Master Gardeners of Ventura County
University of California
Master Gardeners of Ventura County

Posts Tagged: Milkweed

Welcome, Little 'Cat; 'Bye, Little 'Cat!

Monarch butterflies seem to be as scarce as hen's teeth around here. And since hens have no teeth, that's pretty scarce. And then it happened. A late in-star monarch caterpillar appeared on our milkweed in our Vacaville pollinator-predator garden...

A visitor! A late in-star monarch caterpillar munches on wilting milkweed in a Vacaville garden in triple-temperature conditions. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A visitor! A late in-star monarch caterpillar munches on wilting milkweed in a Vacaville garden in triple-temperature conditions. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A visitor! A late in-star monarch caterpillar munches on wilting milkweed in a Vacaville garden in triple-temperature conditions. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarch caterpillar keeps on munching the milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The monarch caterpillar keeps on munching the milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The monarch caterpillar keeps on munching the milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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

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

Posted on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 2:14 PM
Focus Area Tags: Innovation, Natural Resources, Yard & Garden

Let Us Prey

So here's this female praying mantis, Stagmomantis limbata, camouflaged on a narrow-leaf milkweed, Asclepias fasciculari, in a Vacaville garden. If she thinks she's going to ambush a monarch, she has another think coming. No monarchs in the...

A female praying mantis, Stagmomantis limbata, moves up a narrow-leafed milkweed in a search for prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A female praying mantis, Stagmomantis limbata, moves up a narrow-leafed milkweed in a search for prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A female praying mantis, Stagmomantis limbata, moves up a narrow-leafed milkweed in a search for prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Friday, July 26, 2024 at 7:38 PM
Focus Area Tags: Environment, Natural Resources, Yard & Garden

A Mantis on the Milkweed

So here's this immature praying mantis, a Stagmomantis limbata, perched on a narrow-leafed milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis, in a Vacaville pollinator garden. She's camouflaged quite well. She's as green and thin as the leaves. Me: "Hey, Ms....

A camouflaged praying mantis, a Stagmomantis limbata, perched on a  narrow-leafed milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A camouflaged praying mantis, a Stagmomantis limbata, perched on a narrow-leafed milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A camouflaged praying mantis, a Stagmomantis limbata, perched on a narrow-leafed milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Praying mantis perched on a milkweed, the host plant for monarchs.  She seems to be saying:
Praying mantis perched on a milkweed, the host plant for monarchs. She seems to be saying: "Sure, I'm occupying a milkweed, but I promise I'll never even LOOK at a monarch. I'll close my eyes should one flutter by." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Praying mantis perched on a milkweed, the host plant for monarchs. She seems to be saying: "Sure, I'm occupying a milkweed, but I promise I'll never even LOOK at a monarch. I'll close my eyes should one flutter by." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The mantis keeps an eye out for prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The mantis keeps an eye out for prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The mantis keeps an eye out for prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The mantis assumes the prayerful position--let us prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The mantis assumes the prayerful position--let us prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The mantis assumes the prayerful position--let us prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 4:51 PM
Focus Area Tags: Environment, Innovation, Natural Resources, Yard & Garden

Louie Yang: From Monarchs and Milkweed to Mentoring and More...

Professor Louie Yang's monarch and milkweed research at the University of California, Davis, is quite celebrated. Yang, a community ecologist and professor in the Department of Entomology and Nematology, is involved in monarch conservation...

Community ecologist Louie Yang, professor, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, answers questions at a Bohart Museum of Entomology open house on
Community ecologist Louie Yang, professor, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, answers questions at a Bohart Museum of Entomology open house on "Monarchs and Milkweed." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Community ecologist Louie Yang, professor, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, answers questions at a Bohart Museum of Entomology open house on "Monarchs and Milkweed." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Monday, February 26, 2024 at 5:07 PM
Focus Area Tags: Environment, Innovation, Natural Resources

Monarchs on the Move...So Many Mysteries

Monarchs on the move...so many mysteries. Where do Western monarchs go after leaving their overwintering sites along coastal California in February?  An observation: They didn't stop in the spring or summer to deposit eggs on any of our four...

A tiny monarch egg. Image taken on Nov. 14, 2023 in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A tiny monarch egg. Image taken on Nov. 14, 2023 in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A tiny monarch egg. Image taken on Nov. 14, 2023 in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch caterpillar sharing a milkweed leaf with aphids. This image was taken Nov. 15, 2023 in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A monarch caterpillar sharing a milkweed leaf with aphids. This image was taken Nov. 15, 2023 in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch caterpillar sharing a milkweed leaf with aphids. This image was taken Nov. 15, 2023 in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Two monarch caterpillars sharing a milkweed leaf. This image was taken Nov. 15, 2023 in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Two monarch caterpillars sharing a milkweed leaf. This image was taken Nov. 15, 2023 in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Two monarch caterpillars sharing a milkweed leaf. This image was taken Nov. 15, 2023 in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A very hungry monarch caterpillar on the move. This image was taken Nov. 18, 2023 in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A very hungry monarch caterpillar on the move. This image was taken Nov. 18, 2023 in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A very hungry monarch caterpillar on the move. This image was taken Nov. 18, 2023 in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Hi, there! A monarch caterpillar faces the camera. This image was taken Nov. 14, 2023 in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Hi, there! A monarch caterpillar faces the camera. This image was taken Nov. 14, 2023 in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Hi, there! A monarch caterpillar faces the camera. This image was taken Nov. 14, 2023 in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 2:13 PM
Focus Area Tags: Environment, Innovation, Natural Resources, Yard & Garden

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