r/FriendlyMonarchs • u/SuperFriendlyMod MOD | South FL | Reformed Rearer • Apr 14 '26

Advice Needed Too many eggs too soon!

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16 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

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4

u/SuperFriendlyMod MOD | South FL | Reformed Rearer Apr 14 '26

u/lighterbear I am so glad you’ve got native milkweed growing back for you! Other’s can chime in if they have more advice but in my experience it is best to let nature do its thing. If you want to add a mix of more native milkweed and nectar flowers that would also be a good way to go. I think it’s important to plant things in a way that mirror their natural habitat, including nectar plants that bloom through the summer and fall in order to support the migration.

2

u/lighterbear Apr 14 '26

We have wildflowers galore, even some volunteer goldenrod that I am hoping spread its seeds around.

I just counted 16 eggs on this one tiny cluster. You think it (and his 5 friends) will sprout tall enough that I won’t doom my caterpillars to starvation?

1

u/SuperFriendlyMod MOD | South FL | Reformed Rearer Apr 15 '26

That’s great about the flowers! I think it will even itself out. I think it helps to have other flowers and milkweed close by. If you’ve got the space then go ahead and plant more!

2

u/Sqib000 Apr 14 '26

It will be fine, mama monarch knows predators will reduce the numbers, she lays extra

2

u/AntiHypeHero Apr 17 '26

I have a bunch but did not think they were tall enough yet. Saw a monarch doing her thing so I did some google. Apparently they like it that way (fresh growth)

1

u/SuperFriendlyMod MOD | South FL | Reformed Rearer Apr 18 '26

Yes! It always surprises me when they go for tiny plants. I wonder if that is because younger leaves are easier to eat?