Except for the migrating generation Monarch’s live a very short life – 2 to 6 weeks. So there is no wasting time; 3 days after the female Monarch graces us with her presence she is ready to reproduce.
During her life she lays hundreds of eggs, a very small percentage of which actually hatch. Eggs are laid only on Milkweed plants. Why? Because that’s all the Monarch caterpillar will eat. And while multiple butterflies may lay eggs on a single leaf, a single butterfly lays only one egg per leaf.
This winter’s unseasonably warm weather has shortened the winter migration. Monarchs arrived at my house earlier than expected. By the time this photo was taken my Milkweed plants had already been decimated by 30+ caterpillars. The butterfly laying eggs in this photo is likely one that hatched in my atrium. But as you can see, the plants have barely started to regenerate and are not enough to feed another generation of caterpillars.
Mother Nature must have a way of self correcting because none of the eggs laid by this butterfly hatched. The lesson this year is learning to accept you can’t control everything; sometimes things must take their destined course.
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