Am I supposed to spritz my monarch chrysalides?

15 years ago

They are indoors away from the rain, in jars with netting covering the opening.

The first two have been left alone for a week. I have another one in "J" (and I better get to see the chrysalis being formed, this time!!!)

Please inform, a search has yielded nothing.

Thanks!

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Comments (10)

butterflymomok
15 years ago
NO! No spritzing. They don't need any moisture, just time to eclose.

If they've been in chrysalides for a week, you should see some action any day. I love the way they turn transparent before the BF ecloses.

Sandy
greenhaven
Original Author
15 years ago
Woo hoo! Let's hope soon! The suspense (no puh intended) is killing me!

Thanks for a prompt answer.
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I like the big photos! Have you named them yet? LOL That's when you know you are smitten. I am currently raising some in paper bags--a new method to me. It's pretty simple. You put the cats and some food in the bag and fold it down and fasten it with clothes pins. Cut a tiny hole out of one corner of the bag so you can remove the frass. Throw some fresh food in several times a day. They will pupate on the inside of the bag and then you can cut out the chrysalides and tape them somewhere to eclose. I tape my BFs to the insides of a mesh hamper. I just put a bunch of cats in a bag yesterday to try out the method. One thing I noticed immediately is how dry the insides of the bag stay. This morning, I removed the old dried up food--not much left and shook out the frass. I put new leaves in and resealed the bag. The cats looked great. When you are a first timer, it can be a little daunting thinking about having those caterpillars' lives in your hands. But, even if they perish, and we've all experienced losses of caterpillars, remember that only 5% of the eggs laid in natural habitat hatch and survive to adulthood. You are right that it does take commitment to raising BFs and Moths. Right now I spend at least 3 hours a day taking care of the different species of cats that I have. Collecting food and cleaning raising containers takes a lot of my time. But every time I release a new BF, I get a thrill--still! Today I released a male and a female Monarch. They were healthy and beautiful. When I had them perched on my finger, I felt a surge of joy. Then they soared. I read a quote today written by Helen Keller, that pretty much described it. It went like this, "Why settle for creeping when you can soar!" Sandy
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I am so glad to see all you ladies from Pennsylvania on the forum this year. Cathy has been here awhile now, and I think she was starting to feel like the lonely northerner in the bunch! LOL! It's certainly interesting to me to read about gardens far away from me, and the differences in our climates, our butterflies and moths, our host plants, and just to make some good friends on the website, all in all. I lived close to Boston for about a year and a half, and loved it. The people were so wonderful - nothing at all like a lot of my coworkers said they would be like. I'm one of those people that believes you gotta rely on your own experiences. Loved driving through Pennsylvania, too - such beautiful country! I was there in September, and while everything here is dried up and brown usually that time of year, everything was green and lush up there! Susan
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OKSandy, Being a foster mom is tremendously difficult work. I know what you mean about the viral stuff. I had a viral thing going on with a group of Monarchs this summer as well. As they say, the heat brings this stuff on and boy, are they right on! :( Total bummer, isn't it? It is enough to make you want to stop but, nope, I persevere and am one to push through, which it is obvious you do as well. :) "Hooray!" and "Thank goodness," say the Monarchs. I have done a lot more research and am putting up some more info on my little blog (it has definitely grown which means I need to get my booty going on getting my website up and running...it isn't like I haven't PAID for a name!!! sheesh...blogs are just so much simpler to maintain and it takes too much time to raise butterflies...). I am always learning new information as well and find that sharing my own learnings is helpful so thank you, for the note of confidence. I do appreciate it. :) Keep up with the Monarchs. Don't give up! You may want to check on the possibility of OE anyway, even though you state that it isn't something that is prevalent in your area. Although I don't have as much as perhaps others, I do test ALL of my butterflies that I raise as I am most concerned about what may be a potential problem. Ebay is a good source for a microscope if you don't want to spend a lot of money. Let us know what happens with your babies. :) Successes and failures (although I don't really see them as 'failures') are all learning experiences and add to your repertoire of knowledge about raising these beautiful creatures. Flutter on!
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Comments (2)
There are lots of great photos of Tiger Swallowtail cats at all instars and different forms as butterflies at this link. I know I've seen them in the yard and nectaring but I can never get close enough or see enough detail through old binoculars to properly ID them and their particular forms. The Tiger cats are very different from the BST cats after a couple instars but without a good magnifying glass they appear similar early on from photos I see on linked site. Good luck with all of them! There's just something about Swallowtails I really like... Here is a link that might be useful: Tiger Swallowtails
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susanlynne48
15 years ago
Oh me, too, Sandy! They chrysalis will start to turn darker and darker and darker, and then you can see the wings thru it, you'll know it's about ready to "birth that baby"!!!

Susan
todancewithwolves
15 years ago
This is what they will look like when they are ready to make an appearance :-)
{{gwi:522250}}
tiffy_z5_6_can
15 years ago
Out of 17 Monarchs last year (our first year bringing them in) we saw none make their crysalis but the last one, a beautiful big male, eclosed before our eyes. Truly a wonderful sight!
LaurelLily
15 years ago
I raise mine enclosed, but outside. I never mist, but sometimes they get rained upon, and it doesn't hurt them. Their crystalides have a waxiness to them (you will learn this the first time you have to relocate a chrysalide, which seems inevitable when you're serious about raising them).

Happy gardening! :)
bettyfb
15 years ago
Hi,

Thanks for the info about not misting the chrysalis. I bring mine inside and Shady Oaks Butterfly Farm told me to mist them twice daily. Glad to know I do not need to continue doing this.

Betty
aufin
15 years ago
I too wanted to watch the chrysallis formation. The first one I waited, waited.......then got called away for just a few minutes. Missed it...durn!! I got my video ready for the next one and captured the process on tape. Pretty cool to watch. I have it on the computer now so I can watch it any time I want.
greenhaven
Original Author
15 years ago
aufin, your experience is exactly mine! Except I never quite got around to setting up the camera.

I watched, and watched and checked and checked. I could see green under his skin, for crying out loud! Then went out to hang clothes and boom! he was done, stinker!

The first two chrysalides I can see more orange through the green. I had another pupate yesterday and one who looks like he is on patrol for a good spot. Three more are taking their sweet time and I really didn't want to have to take cats on vacation. I can't be sure of a leaf source when I get there.

Any suggestions?
joepyeweed
15 years ago
I've come to the conclusion that a watched J never chrysalises. ;-)

I've seen plenty come out, but I've only seen one form and that was when I was a kid.

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Am I supposed to spritz my monarch chrysalides?

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Am I supposed to spritz my monarch chrysalides?

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