Monarchs only lay eggs on Milkweed. That’s it. It’s the only place you’ll find the Caterpillars.
In South Dakota, we have several kinds of native milkweed that just grows in ditches, wet areas like detention ponds, parks.
In Sioux Falls, there is a lot of parks and other city properties that have several acres, where the plants pop up.
Dugan park has a large stand of common milkweed at the park sign.
I find that the Caterpillars are out in the morning and evening around 7-9 pm. Or on cloudy days out of direct sunlight.
The top photo is common milkweed. That’s the kind I have at home and what you see me working with on my Facebook videos.
On those videos you see me collecting Caterpillars, and root systems and transplanting on a different video.
If these Caterpillars turn into butterflies after August first, they will be tagged before they are released to fly to Mexico. /
Elaine Fritz, South Dakota Master Gardener 