Category Archives: Predators And Parasites

Monarch Caterpillar Disaster

I put this in my response to Valerie, but I thought I would post it as well.  We just had a strange occurrence happen that we’ve never experienced before, at least not at this high of ratio.
Leecy and I took in about 7 Monarch Caterpillars about a week ago.  Only 2 of them made it...

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Mud Dauber Up Close

Here’s another Butterfly predator, a Mud Dauber.  We only see this guy hunting for prey (in terms of Butterflies) on our Passion Vine plant.  To give this guy some credit, I think he also preys on other small insects (flies, assassin bugs).

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Pests In The Garden

It’s so damn hot and humid in Houston right now I think even the Butterflies are laying low.  Unfortunately, the pests that inhabit a Butterfly Garden are all over the place, at least all over my place.
Aphids.  Normally I don’t stress too much about these little pokemon looking critters, but some of my Milkweed is...

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I Want To Suck Your Blood

And every other part of your body is the mantra of this bug.  Depending on what resource you read, these are either good bugs or bad bugs.  Personally, I view them as both, but if I see them on my Butterfly plants they get squashed.  This is an Assassin bug.  From what I understand they...

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Ever Had This Happen?

So it was a beautiful day outside watching the different Butterflies fly around.  Suddenly we saw this rather large garter snake moving around by the waterfall on the pool.  I said “Criquey” he’s a beaut, and went off after him to take a closer look.  By the time I got him out of the pool,...

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