I don't think it is too late. I have been collecting Monarch eggs these past two weeks, which, for me, is most unusual! Have you checked out my blog? :)

Here is a link that might be useful: tdogmom's Monarch blog

thanks tdogmom!!!. it is from your blog that i got the idea about the plastic shoe box. i forgot to bookmark it, now i finally did.
i built a "jungle gym" out of small bamboo sticks. i only purchased one box, will this suffice?
thanks for your help.
fern in fort myers

Fern, That's great that you got lots of Monarch cats! I'm so happy for you! I raised my cats several different ways. One was to let them on plants on our screened-in back porch. Of course, you'll have frass dropping down, so you'd probably want to put down newspapers under the plants. Another way was raise them in my butterfly cage. I also raised them in plastic storage containers that I had bought at Walmart for 99 cents. I cut out part of the lid and hot glued screen in its place. I'd use florist tubes to keep the milkweed fresh that I put in the containers. I also used plastic Juicy Juice bottles with the tops cut out (about halfway down). Then I cut out a piece of fiberglass screen bigger than the opening at the top and secured it with a rubberband. I also put small shoots of milkweed in florist tubes and put them in those containers too. I hope this helps.

Cathy

I think the quantity of containers depends upon the quantity of larvae...

bfern,

I am from the same area as you, and unless you are way inland where you might have a few freezes, you can raise monarchs all year. They actually survive better in the winter, I think due to the drier air, and as long as the milkweed doesn't get below about 40 degrees and turn black, Christmastime is actually the best monarch time of the year.

thanks!
tdogmom, i put the largest cats i could find last night, 11 of them in the shoe box. i have been adding freshly cut milkweed leaves as soon as they are low. they sure eat a bunch. by the size of them they should be ready to pupate very soon.
grouperman, i am close to the midpoint bridge on the fort myers side. i am only 2 blocks from the river so we don't ever get real low temps. i am glad to know that the best is yet to come.
thanks again
fern in fort myers

I put the monarch cats and eggs in plastic soup containers from Chinese restaurants. I leave the lid off and cover it with a coffe filter and a rubber band. They almost always pupate on the coffee filter. I call them little piggies because they eat so much!