plants. Follow butterfly and native plant news at theTexas Butterfly Ranch. Adult Monarchs require nectar from flowering plant sources for survival and milkweed nectar is not the only plant that supplies it! Every year monarchs use ALL of our 15 milkweed species at various points in the season, and so do other pollinators and native wildlife. Name calling builds walls, not bridges. Here in SE Penn. Hi Bill, Southern California is different because of the year round monarch population and drought conditions. Please give me some tips on HOW to bring it in during the winter. Everything has been hypothesized that is just a question without an answer or may still be wrong. While awareness is rising around the so one think the question would actually be broached. Still giving it a chance though. **, Research seems to support that exotic milkweeds increase OE infection. Well, in late November I found some chrysalises hiding in my asters. The females laid eggs on the healthiest plants and it seemed that they also laid more eggs on plants that did not have the large seed pods. Each listing has both native and perennial growing regions to help make the best choices for your garden. Having milkweed that peaks at different times can make a difference in how many monarchs you attract/support through the season. Hi Jayne, tropical milkweed may very well be your best performing milkweed in Houston, but milkweed diversification will give you opportunities to cut back your tropical so it doesnt get covered in OE disease spores. I had tropical milkweed blooming in October/November, and at one point counted 20 monarchs in that flower bed. He pointed out that Sydney sits at 33.51 degrees latitude south of the equator, about the same distance that California roosting sites sit north of the equator. By planting milkweed, you can provide habitat for monarchs and also attract and support pollinators. Pesticide-free pollinator plants and milkweed almost seems like the biggest challenge right now. D. erippus learned how to deal with tropical milkweed. The twelve native milkweed species listed above are just a few of the dozens that are native to North America. Its the best variety to support early monarchs. Their caterpillars eat differently when compared to Danaus plexippus plexippus, our migrating monarchs. So, if its also their medicine cabinet as well as their food, all the better. Southern California, with Tropical milkweed, after a few seasons of using and not cutting back because we didnt know, we had the heartbreak of several emerging with misshapen wings that could not fly. Down here in Zone 10b we also have a native giant milkweed, a 9a 11 host plant/tree. Non-reproductive, overwintering monarch butterflies in Australia roosting on the non-native milkweed Gomphocarpus fruticosa, known as Balloon plant. Merely an appeal to the researcher NOW is the time of year to attack the Oleander Aphid. A recent study showed that one particular variety of milkweed, an exotic plant called tropical milkweed, is posing some problems to monarchs in certain areas Native milkweed dies back after blooming and we know that this life/death cycle helps to keep OE levels down. America's #1 backyard birding and gardening magazine! By ingesting the leaves, monarch larvae become toxic and predators avoid them. Tore out our Tropical and will not plant Tropical here again. I also discovered using one of the round mesh laundry containers works great to put over a plant in the garden. 5 Ways to Save Monarchs and Make 2023 Your Best Monarch SeasonEver! I would occasionally see a Monarch but I did not get eggs or cats. Theyre not staying around for the milkweed and are obviously taking other cues to start their migration. considered a naturalized exotic. I can see trying to prevent late egg laying by the monarchs on the tropical milkweeds. When he documented the winter breeding monarchs on non-native milkweeds in the company of large clusters of non-breeding monarchs in nearby trees in Sydney, Australia, in the 1970s, This intrigued me, he said recently, adding that conventional wisdom dictated that monarchs were not supposed to overwinter next to breeding populations. According to several studies, presence of the easy-to-grow, widely available perennial can encourage monarchs to break their reproductive diapause and stop migrating. And I have to admit it is a beautiful color and attracted all kinds of insects. please dont tell me the problems are insecticide or chemical related as that is simply not the case.). Went back to HD, found a different personone of their non-managerial garden staffand told him about the disastrous results. The seedlings will be ready to transplant in the garden once they are 3 to 6 inches tall and when the threat of frost has passed. For those above zone 7, your answer isnt a difficult oneare you willing to cut back your milkweed or bring it indoors to avoid overuse and migration tampering? While there is plenty of science for all to read, people can read and make up their own minds, I stopped at this website because it appeared an importabt conversation was taking place. Im in Central Florida. There is one additional case of a tiny island and apparently non-diapausing population much closer to the USA the island of Bermuda, 600 mile east of South Carolina out in the Atlantic ocean (about the same latitude as San Diego, Calif.) http://www.coldwellbankerislands.com/seo/islands/ber2.jpg. Hi Barbara, lethargic and spitting green liquid is a symptom of pesticide exposure.You might want to cut back your milkweed plants to about 12 and let healthy new growth emerge. Today I saw a very large caterpillar eating a hole in a green milkweed seedpod. I love this hobby and feel that this is one activity that can make a difference in the outcome for this miracle on wings. 11 Easy Steps for Winter Sowing Milkweed Seeds?? Hi Randy, OE would be a potential issue for your Calotropis species too, because its a continuous growing plant in a continuous growing regionI have not seen the white monarchs personally, but have seen photos. I saw pupas only on a pot of milkweed which I put on top of a birdbath. Try staggering your cuttings (cut back half now, the other half a few weeks later). Thank you. I have several tropical milkweed plants. Sound familiar? said James, referring to this years historic low count in California. We help distribute millions of milkweed seeds across North America. I remove invasive non-native plants almost every weekend. Thank you. Leaves are leaves right? This species is an important nectar source for bees, butterflies, and other insects, and serves as a I have 4 eggs and no monarchs in my yard for the past 4 days. What I can offer are personal observations made in the milkweed patches on our property in NE CO. To begin with I have stands of A. tuberosa, A. speciosa, A. incarnata and also grow the non-native A. curassavica. Hopefully I can begin raising cats next year. ANY surviving milkweed plants in those regions will have a build up of OE spores (almost ALL butterflies in your region have OE). Do not compost diseased leaves/stems and risk spreading fungus spores into the soil. This will give you fully mature milkweed plants to start next monarch seasonand cuttings to start new plants! I am coming from another angle. Watch for sprouts within two weeks. By planting milkweed, you can provide habitat for monarchs and also attract and support pollinators. Will they grow well in my region? ), Different topic: I think gardens too near overwintering sites should NOT grow any milkweed. The adult will drink the milkweed nectar . Later I bought a couple more tropical. I know this is an old post, but I have some updated (albeit anecdotal) info. There is also the issue of the higher levels of cardenolides in A. curassavica vs. A. syriaca, for example. I've recently had to purchase around 6 plants. SoCA. I have 10-12 milkweed plants in my yard, a mix of tropical, narrowleaf and showy milkweed with native nectar plants too. David James takes issue with the loud and persistent claim that non-native milkweeds pose serious threats to monarch butterflies and the viability of their migrations. I feel that if it is not perfectly dry at egg hatching time the eggs do not hatch and that may be part of the problem with our silkmoths also. The comparisons are remarkable. 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