Date: 06/24/2014

Number: 1

I have learned a few hard lessons about Milkweed and agriculture. It was something I should have known all along. I was raising a few caterpillars indoors in a aquarium. I was getting milkweed from a hayfield a short distance from me. But the milkweed is between an alfalfa field and a wheat field.

To my knowledge there has been no spraying this season at all or even in the recent past. The caterpillars did not do well. I am guessing that with any type of agricultural practices in the area that the chemicals or fertilizer used can find there way into the roots of the milkweed.

I never found caterpillars in the milkweed in the hayfield even tho other conditions seem to be ideal. We had some good rains this spring with good milkweed growth and I would have thought that any chemicals in the air would have washed off. I have also noticed that if a Monarch is flying over an area of Milkweed near agriculture they will not land on the Milkweed.

This to me indicates they know what is acceptable to their young. I have milkweed on my property that is isolated from agriculture and the Monarchs have laid eggs on it. Also the Milkweed near my house has had some caterpillars. I am admitting that I learned a very difficult lesson. I am hoping to pass this info to others that want to raise caterpillars indoors.

Hesston, KS

Latitude: 38.1 Longitude: -97.5

Observed by: Raymond
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