Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and the Yahoo Answers website is now in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.
Trending News
Praying Mantis eats my Monarch caterpillars?
Not sure if I am in correct place, but wondering if you can help.
Coming up to spring here in good ole New Zealand, and our efforts to raise a few monarch butterflies have ended in disaster, as the praying mantis from our Hebe are praying on our caterpillars!
Apart from moving the swan plant, is there anything else I can do?
Id prefer not to kill off the mantis,but would love to see a few monarchs that we helped raise.
Its disappointing seeing them get all fat, then dissapear, but we found a praying mantis munching on one.
Thanks for any help!
Sorry brain fart! it is autumn, in Hamilton the trees are still green, nice summery temps at 25 c.
I realize its a bit late to try to raise any more, will check out those sites and join, and will also check out your website too :)
4 Answers
- ?Lv 48 years agoFavorite Answer
Life feeds on life....have you tried to just have a calm talk with them about their over active eating?
- 8 years ago
Don't know what place you're in, but it's certainly not New Zealand if it's coming up to Spring. We are having a late summer here, and Autumn is on its way.
For help raising Monarchs in New Zealand use the Moths & Butterflies New Zealand Trust forum here http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/forum/ You don't have to be a member of the Trust to use the forum, but you do have to register on the forum to post.
Yes, Praying Mantises do take caterpillars and even adult butterflies. They will stay on your swan plant until they have munched through the lot. If you can't move the swan plant, you can either put a net or sleeve over the plant with a mesh fine enough that praying mantises and wasps can't get in. A better way is to use one of the caterpillar castles sold by the MBNZT here http://www.monarch.org.nz/monarch/items-for-sale/
It is now getting a bit late in the season (it is Autumn rather than Spring) so I wouldn't bother trying to get any caterpillars through to butterflies now, unless you live in parts of Northland where you can grow the swan plants year-round. Wait till next Spring, grow your swan plants in pots, and raise your caterpillars in caterpillar castles.
Source(s): I successfully raise thousands of Monarch butterflies each year in New Zealand. See my website http://www.brightwings.co.nz/ Moths & Butterflies New Zealand Trust (was Monarch Butterfly NZ Trust) http://monarch.org.nz/ - J.B.SchneiderLv 78 years ago
If there is any good news here, at least there are plenty of Monarchs flying around here in America. (and praying mantis')
