Ask the Expert - Questions by Category

"Ask the Expert" Questions by Category

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ID	Question
32	I live in Orange County, California. In an area between my house and garage we have a passion flower vine growing. About 2 months ago, I noticed some monarch activity on the vine. We also have a star jasmine growing. During the day, several monarchs would appear to be laying eggs on the leaves of the passion vine. Now I've noticed a whole lot of caterpillar activity but I don't think they are monarchs. They are reddish brown, not striped like the monarch larvae. I've also noticed lots and lots of shedding going on, but still no sign of monarch larvae. What could this be that is happening? The caterpillars have eaten almost the whole passion vine.
33	We have a few milkweed plants at home (Manitoba, Canada), and we have noticed lots of small green bugs on the plants. Do these bugs harm anything? We have also noticed a few clusters of orange eggs on some leaves -- they look like potato bug eggs. Right now the monarchs are in the pupae stage. Do the monarchs usually stay on the plants? We have noticed them wander on other plants when they start "hanging".
52	How do I get rid of Labidomera clivicollis, the milkweed beetle?
90	I am from southern Ontario and have been collecting monarch caterpillars in the wild, mostly from unsprayed milkweed on country roadsides. I have noticed that near almost every mildweed plant there are large black and yellow spiders. Are these spiders a predator of the monarch or simply another insect that is not affected by the poisonous milkweed?