Butterfly Predator Graveyard

Wasps have been viciously attacking our Monarch Butterfly caterpillars they have to be cared for in containers to protect them until they can fly away. Even waiting on a bush - after hatching but before being ready to fly away - was too precarious.

A particular wasp species was getting more and more common and whenever we could we were out  swatting them. We got some and missed others. Those that were hit then had to be quickly given additional treatment as they would soon compose themselves and fly off. Very tough creatures. The dead ones were fed to the local ants who removed them with vigour (see graveyard below).

Then the other day, I was walking in another part of the garden when a wasp nearly flew into me and then went up into the corner of the roof guttering and into the cavity behind it. Maybe it was a warning shot across the bow. I watched the guttering and saw wasps come and go. Out came the ladder and fly spray. In no time, numerous bodies were littering the guttering channel.

Now we don't see wasps patrolling the swan plants looking for a defenseless Monarch caterpillar to sting to death. It came as a surprise that the flow of predators was coming from our very own property. But for a lone wasp who nearly flew into me for whatever reason, they would still be on their killer missions.

Smoke In The Sky

The smoke from the bush fires in Australia has made its way across the Tasman Sea to NZ. Here is an evening shot of the effect. The setting sun is shrouded in haze and not very strong. That isn't cloud cover that blocks the blue evening sky.

Monarch Butterflies 2019 : Part 6

Our last entry for the year. I appreciate the funny side of the blog has been overshadowed by the butterfly situation. The jokes ares still there, just click on a subject to the right. Anyway, this last blog reveals the randy side of the Monarch butterfly.

I had a newborn female reluctant to fly away from the swan plant. I tried to coax her to go and all she did was fly a few inches and attach herself to my arm, steadfastly refusing to budge. I've always had that kind of magnetism. After about ten minutes I took her over to some flowers nearby and managed to get the love struck butterfly onto a flower.

My first selfie with a butterfly

No sooner had I taken two steps back when a male swooped down on top of her and made sure she was primed to lay eggs. She hadn't even taken any sustenance since entering the chrysalis stage.

If that wasn't bad enough another suitor arrived and was trying to take over. It wasn't able to cut in on the activities but was very persistent nonetheless. My camera wasn't set up for action movement but you can see well enough what was happening. They don't waste any time getting on with the necessary functions of life.

If at first you don't succeed....

...try again