Monarch Butterflies?

Are monarch butterfly caterpillars poisonous to chameleons? I have a vine in te backyard and during the spring there are easily 20 new caterpillars on there daily, would it be bad to feed them to chams?

Thanks in advanced!

Danger! Danger!.... Poison!...

im pretty sure the butterflies are toxic, so i would prob avoid the catarpillars as well.
jmo not too sure

Yes, they are poisonous, don't feed them to your chameleon. There should be a list somewhere on safe butterflies, but no monarchs. I know there are a few good ones and most moths (not all of them, please check first)

I think only cabbage & painted lady butterflies are safe... and those yellow skippers out west

^^^ there's a few more. Don't forget the moths that form from silk worms and stuff like that

i believe most moths are ok as long as they are not brightly colored, not 100% on that though

ChamomilleCame said:

^^^ there's a few more. Don't forget the moths that form from silk worms and stuff like that

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Yeah I didnt mention them because he was asking about butterflies & Monarch catapillers in particular... I have a neon moth catcher I hang out during the summer..... Seems to only catch mosquitoes

Hoj said:

i believe most moths are ok as long as they are not brightly colored, not 100% on that though

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That sounds pretty reasonable, imo

Davonat said:

Yeah I didnt mention them because he was asking about butterflies & Monarch catapillers in particular... I have a neon moth catcher I hang out during the summer..... Seems to only catch mosquitoes

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Heehee that would happen here too

Thanks everyone! I thought they probably would be but figured I'd check since that would make for a good supply of feeders if it didn't kill my baby's haha

Parying mantis like them.

If I decide to breed mantids I'm set then!

SSimsswiSS said:

Parying mantis like them.

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Hmmmmm.... This brings up an interesting point... You wouldnt want to feed that Mantis to your cham would you?? Seems its the same as gut loading your crix

Thought I would chime in. Monarch caterpillars feed only on milkweed - as far as I know. This is actually what gives them their toxicity. They are toxic for birds and mammals, again because of the milkweed. The original post mentioned the caterpillars were on a vine. Is it possible it could be the Viceroy butterfly - a monarch clone.
Viceroys are generally non-toxic, but it is thought the similar appearance is a mimic to offer the apparent toxic protection. Think coral snake / king snake. If the caterpillars are on a non milkweed plant could be another species. Monarch pillars are pretty distinctive looking little boogers.
It is June or July before we get to see them here in Illinois! It is 3rd, or 4th generation by then. I look forward to those days, but will keep them away from chams!
Cheers!

SSimsswiSS said:

Parying mantis like them.

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Wait, why can matis eat them and chameleons can't

Butterfly looks like a monarch but the caterpillars are small with orange and black coloring?

Jbujarski said:

Butterfly looks like a monarch but the caterpillars are small with orange and black coloring?

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I googled the monarch caterpillar. They are orange with black & white bands That must be Milkweed in your yard. Googled Viceroy caterpillar too...Not even a close match to the Monarch caterpiller.

I think it's actually a brush-footed caterpillar. It eats this vine that looks like it grows flowers from space, I'm working on the name for it right now

The vine is called a passion flower and these aterpillars/butterflies love them, so finding the proper name for everything, are the toxic to chameleons still?