Monarch Butterfly Blog

All
Aphids on Milkweed
Bleaching
Butterfly Gardening
Butterfly Releases
Care of Tropical Milkweed
Caterpillar Info
Chrysalis
Citizen Scientist
Decline of Monarchs
Habitats Protect Caterpillars
Migration
Milkweed
Monarch Eclose (Emerge)
Monarch Life Cycle
Monarch Products
Monarch Waystation
Nectar Plants
O.e. Testing, Bleaching
Overwintering
Pesticides
Predators/Diseases/Parasites
Southern California Monarchs
Tagging Monarchs
Talks About Monarch Butterflies
The Story of Chester
Videos on Monarchs
Western Monarch Advocates

Bleaching Eggs

Susie demonstrates how to bleach monarch butterfly eggs to eliminate O.e. parasite...

06 October, 2020

How to Rid Your Milkweed of Aphids

How To Get Rid of Aphids on Milkweed! Save your milkweed from being drained of vitality by aphid infestation by following these...

03 September, 2020

New Videos from Raising Monarchs April-July 2020

New fun short videos for you and to share with kids and grandkids from this wonderful, robust 2020 monarch butterfly season in southern...

13 August, 2020

VIDEOS of Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle on YouTube

I share many fascinating and entertaining videos about monarch life on YouTube to educate and inspire...

02 August, 2020

Habitats Protect Monarch Caterpillars from all Predators

The best way to protect your monarch caterpillars is to raise them in netted butterfly habitats! Why is that necessary? I'll tell you...

30 July, 2020

Status Report on Southern California Monarchs April-July 2020 Susie Vanderlip, Conservation Specialist

Entertaining video from my garden that reflects the wonderfully robust Monarch Butterfly season we have had thus far in southern California, April thru...

30 July, 2020

Monarch Predators, Parasites and Diseases

Predators, Parasites and Diseases of Monarch Butterflies This is a great article to help prepare you for what you see happen in your garden....

27 July, 2020

‘Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Monarch Butterflies’ program for Mansion Miracles

On Sunday July 5, 2020 at 3pm over Facebook LIVE, I gave a 45 -minute Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Monarch...

17 July, 2020

Monarch Butterfly Release – Friday, July 17, 2020

This is a remarkable monarch butterfly season in southern California. Have had more caterpillars and released more monarchs than all four prior years...

17 July, 2020

Bleaching Milkweed and Monarch eggs to Eliminate O.e.

O.e. is a microscopic parasite on tropical milkweed can over a year or two accumulate to where it seriously damages if not kills...

23 June, 2020

Monarch Butterfly Release – Sat June 6, 2020 in my Garden!

The monarch butterfly season thru June, 2020 has been robust! Many more butterflies are in gardens, females laying eggs and many caterpillars evolving...

13 June, 2020

Monarch Butterfly Release – Monday, June 8, 2020 in my Garden!

I will be releasing newly enclosed (emerged) monarch butterflies all week at 3:30pm in my garden! Ask any question you'd like me to...

13 June, 2020

Monarch Butterfly Release – Tues June 9, 2020 Releasing Lots of Monarchs!

The monarch butterfly season thru June, 2020 has been robust! Susie Vanderlip releases multiple monarchs and shares info on monarch life cycle on...

13 June, 2020

Monarch Butterfly Release – Wednesday, June 10, 2020 – Tagging Monarchs and releasing!

The monarch butterfly season thru June, 2020 has been robust! Many more butterflies are in gardens, females laying eggs and many caterpillars evolving...

13 June, 2020

Monarch Butterfly Release – Thursday, June 11, 2020 – Testing for Oe and Tagging New Monarchs

In this Monarch Butterfly Release, see how newly eclosed (emerged) monarchs are tested for O.e. and tagged by Monarch Butterfly Citizen Scientist. ...

13 June, 2020

Monarch Butterfly Release – Friday, June 12, 2020 New Male Monarch and Eggs

MONARCH BUTTERFLY RELEASE on Friday, June 12, 2020 Newborn Male monarch takes its time to flit off! Poses beautifully on a pentas nectar plant. ...

13 June, 2020

ZOOM Handout for Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Monarch Butterflies

Links and contact information for anyone interested in asking Susie questions or purchasing her children's book, movie, t-shirts and more. ...

20 May, 2020

STUNNING Trip to Monarch Butterfly Overwintering Sites in Michoacán-Mexico Feb 2020

STUNNING VIDEO! Trip to Monarch Butterfly Overwintering Sites in Michoacán-Mexico Feb 2020. AWESOME video of millions of monarchs flitting everywhere!...

01 March, 2020

Nectar Plants for Western Monarchs

Two lists of nectar plants that monarch butterflies drink nectar form. The lists were provided by nurseries and monarch butterfly enthusiasts....

08 February, 2020

First WESTERN MONARCH SUMMIT, Carmel, California – Jan 10-12, 2020

Western Monarch Summit drew 150 researchers, citizen scientists and devoted monarch lovers to help save Western Monarchs ...

18 January, 2020

Monarch Butterfly YouTube Video Playlist by Susie Vanderlip

Watch amazing videos on monarch butterflies on my YouTube Playlist! Please subscribe and leave comments!...

05 September, 2019

Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle with Photos

Excellent description of every stage of Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle with helpful photos to guide you in appreciating and raising monarch butterflies in...

24 August, 2019

NPV – Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus causes caterpillars to shrivel and die!

Did your caterpillars crawl up in your rearing container, hang, and die? Chances are they have NPV, Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus. Melt, Wilt, and...

16 August, 2019

Register as a Monarch Waystation!

Have your butterfly garden officially designated a Monarch Waystation! Receive a certificate and purchase a garden plaque. ...

07 August, 2019

Become a Monarch Butterfly Citizen Scientist

Become a Monarch Butterfly Citizen Scientist! Learn what are the tasks as a Citizen Scientist and links to how to become a Monarch...

02 August, 2019

Monarch Butterfly Greeting Cards

Because they continue to bring such joy to me and to many others, I have photographed butterflies in my garden for 11 years...

01 August, 2019

Pruning Tropical Milkweed in the Fall – Imperative for Monarch Butterfly Health

it is critical to PRUNE TOPICAL MILKWEED (by Halloween in southern California, perhaps earlier in other tropical areas of the US). Prune the...

01 August, 2019

Learn more about the decline of Monarch’s fellow pollinator, Honey Bees!

Learn about another important pollinator - bees. Bees and monarchs alike love to nectar on milkweed flowers!...

03 March, 2019

Plant a Monarch Butterfly Waystation NOW! Spring

How to PLANT A MONARCH BUTTERLY WAYSTATION!! Info on planting milkweed and a wide variety of nectar plants in your garden! Then ...

27 February, 2019

Get Native Milkweed Seeds for Your Area

Native milkweed is different across states in the US. So, check out the source for appropriate native in your area and purchase them...

10 February, 2019

Create Habitat for Monarchs

Learn what and when to plant milkweed and nectar plants to create a Butterfly Waystation in YOUR garden!...

10 February, 2019

Monarch Butterfly Emerging from Chrysalis on Succulcent – Awesome!

Watch as a monarch butterfly emerges (ecloses in scientific terms) from the chrysalis! Awesome!...

12 January, 2019

Monarch Butterfly Behaviors

Monarch butterflies are in severe decline. Learning about their miraculous life cycle and behaviors motivates us all to do all we can to...

06 January, 2019

Monarch Butterflies in Severe Decline

What are the reasons for the severe decline of eastern and western monarch butterflies? Learn how you can help SAVE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES!...

01 October, 2018

The Story of Chester. the Monarch Caterpillar/Larva BOOK/MOVIE Info

The Story of Chester, the Monarch Caterpillar/Larva photo story book and movie were created out of a love for monarchs and a desire...

09 July, 2018

Monarch Butterfly Emerging Video – March 25, 2018

See the chrysalis the day the monarch butterfly will eclose (emerge). Then watch as I release her at Coastkeeper Garden. Enjoy her first...

29 March, 2018

Monarch Butterflies arrive in my Orange County Garden – May 2018

Every year raising monarchs is unique and different! Butterfly gardening is a constant growing experience and a source of great awe and wonder!...

22 March, 2018

Why Are My Monarchs Turning Black and Dying?

A certain percentage of monarch caterpillars and chrysalides just don't make it into adulthood and become butterflies. Learn about "Black Death" ...

29 April, 2017

How to Become a Monarch Butterfly Citizen Scientist

Anyone can become a Monarch Butterfly Citizen Scientist and learn to tag and test monarch butterflies. Help enrich the health and survival of...

13 February, 2017

Host and Nectar Plants for Monarch Butterfly Gardening

Learn about monarch butterfly gardening, host and nectar plant information, and links to lists and ideas to create a Monarch Waystation out of...

12 September, 2016

Fall Pruning of Milkweed

By NOV 1ST - TIME TO PRUNE TROPICAL (EXOTIC) MILKWEED! If you live on the West Coast and bought milkweed from Home Depot, Lowes,...

04 August, 2016

Oe Testing

Watch video on how O.e. Testing of Newly eclosed Monarch Butterfly is done by Monarch Butterfly Citizen Scientist...

04 August, 2016

First Flight of Newborn Monarch Caterpillar

Awesome moment in raising monarch butterflies is the release of a newly eclosed (emerged) monarch!...

04 August, 2016

Monarch caterpillars eating together

Many of us who raise monarch butterflies as well as children and adult visitors are greatly amused and entertained by monarch caterpillar behavior....

04 August, 2016