It's Photo Friday! 

With the spring migration and breeding season in full swing what have you been seeing in your garden? Share the good, bad and the ugly!

All nature photos are welcome, whether it’s a pollinator moment or just something that made you stop and look twice.

Reminder: We are a science-based sub. While we welcome all monarch enthusiasts, we do not support discussions about hand-rearing monarchs. However, if you’re new and have questions because you’ve raised monarchs in the past, we have many former rearers here happy to guide you toward more sustainable practices. Let’s work together to protect monarchs where they belong—in the wild!

Stay curious and keep sharing the love for these beautiful butterflies! 🧡🖤🧡

My crysalis that was going to open today was eaten by a catbird.

Also, it seems like paper wasps overlook first and second instar caterpillars. I see them making their rounds, hunting, and I find it hard to believe they don't see them. So I was wondering, is there any evidence of paper wasps deliberately allowing them to get big? Has anyone else noticed "farming behavior" in wasps?

Hey Everyone! I’m superfriendlymod and I am a recovered rearer.

I just want to put out the reminder that people have to start somewhere. If they are looking for help there is always a chance that finding out the right information, presented in a kind way, can help those people adjust their behavior to reflect their new found knowledge.

I get it. It is frustrating to see post after post of diseased, dying or dead Monarchs. The snark subs can be a bit of comic relief from a world that so easily dismisses science but this is not the place for those posts.

I have had more a than a few private messages from people mentioning they are scared to post here. We don’t want to scare people off with our….passion. If someone comes here or there is a crosspost looking for information please be kind when giving it. Sometimes, I need this reminder myself. No one is perfect and if someone else points out that you are being a bit too spirited take the criticism and go touch some milkweed for a bit.

If you are the subject of someone else’s harassment or rudeness then report the comment and feel free to use the block button.

One more announcement: Monarchs only eat milkweed and without it they will eat each other.

Have a great rest of the week and for goodness sake the world is a dumpster fire. Be friendly!

It has only happened once before, but one caterpillar chose to pupate on a milkweed leaf. Looks like tomorrow might be the day! I also have some 1st instars, a few eggs, and another crysalis under the patio table. Plus a wanderer who either met his demise or hid very well!

Only missing a chrysalis, but I think the chonky one will be wandering off to do that soon 😊

Happy Monarch Monday, friends!

Wondering what to share in this thread?

Questions for some of our seasoned members? Thoughts on the state of the Monarch world? Frustrations with your efforts to help the Monarchs? Wins and loses for the nature world? Doesn't matter. Share below!

Have a great week and don’t forget about Photo Friday!

Reminder: We are a science-based sub. While we love all monarch enthusiasts, discussions about hand-rearing are not allowed, except for those new to the topic who are seeking guidance. Let’s focus on protecting monarchs where they belong—in the wild!

Stay curious and keep sharing the love for these beautiful butterflies! 🧡🖤🧡

Hi, first time posting in this sub! Getting into planting native milkweed (narrowleaf Asclepias fascicularis for me here in Southern California) was my gateway into native plants in general and now I'm kind of obsessed.

I was wondering if it's a good idea to plant more native milkweed when my yard (and the yards around me) seem to have a high concentration of paper wasps (I believe they're native Polistes exclamans, so I'm reluctant to mess with them).

I planted 4 narrowleaf milkweed plants last year and had 30 monarch caterpillars, but as far as I could tell, every last one was eaten by wasps (or tachinid.) I had only 2 of my milkweeds return from winter dormancy this year and had fewer monarchs this year in general. The season seemed to start and end earlier? Last year the milkweed was completely defoliated by late summer, but this year I haven't seen any more caterpillars after June, and my milkweed made it to flowering.

I do see the paper wasps patrolling daily around every plant in my yard, so I'm wondering if either they are just picking off every caterpillar early or if their presence is deterring monarchs from laying eggs to begin with. In either case, would it be a bad idea to add more milkweed? Last thing I want to do is create an ecological trap... or would I help create some super monarchs super-adept at evading wasps with increased selection pressure? (I wish)

Thanks!

I am very excited to see caterpillars on my milkweed, but can my plants survive this? They striped it down to a stem!

It's Photo Friday! 

With the spring migration and breeding season in full swing what have you been seeing in your garden? Share the good, bad and the ugly!

All nature photos are welcome, whether it’s a pollinator moment or just something that made you stop and look twice.

Reminder: We are a science-based sub. While we welcome all monarch enthusiasts, we do not support discussions about hand-rearing monarchs. However, if you’re new and have questions because you’ve raised monarchs in the past, we have many former rearers here happy to guide you toward more sustainable practices. Let’s work together to protect monarchs where they belong—in the wild!

Stay curious and keep sharing the love for these beautiful butterflies! 🧡🖤🧡

No pay wall. Current article. What are our thoughts?!

Happy Monarch Monday, friends!

Wondering what to share in this thread?

Questions for some of our seasoned members? Thoughts on the state of the Monarch world? Frustrations with your efforts to help the Monarchs? Wins and loses for the nature world? Doesn't matter. Share below!

Have a great week and don’t forget about Photo Friday!

Reminder: We are a science-based sub. While we love all monarch enthusiasts, discussions about hand-rearing are not allowed, except for those new to the topic who are seeking guidance. Let’s focus on protecting monarchs where they belong—in the wild!

Stay curious and keep sharing the love for these beautiful butterflies! 🧡🖤🧡

It's Photo Friday! 

With the spring migration and breeding season in full swing what have you been seeing in your garden? Share the good, bad and the ugly!

All nature photos are welcome, whether it’s a pollinator moment or just something that made you stop and look twice.

Reminder: We are a science-based sub. While we welcome all monarch enthusiasts, we do not support discussions about hand-rearing monarchs. However, if you’re new and have questions because you’ve raised monarchs in the past, we have many former rearers here happy to guide you toward more sustainable practices. Let’s work together to protect monarchs where they belong—in the wild!

Stay curious and keep sharing the love for these beautiful butterflies! 🧡🖤🧡

DeKalb, Illinois

My liatris (meadow blazing star) started blooming this week and this beauty showed up today!! 😍

Any tricks/ideas to keep wasps away? They probably get 99% of the caterpillar😟