Monarchs are not endangered. They live in many places across the world. The continental US has populations in California and Florida that do not participate in the migration to Mexico. So, even if the whole overwintering population went up in smoke, there are still many monarchs out there. Went to see Flight of the Butterflies 3D today. Awesome movie. Shows why the monarchs are so special to us: the migration. In the movie, they called the butterflies that fly south to Mexico the "Super Generation." They depend on stored fat to survive the migration and the winter in Mexico. Scientists have shown that monarchs raised on tropical milkweed develop quicker and weigh less. Their hypothesis is migrating butterflies that were raised on tropical milkweed are less likely to be able to live through the migration, especially if weather conditions are less than ideal. Whether their hypothesis can ever be proven remains to be seen but I'm buying the hypothesis and believe it is another reason not to plant tropical milkweed.

As you found by reading more than one source, it suggests lepidopteran behavior comes down to how each author perceives it. Personally, after doing so many species in so many situations and observing their life histories I would say there are few clear lines that can be drawn, and even the ones that can are general ones. Yes there are times/situations where behavioral traits can be clearly called one or the other, usually species specific, but more often it can not. How you perceive it kind of depends on what you are comparing it to as well. Take habitats as an example of just one factor that effects behavior. How can we really compare the behavior of leps actually hilltopping on a rocky point up in the wind swept environs of the arctic/alpine zone against leps on patrol, perching or lekking under the canopy of a hot and humid tropical rain forest. In general their behavior is as different as night and day, often species specific, yet in either environs any species could be perceived as being both territorial and not, perching and not, patrolling and not, lekking and not, etc. I my case FWIW, I base my beliefs on what I've observed as the most common for a species taking into account all the different situations or environs I have observed them in over the years. That is a huge data base even if only in my notes/mind. Whether that is a right or wrong approach who knows. Few can put in the field time I was lucky enough to be able to do... most probably wouldn't want to. But it's better than relying on what someone else perceives to me. Besides, any excuse to get out into and enjoy nature was a strong magnet to me.

So how many instars does bird poop go through BG? LOL N. antiopa is so common in the west it rivals P. rapae for being found everywhere. At just about any riparian area with willows you'll find their ova or larva from spring to fall. 20 odd years ago my son reared maybe 300 of them for a school project. Since they would emerge while we were away on a butterfly trip to southern Utah, we took the pupa with us in our RV. They started to eclose while we were camped at a place called Pine Lake about 15 miles north of Bryce Canyon Nat'l Park. The other campers and camp ground hosts were so taken with the releases every day and all the BF's flying around that somebody drove into town and told the local paper about it. A reporter showed up with a photog in tow to get the story. Made the front page of the paper with several pictures, but better yet allowed us to make the public aware of butterfly conservation.

Keeping the pupae out of the sun, occasionally hydrate it by bathing it in cool water will help. Like Molanic, I often keep mine in the fridge in a Glad container on paper towel and take it out once a month or so to give it a bath. It is essential to keep them somewhat hydrated in order to avoid dessication. When day and night temps are warmer in later spring/early summer, bring them outdoors in a container with air holes and some sticks they can climb onto when they emerge. They have to hang from the sticks for some time to dry and inflate their wings. This is a good time to get photos of them, too. I only get Hemaris diffinus - Snowberry Clearwing, and their favorite food in my yard is my yellow Honeysuckle. I have Japanese purpurea, but have never found them on this. Another excellent host plant to check is Virginia Creeper. Numerous sphinx moths use it as a larval host, like Eumorpha achemon (Achemon sphinx), Eumorpha pandorus (Pandora sphinx), Darapsis myron (Virginia Creeper sphinx), Amphion floridensis (Nessus sphinx), Deidamis inacriptum (Lettered sphinx), Hyles lineata (White-lined sphinx), and Specodina abbottii (Abbott's sphinx), to name a few. I have raised the first 4 named above, and perhaps one day, I'll find a few others. Good luck and have fun! Susan