Master Gardeners of Ventura County
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Master Gardeners of Ventura County

Posts Tagged: monarch caterpillars

Roll Call: Answer If You're Here

Roll call of monarch caterpillars today in a milkweed bed in a Vacaville pollinator garden. Secretary: "Caterpillar No. 1!" "Present." Secretary: "Caterpillar No. 2!" "Present!" Secretary: "Caterpillar No. 3!""Present!" Secretary:...

A monarch caterpillar, the result of fall breeding in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A monarch caterpillar, the result of fall breeding in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch caterpillar, the result of fall breeding in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 5:10 PM
Focus Area Tags: Environment, Innovation, Natural Resources, Yard & Garden

Curiosity Didn't Kill the 'Cat

Curiosity didn't kill the 'cat. An aggressive 'cat did. We were delighted to find 10 monarch caterpillars (the first of the year!) on our narrowleaf milkweed a couple of weeks ago in our Vacaville pollinator garden--but not so delighted to see what...

An aggressive caterpillar attacks  another 'cat trying to pupate. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
An aggressive caterpillar attacks another 'cat trying to pupate. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

An aggressive caterpillar attacks another 'cat trying to pupate. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The combative monarch caterpillar latches on tight to the 'cat about to pupate. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The combative monarch caterpillar latches on tight to the 'cat about to pupate. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The combative monarch caterpillar latches on tight to the 'cat about to pupate. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The aggressive caterpillar, after killing its sibling, slides back down to eat more milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The aggressive caterpillar, after killing its sibling, slides back down to eat more milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The aggressive caterpillar, after killing its sibling, slides back down to eat more milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 5:00 PM
Focus Area Tags: Environment, Natural Resources, Yard & Garden

Monarch Madness: Thanks, Monarch Mama!

Thar's gold in them thar hills? Probably not. But thar's definitely gold in that there pollinator garden--our little pollinator garden in Vacaville, Calif. Gold, black and white--as in the iconic monarch caterpillars. We've been waiting all year for...

A hungry monarch caterpillar chewing on a milkweed stem this morning in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A hungry monarch caterpillar chewing on a milkweed stem this morning in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A hungry monarch caterpillar chewing on a milkweed stem this morning in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarch caterpillar swirls to get the best angle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The monarch caterpillar swirls to get the best angle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarch caterpillar swirls to get the best angle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The long and short of it--a monarch caterpillar crawls on a stem to its next dining spot. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The long and short of it--a monarch caterpillar crawls on a stem to its next dining spot. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The long and short of it--a monarch caterpillar crawls on a stem to its next dining spot. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Even seed pods are fair game for hungry monarch caterpillars. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Even seed pods are fair game for hungry monarch caterpillars. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Even seed pods are fair game for hungry monarch caterpillars. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of a monarch caterpillar, taken with a Canon MPE-65mm lens. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Close-up of a monarch caterpillar, taken with a Canon MPE-65mm lens. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of a monarch caterpillar, taken with a Canon MPE-65mm lens. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Monday, September 10, 2018 at 6:46 PM
Focus Area Tags: Environment, Food, Natural Resources, Yard & Garden

Well, Hello There, Tiny Monarch Caterpillar!

Talk about not getting the memo. We walked into our little pollinator garden in Vacaville, Calif., this afternoon to cut a few tropical milkweed stems to feed the indoor caterpillars, and there, hidden beneath a leaf, was a tiny caterpillar. Well,...

Newest monarch caterpillar retrieved today (Nov. 29) from tropical milkweed in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Newest monarch caterpillar retrieved today (Nov. 29) from tropical milkweed in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Newest monarch caterpillar retrieved today (Nov. 29) from tropical milkweed in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The setup: zippered mesh butterfly habitat and a tequila bottle filled with water and milkweed stems. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The setup: zippered mesh butterfly habitat and a tequila bottle filled with water and milkweed stems. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The setup: zippered mesh butterfly habitat and a tequila bottle filled with water and milkweed stems. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at 4:35 PM

Monarch Caterpillars--in November?

What a Thanksgiving surprise! No, the stuffed turkey didn't slip out of the oven and fall on the floor. Nor did the pumpkin pie turn another shade of orange. Some unexpected guests arrived--four to be exact. That's the number of monarch caterpillars...

A November monarch caterpillar found on tropical milkweed in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A November monarch caterpillar found on tropical milkweed in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A November monarch caterpillar found on tropical milkweed in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of a November monarch caterpillar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Close-up of a November monarch caterpillar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of a November monarch caterpillar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The two monarch caterpillars discovered on Thanksgiving Day on separate tropical milkweed plants in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The two monarch caterpillars discovered on Thanksgiving Day on separate tropical milkweed plants in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The two monarch caterpillars discovered on Thanksgiving Day on separate tropical milkweed plants in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Friday, November 25, 2016 at 5:28 PM

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