Houston, TX - Monarch caterpillars!

[Eos]

What is the best way to handle Monarch caterpillars? I want to encourage butterflies in my garden, but my 1 milkweed plant has been descimated by the caterpillars. I've seen 6 on this plant - and I only noticed them yesterday, but the plant is practically leafless today.

Will the plant bounce back this spring? I want there to be food for the butterflies! I do have other flowering plants.

/eos

[Janie2004]

Hi Eos.
Nature has a way of doing things right!
I am sure your milkweed will survive and you will have some butterflies as a beautiful reward!

Sounds like you might need to plant some more milkweed plants.
Would that be possible?

Here is an interesting site:

http://community.webshots.com/album/46299419sNGvRS

Sincerely, Janie :D

[Edelweiss]

I wouldn't worry too much about the milkweed plants either. They're pretty hardy. You might want to contact the National Wildlife Federation -
http://www.nwf.org. They have a nice Q&A resource. Either way, I have to say - for Monarch butterflies - it's milkweed plants for sure. There's also a great website out there for Monarch butterflies - http://monarchwatch.org

Keep them healthy down there - they travel up our way when the weather gets warmer! :D