March 15, 2026
The Big Dead-Fish Clean-Up
A huge thank you to the volunteers who pitched in yesterday to remove all those dead fish from the Celery…
Nature Done Wright
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Monday Morning Mystery 090219
Sally Teschon asks: What's going on in the above photo?
4 comments
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I did not realize monarchs were still being hatched in the fall. This pic was at NYBG and saw another at the Farm last week. Thanks all
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Monarch caterpillar and milkweed bugs enjoying a meal?
Here is even more info on insects that feed on milkweed.
https://wimastergardener.org/article/common-milkweed-insects/ -
Thank you for all that information!
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The milkweed aphids (Aphis nerii)and a monarch caterpillar are pigging out on milkweed. If you’re trying to nursemaid a caterpillar, these guys eat about 10 of those big leaves a day. That’s why you have to plant lots of them!
The milkweed aphids are also called oleander aphids. Down south, the oleanders are very prolific. They have a similar milky poisonous sap. I’ve never seen a monarch caterpillar on them, however.
https://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/oleander_caterpillar.htm
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4 comments
Sally
I did not realize monarchs were still being hatched in the fall. This pic was at NYBG and saw another at the Farm last week. Thanks all
Janet T
Monarch caterpillar and milkweed bugs enjoying a meal?
Here is even more info on insects that feed on milkweed.
https://wimastergardener.org/article/common-milkweed-insects/
Jim Wright
Thank you for all that information!
Diane Van Kempen
The milkweed aphids (Aphis nerii)and a monarch caterpillar are pigging out on milkweed. If you’re trying to nursemaid a caterpillar, these guys eat about 10 of those big leaves a day. That’s why you have to plant lots of them!
The milkweed aphids are also called oleander aphids. Down south, the oleanders are very prolific. They have a similar milky poisonous sap. I’ve never seen a monarch caterpillar on them, however.
https://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/oleander_caterpillar.htm