[Jacqui]

Hi all – would be grateful if you could participate in this survey. Would also appreciate it if you could keep it brief, i.e. don’t add any more information than the essentials. If you’re not sure, best guess is fine – it’s just to get a guideline about what is happening out there.

In most parts of NZ there doesn’t seem to be many Monarchs about – but this is what Margaret and I observed today,

Number/species of milkweed plants: 40-50 swan plants, 2 tropical milkweed

Community/suburb: Russell and Tapeka

Weather: October was cold/wet, no spring, long hot dry summer so far.

Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed: one female egg-laying

Larvae/pupae observed: none

Eggs observed: 20-25

Praying mantises: none

Aphids: 1 colony (that’s on one branch of one plant)

Ladybirds: 1

Bees: a few on most plants

Wasps: 1 observed

Ants: a few

To help, you can copy and paste the headings in the next post into the next blank response box, and then add the details:

[Jacqui]

Posted by Jacque Campbell 19/01/10

Number/species of milkweed plants: 5 small to medium, 5 seedlings coverd
Community/suburb: Waterview Auckland
Weather: January hot
Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) Havent spotted any near plants in back yard, did spot one fluttering in front yard today
Larvae/pupae observed: six
Eggs observed: nil
Praying mantises: nil
Aphids: nil
Ladybirds: nil
Bees: not observed
Wasps: nil
Ants: nil

[Anonymous]

Number/species of milkweed plants: about 30 swan plants
Community/suburb: Weymouth, Manukau City
Have you had typical summer weather or describe: seems hotter & drier this year
Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed: up to 5 most days
Larvae/pupae observed: I have been bringing c'pillars & eggs inside for the last month or so and have released about 20 butterflies so far and have another 20 in pupa stage. And some had survived outside on the plants.
Eggs observed: many
Praying mantises: a few young ones
Aphids: heaps and heaps (and heaps!!)
Ladybirds: some dark blue ones
Bees: a few
Wasps: quite a few
Ants: plenty
Other pests seen affecting Monarchs/milkweed:
Any other comments: the paper wasps seemed to be going for the nectar earlier in the season, but now seem to be going for any eggs & small c'pillars that i've left on the plants.

[Anonymous]

Number/species of milkweed plants:20 medium size but growing
Community/suburb:Marton, Rangitikei
Have you had typical summer weather or describe: No, very windy and changeable. 1 Very Hot day per week and cool nights.
Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed: 1 on Monday of Labour weekend layed 20 – 25 eggs.
Larvae/pupae observed: Catterpillars hatched from above eggs but all died.
Eggs observed: None at present.
Praying mantises: None
Aphids: on one swan plant, yellow/orange type.
Ladybirds: none
Bees: yes, honey and a few native bees also.
Wasps: none
Ants: constantly

[ReneeFraser]

Hi I'm new to this forum.

Number/species of milkweed plants: 1 (but hoping to get more). I'm not sure of the name of the species… just the normal size swan plant with white flowers. I'd like to get some giant ones.

Community/suburb: Papakura, South Auckland.

Have you had typical summer weather or describe: Yes… very humid – great weather for butterflies!

Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed: Yes I keep seeing 1-2 flying around and 1 on the milkweed. There are a couple that seem to be around every day at the moment. I think 1 male and 1 female because they fly together?

I've had about 4 lots of eggs laid on my swan plant and only 2x have any caterpillars hatched because it was raining alot so I guessed they got washed away… and I think birds got to some. I found half a caterpillar on clothing on the washing line 🙁 Now I finally have 5 large caterpillars that look almost ready to go into crysalis' 😀

Larvae/pupae observed: At the moment none.

Eggs observed: I haven't counted but I have noticed a few new ones. I saw a Monarch lay a few the other day.

Praying mantises: At the moment none.

Aphids: At the moment none.

Ladybirds: None.

Bees: Haven't noticed any on the plant lately.

Wasps: GRRR There is usually at least one each day… just there to feed on the nectar from the flowers I think… I observe it and haven't seen it go near the caterpillars thankfully. And I haven't seen any parasitic wasps. We have a lot of wasps and bees in our garden.. .and a lot of nests/homes in the wood of our garage, outside walls of the house, fencing, tree at back of house, and so on… so yes, a lot…

Ants: A LOT of those. They LOVE the nectar from the flowers and there are A LOT of flowers on my plant. They are never gone… they practically live on it. I guess they go home to their nest when it gets dark… I haven't tried any insecticides… though I have read you can use some. I'm too nervous.

Other pests seen affecting Monarchs/milkweed: Nothing that I have seen affect the plant – Some small flying bug … not sure what it does/wants. It just seems to sit on the leaves and do nothing LOL It's possible it eats tiny caterpillars but there are no small caterpillars on the plant now.
And flies… but I don't think they do anything…
Oh and the occasional small spider.

Any other comments: Can't wait for my caterpillars to go into Crysalis' and then hatch out into butterflies. I have two girls ages 3 and 5 and they will be so excited. I haven't had any big caterpillars before and no Crysalis'. I got the swan plant in Spring/Summer 08 and it's taken this long! Though I did keep it in the pot on our deck until it got bigger because I knew if I planted it and butterflies laid eggs on it they would eat the whole plant and run out of food. So it was about 4x the size it was when I got it before I planted it. Now it's about 2x that size. I can't believe how fast it has grown.
From memory, butterfly season was over when I planted it.

[Anonymous]

Number/species of milkweed plants: Recently purchased 5 swan plants (good order) and 12 poisoned ones from a garden department today. (not happy)
Community/suburb: Lower Hutt
Have you had typical summer weather or describe: Very late summer weather and a bit wetter than normal. Feels more like winter some days
Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed: None
Larvae/pupae observed: None
Eggs observed: None
Praying mantises: only in my backyard away from the swan plants and are somewhat albino as they have been hiding undergrowth from the birds
Aphids: Lots on next doors roses, but none on my property
Ladybirds: one or two
Bees: Loads of bees
Wasps: Not that ive noticed
Ants: None
Other pests seen affecting Monarchs/milkweed: Pass
Any other comments: Ive basically seen none in the area. Not many people seem to have swan plants either so that could be part of the issue but my aim is to grow a large patch for them to return to in future. Will be covered and protected in the coming months.

[bcjenk]

Number/species of milkweed plants:30-40 of 4 main varieties
Community/suburb:Cambridge
Have you had typical summer weather or describe:yes
Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed:1 or 2 seen often around section.
Larvae/pupae observed:20 or so 'fat boys' + a few smaller
Eggs observed:must be there but haven't looked hard
Praying mantises:a few small ones
Aphids:lots under digital control
Ladybirds:a few blue ones
Bees:lots of honey + 2 bumble nests
Wasps:less than this time last year because there are more pillars
Ants:oodles. New product in S/market 'Exterm-n-ant'. Blue liquid in small plastic bottle. Seems to work good. (+ made in Cambridge!)
Other pests seen affecting Monarchs/milkweed:
Any other comments: The wasps are taking large no's of admirals, but there are still dozens. 1st batch I released 40. Now have at least 60 inside and nettles are still covered in eggs.

[zoe9]

Number/species of milkweed plants: mixed (white and red flowers, thin and wide leaves), approx 30
Community/suburb: Devonport, North Shore, Auckland
Have you had typical summer weather or describe: Very rainy Oct/Nov, summer typical.
Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed: up to 5 or 6 at a time, several resident
Larvae/pupae observed: many
Eggs observed: many
Praying mantises: lots of baby green ones, few brown
Aphids: earlier in the season only
Ladybirds: many of different varieties
Bees: many
Wasps: not many at all (unusual)
Ants: many
Other pests seen affecting Monarchs/milkweed: no
Any other comments: Unusual season. Started very early (eggs in September) with the wasps keeping a very low profile. Wasp casualties at an all time low.

[Mad Midwife]

Number/species of milkweed plants:about 35 (seeds from trust)
Community/suburb:Masterton, Wairarapa
Have you had typical summer weather or describe:Long cold winter, no spring, now like summer
Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed:none
Larvae/pupae observed: none
Eggs observed: none
Praying mantises: none
Aphids: a few
Ladybirds: loads!
Bees: average or slightly less
Wasps:none
Ants: not many at all
Other pests seen affecting Monarchs/milkweed: none
Any other comments. odd white butterfly only. Garden centre has no eggs either on their plants.

[Anonymous]

Number/species of milkweed plants: 20 mixed varieties
Community/suburb: Timaru
Have you had typical summer weather or describe:yes
Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed:odd one, nothing like past years
Larvae/pupae observed:5
Eggs observed:0 (plants are netted to allow for maximum growth when hopefully the monarchs arrive)
Praying mantises:0
Aphids:heaps
Ladybirds:have seen 2
Bees:yes
Wasps:no
Ants:no
Other pests seen affecting Monarchs/milkweed:no
Any other comments:

[Jean]

Number/species of milkweed: In shadehouse 8 buckets of 10-15 plants, 20 in ground. 12+ in flower garden. Seeds from Trust + giant from Te Atatu.
Community/suburb: Brightwater, Tasman District
Typical Summer weather?: Changeable – cool, windy, some sun
Adult Monarchs: odd one now and then
Larva/pupa: 0
Eggs observed: 15
Praying mantis: 0
Aphids: only outside shadehouse
Bees: Honey, native and bumble – reasonable numbers
Wasps: 0
Ants: some in gardens
Other pests: white fly – digital control
Any other comments: more whites around, also magpie moth

[Jacqui]

Number/species of milkweed plants: 40-50 G. physocarpus and G. fruticosus (Giant and ordinary swan plants)
Community/suburb: Russell township – Russell School, Masonic Lodge, Play centre, behind Traders Mall etc
Have you had typical summer weather or describe: hot and dry for 2? months
Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed: one female nectaring, one female egglaying
Larvae/pupae observed: 3-4 small ones
Eggs observed: 3-4
Praying mantises: none
Aphids: a few on some plants
Ladybirds: none
Bees: probably 1 or 2 per plant on average, mostly honey bees
Wasps: none
Ants: a few
Other pests seen affecting Monarchs/milkweed: none – although I found a group of orange coloured eggs in a cluster underneath one milkweed leaf, will take photo and post on site.
Any other comments: At least there are MORE Monarchs than there were last week! Hopefully the numbers will now build up.

[Jacqui]

Number/species of milkweed plants: 40-50 G. physocarpus and G. fruticosus (Giant and ordinary swan plants)
Community/suburb: Russell township – Russell School, Masonic Lodge, Play centre, behind Traders Mall etc
Have you had typical summer weather or describe: hot and dry for 2? months
Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed: one female nectaring, one female egglaying
Larvae/pupae observed: 3-4 small ones
Eggs observed: 3-4
Praying mantises: none
Aphids: a few on some plants
Ladybirds: none
Bees: probably 1 or 2 per plant on average, mostly honey bees
Wasps: none
Ants: a few
Other pests seen affecting Monarchs/milkweed: none – although I found a group of orange coloured eggs in a cluster underneath one milkweed leaf, will take photo and post on site.
Any other comments: At least there are MORE Monarchs than there were last week! Hopefully the numbers will now build up.

[milkweed]

Number/species of milkweed plants: Asclepias Physocarpa, Incarnata (pink and white), Syriaca, Sullivantii, Purpurascens, Cordifolia, Pulchra, Speciosa, Erosa, Curassavica, Honeyvine milkweed.
Community/suburb: Marton
Have you had typical summer weather or describe: windy as hell.
Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed: 1.
Larvae/pupae observed:20+
Eggs observed:50+
Praying mantises:0
Aphids: many
Ladybirds: 1 or 2
Bees: many bumble bees, honey bees.
Wasps: occasionally
Ants: occasionally
Other pests seen affecting Monarchs/milkweed: none
Any other comments: hope the wind stops.

[Charlotte]

Number/species of milkweed plants:4 medium sized swan plants
Community/suburb:Waitakururu School, Thames
Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed: none
Larvae/pupae observed: none
Eggs observed: none
Praying mantises: none
Aphids: 2 plants absolutely smothered in aphids.
Ladybirds: none
Bees: none
Wasps: none
Ants: none

[Charlotte]

Number/species of milkweed plants:2 medium sized plants
Community/suburb:Miranda Holiday Park, Miranda. Thames
Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed: 1 every day for the past 5 days
Larvae/pupae observed: none
Eggs observed: around 15 – 20
Praying mantises: none
Aphids: a few on bigger plant, but squished now
Ladybirds: none
Bees: none
Wasps: none
Ants: none

[Matt]

Number/species of milkweed plants:6 giant
Community/suburb:Birkdale, Auckland
Have you had typical summer weather or describe: No, very windy and changeable. Very wet October/Nov but not much rain since.
Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed: 1 every day for the past 10 days
Larvae/pupae observed: 4 monarchs hatched early October. Currently approx 20 caterpillars in various stages on 5 covered plants.
Eggs observed: At present approx 15 on one exposed plant.
Praying mantises: 3 killed today!
Aphids: single figures on various plants
Ladybirds: none
Bees: yes, honey but more bumble
Wasps: surprisingly few
Ants: constantly

[NormTwigge]

Number/species of milkweed plants: Bloodflower,incarnata – 20
Community/suburb: Whakatane
Have you had typical summer weather or describe: very dry
Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed: 2-3 most days.
Larvae/pupae observed: Quite a few October, none at present.
Eggs observed: Nil
Praying mantises: Finding 2-3 young S.A. mantises each day.
Aphids: Lots
Ladybirds: 5-6
Bees: Numerous honey bees and bumble bees
Wasps: Several paper wasps
Ants: Very few
Other pests seen affecting Monarchs/milkweed: Nil
Any other comments: Seems to be a slow start to the Summer
generation.

[Swansong]

Number/species of milkweed plants: About 15 normal Swanplants 1 Giant Swanplant
Community/suburb: Manawatu
Have you had typical summer weather or describe: Cold hot dry wet windy still sunny cloudy and everything else just about.
Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed: 0
Larvae/pupae observed: 0
Eggs observed:0
Praying mantises:0
Aphids: A few colonies in the last 2 months or so
Ladybirds: Quite a lot (inside the house).
Bees: Quite a few over the last month (bumble and honey)
Wasps: A few
Ants: 0 on swanplants
Other pests seen affecting Monarchs/milkweed: 0
Any other comments: Last years in the ground Swanplants VERY slow, and only just starting to look like replenishing themselves. A few self sown seedling are up but growth is slow.

[hshingles]

Number/species of milkweed plants: lots of mature and seedlings.
Community/suburb: Te Atatu Waitakere
Weather:wet cold spring plants are just really recovering now,
Adult Monarch; few to start plenty today
Larvae/pupae observed; evidence of eggs hatching, only few surviving.
Eggs observed: several
Praying mantises: not yet.
Aphids: not yet
Ladybirds; none
Bees: a few on the flowers
Wasps: 3-4 mainly on flowers
Ants:not on swan plants.
Heather

[michellebaalamb@hotmail.co.nz]

Number/species of milkweed plants: Mix of Milkweed, Blood flower & Giants 100+
Community/suburb: Levin Manawatu
Have you had typical summer weather or describe: seems more Wet and Cold
Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed: 0
Larvae/pupae observed: 0
Eggs observed: 0
Praying mantises: 0
Aphids: very few
Ladybirds: 0
Bees: 30 to 40 every day
Wasps: 0
Ants: few
Other pests seen affecting Monarchs/milkweed: 0

[missd]

Number/species of milkweed plants: Mix of Milkweed, Blood flower & Giants 100+
Community/suburb: Levin Manawatu
Have you had typical summer weather or describe: seems more Wet and Cold
Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed: 1
Larvae/pupae observed: 0
Eggs observed: 0
Praying mantises: 0
Aphids: 0
Ladybirds: 1
Bees: several lots of Bumble Bees
Wasps: 0
Ants: some
Other pests seen affecting Monarchs/milkweed: 0

[Nick]

Number/species of milkweed plants: about 5 smallish swan plants
Community/suburb: Petone
Have you had typical summer weather or describe: bit cooler than normal
Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed: None
Larvae/pupae observed: None
Praying mantises: nil
Aphids: lots
Ladybirds: not seen
Bees: honey 0 , many bumble
Wasps: none
Ants: lots & lots ++
Other pests seen affecting Monarchs/milkweed:
Any other comments: would have expected to see a few by now but it has been coldish (snowed on the hills last night)

[lawrence pope]

Number/species of milkweed plants: 37 large plants over 1 meter 161 plants over 300mm both swan and the blood flower plants
Community/suburb: PICTON waikawa bay
Have you had typical summer weather or describe: typical summer
Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed: 1 or 2 female laying eggs each day on 7 plants out side the butterfly house
Larvae/pupae observed: we have 255 larvae small just hatched in the last week in the butterfly house
Eggs observed: 50 ++
Praying mantises: nil
Aphids: lots & lots
Ladybirds: 1
Bees: honey 1 , 100s bumble
Wasps: 5 killing as we see them
Ants: lots & lots ++
Other pests seen affecting Monarchs/milkweed:
Any other comments: this year so far have released 40 adults monarchs, one which was half the size of a normal butterfly which she has returned to lay eggs

[macmonkey]

Number/species of milkweed plants: Swamp Milkweed
Community/suburb: TOKOROA
Have you had typical summer weather or describe:a few warm days but mainly colder than normal
Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed: 1 female
Larvae/pupae observed:0
Eggs observed:20+
Praying mantises:0
Aphids:0
Ladybirds:0
Bees:mainly small black native bees
Wasps:0
Ants:0
Other pests seen affecting Monarchs/milkweed:
Any other comments: About time, thought they would never show up

[jo]

Number/species of milkweed plants:2
Community/suburb:Wakefield,Tasman District
Have you had typical summer weather or describe:No it was warmer in late spring, then some frosts again and much windier now than usual but about average temps with the odd cold day thrown in – quite weird.
Adult Monarchs (e.g. butterflies) seen around milkweed:a few weeks ago I saw two or three monarch butterflies in a day but now there are none since just before Christmas.
Larvae/pupae observed:None
Eggs observed:None
Praying mantises:1
Aphids:plenty but they get dealt to by the silver eyes and other birds
Ladybirds:very few, usually plentiful
Bees: many less than usual- we don’t use toxic sprays. There are more bumble bees than bees I think.
Wasps:not many but more than honey bees
Ants: None
Other pests seen affecting Monarchs/milkweed: None

[Author]

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