I have no idea what the status of monarch caterpillars is in other parts of the country this year, but at least in parts of Vermont and New Hampshire, they are plentiful! Two on one plant — just like the old days! (Thanks to Sadie Brown for NH input.)
Naturally Curious is supported by donations. If you choose to contribute, you may go to https://naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com and click on the yellow “donate” button.
This entry was posted on July 31, 2018 by Mary Holland. It was filed under July, Monarch Butterfly, Uncategorized and was tagged with Danaus plexippus.
Click the image above to order the updated edition of the award-winning original NATURALLY CURIOUS
Click image to order from the publisher.
Click image to order from the publisher.
Click here to order Naturally Curious Day by Day
Click on image to order from the publisher.
Click on image to order YODEL THE YEARLING from publisher
Click on image to order OTIS THE OWL from publisher
Click on image to order ANIMAL TAILS
Click to order my newest children's book ANIMAL LEGS
Click to order my children's book ANIMAL MOUTHS
Click to order my children's book ANIMAL EYES
Click on image to order ANIMAL EARS from publisher.
Click here to order my children's book THE BEAVERS' BUSY YEAR
Click to order my children's book FERDINAND FOX'S FIRST SUMMER.
Click to order my first book, a photographic guide for children entitled Milkweed Visitors.
 | Martha Adams on Hepatica Leaves |
 | Marcia Kilpatrick on Hepatica Leaves |
 | david ascher on Common Hazel Flowering |
| david ascher on Common Hazel Flowering |
 | Don mccabe on Great Blue Herons Mating |
Click here to order ANIMAL HOMES from publisher.
Naturally Curious with Mary Holland
We just saw the same population boom in Maine out in Penobscot Bay.
July 31, 2018 at 2:21 pm
It’s very exciting..😍 ….the more Monarchs, the more caterpillars….I’ve seen one very frequently, since July 1st…3 times, yesterday afternoon…no Milkweed nibbles, though…my daughter, very closeby, has seen Monarch’s almost daily…even one at the beach! And 3 a few days ago! The Mom of a friend, is taking care of caterpillars ‘indoors’.
July 31, 2018 at 2:22 pm
I had a similiar thought! It felt like I saw more Monarchs this year than prior ones.
July 31, 2018 at 2:25 pm
I am seeing many more Monarchs here in Ipswich MA than ever before.
July 31, 2018 at 2:25 pm
We have definitely noticed the same in the Lowell, MA area.
July 31, 2018 at 2:30 pm
I’ve had to stop daily egg collection from my milkweed patch. Rearing 150 butterflies currently. I expect 50-60 to eclose this weekend and then will resume the hunt here just north of Portland Maine
July 31, 2018 at 2:39 pm
It’s certainly been a great year for milkweed in our garden/yard. Coincidence?
July 31, 2018 at 2:47 pm
Lots of monarch eggs and small cats in Mid-Coast Maine, and my home milkweed patch in Lexington MA (first adult sighting July 4) To report your sightings and follow monarchs check out: https://journeynorth.org/monarchs
July 31, 2018 at 3:01 pm
I am in Deer Isle, Maine and I have a small cluster of milkweed and butterfly weed. I was just out and counted almost a dozen monarch caterpillars on them. They have chewed them ragged. They are all sizes from very small to quite large.
This happened last year as well but none before that! So maybe they are coming back. Anyhow I am thrilled.
July 31, 2018 at 3:05 pm
We have had more monarchs, and caterpillars, here on our land so far this summer, than we have had for years! We are o happy.
July 31, 2018 at 3:31 pm
I agree I live in Central VT, and I have this meadow full of milkweed & im finding eggs & the caterpillar 🐛 all over them. A very happy site
July 31, 2018 at 3:43 pm
We have a 30-acre nature preserve in central Michigan and are enjoying a wide variety of butterflies, including Monarchs. Hallelujah!
July 31, 2018 at 3:50 pm
Same in western Maine, Mary. Here’s my recent blog post about them: https://wondermyway.com/2018/07/27/queen-of-the-butterflies/
July 31, 2018 at 4:03 pm
Wonderful, wonderful blog and post!
July 31, 2018 at 4:53 pm
Same is true here in Wayland MA. So exciting
July 31, 2018 at 4:11 pm
Martha’s Vineyard: Not a huge year, but individuals arrived fairly early, and my friends report caterpillars seen fairly frequently. We have one or two cruising our flowers and gardens most days. Better than a few years ago when we only saw a few, all summer and fall. We had one year when we never saw one. I’m curious what the fall migration will be like. We’re on the “flyway” that collects monarch from Cape Cod, so keep those fingers crossed!
July 31, 2018 at 5:13 pm
This is good news!
July 31, 2018 at 5:52 pm
I have Monarch caterpillars on my milkweed plants, first time ever. Monarch butterflies also very apparent here in western Massachusetts. I will let more milkweed plants invade the gardens next year!
July 31, 2018 at 6:55 pm
This makes me happy!
July 31, 2018 at 8:38 pm
Gosh we hope so! Seeing many caterpillars – 10+ on 5 plants alone! No count for the giant field of Milkweed in front of our house too. Yay!
July 31, 2018 at 8:39 pm
Lots of monarch caterpillars this year (maybe a dozen I have seen so far?) on the 8-10 milkweeds on the side of my road this year. Have seen none in the past 2-3 years, so have been excited to see this comeback.
July 31, 2018 at 8:57 pm
Many monarchs here in SE Vermont and I hear they’re abundant in Metrowest Boston this year too! Also a banner year for Eastern tiger swallowtails.
July 31, 2018 at 9:24 pm
Here in Kawartha Lakes (Central Ontario, Canada) I have suddenly noticed many Monarch Caterpillers in my clump of Common and Swamp milkweed. They range from tiny to very large and often there are several together on a leaf. I have counted nine so far, but every day I see more! I’m over the moon, as in 10 years here this clump has produced only 1 live butterfly, and 1 chrysalis that did not develop. I usually have 1 or 2 Monarchs visit each year, and some years none at all, so this is truly an exceptional year!
July 31, 2018 at 10:33 pm
More Monarchs than anyone can remember here in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. I live in the highest community in Michigan (1680′) and planted milkweed I started from wild seeds 2 years ago. The wild plants are moving up into the highlands on their own and have almost reached my homestead. Observed the first caterpillar last week.
July 31, 2018 at 11:18 pm
They are plentiful here in NW Wisconsin, up by Lake Superior.
July 31, 2018 at 11:33 pm
Hi Mary, I more than suspected this post would provoke many responses! I too, here in the highlands of Corinth have observed numerous monarchs, 3 just yesterday, intermingling with one another in flight. I have loads of blossoming milkweed too. My daughters perennial gardens have them also over in Woodsville, NH… I have observed lots of bumblebees, various fly species & other insects as well feeding on the milkweed… I too have an abundance of eastern tiger swallowtails this season… Then there is the hummingbirds! They empty the feeder weekly, use to be monthly. I have a family of 5 with the occasional stray hummer showing up, making things real interesting!
Bill Farr…
August 1, 2018 at 8:17 am
I’m on Cape Cod and have also had many monarch sightings this summer (only saw a couple in the past few years). Early last week I was thrilled to find one monarch caterpillar on our tuberosa (butterfly weed) and several tinier ones on our common Milkweed. Unfortunately, a couple days later the common milkweed had a lot of black and small brown ants crawling around, but no caterpillars. And the one on the tuberosa went missing as well. I keep checking all the plants in our yard in case they just moved around but no sign of any since last Saturday. Very sad!
August 1, 2018 at 9:11 am
Experts in WI report it is a good year for monarchs here as well (although still not like the old days, since is it estimated that their numbers are down 90% from what they were in the 1990s).
August 1, 2018 at 9:36 am
5 caterpillars on a butterfly milkweed in Carmel, IN.
August 1, 2018 at 7:33 pm
I wonder if anyone has a theory as to the comeback? Here in central Vt. I mow many fields and have been leaving the good patches of milkweed for years. I can say I’ve seen more monarchs this year than in all of the past 6 or 7 combined. Hope it lasts.
August 1, 2018 at 9:18 pm
Hey Mary!
Anna from Bradfor, Vt here. We seem to have at least three Monarch caterpillars that are munching up our Butterfly Weed! Have you ever heard of this? I knew the Weed was beneficial for adult butterflies and can’t seem to find a clear answer on if the caterpillars benefit from it as well. I believe they moved from some nearby Milkweed to this plant. (Photos attached.)
Many thanks for your insights and your work! My family and I enjoy learning from you!
Best,
Anna
On Tue, Jul 31, 2018, 2:02 PM Naturally Curious with Mary Holland wrote:
> Mary Holland posted: ” I have no idea what the status of monarch > caterpillars is in other parts of the country this year, but at least in > parts of Vermont and New Hampshire, they are plentiful! Two on one plant > — just like the old days! (Thanks to Sadie Brown for NH input.)” >
August 9, 2018 at 11:34 am
Hi Anna,
Monarch larvae eat any milkweed plant (Asclepias spp.), so it’s understandable you saw them on butterflyweed! Your photo didn’t come through, but you could email it to me at mholland@vermontel.net. Thanks so much.
August 9, 2018 at 5:08 pm
I live in the Niagara Peninsula of Southern Ontario and have also noticed more Monarchs this year.
August 29, 2018 at 8:08 am
Great post! Keep it up!
September 6, 2018 at 2:53 pm