OK, this is a chrysalis that was a fat Monarch caterpillar in my neighbor's yard on Friday. Yesterday, I found it hanging in "J" formation here on this tiny ridge of plastic, despite the fact that I had provided two thick sticks for this purpose. I'm suspicious that the sticks weren't stable or strong enough. So, I need to rig up something more inviting for future cats.

This is my current setup. Each of these containers has a collection of eggs and/or cats, with the eggs still attached to a small part of the original leaf they were layer on. Those fragments dry out quickly, so the hatchlings usually crawl immediately onto the fresh leaves that I place their dry leaves on top of.

Here you can see the holes they leave in the fresh leaves, and you can just make out the lighter-colored, tiny cats and their frass (poop). The cats in this picture are 4x the size of the little one I injured, so you can understand how difficult it is to keep track of them all. I can see that a better camera would be helpful. I've been using my iPad. Maybe I'll look for a real camera. Let me know what you'd like to see, or any questions I can answer. I'm also open to any suggestions. Hopefully we'll enjoy this process together.

martha

Your set up looks great, Martha, and thank you for taking the time to raise these Monarch babies to adulthood.

I so hope a mama Monarch visits me before the season ends. I check leaves each day but so far, no eggs. Wouldn't you know it, this is the first year I've managed to have a lot of milkweed available. But the season isn't over so I'll remain hopeful.

Good luck with all of your babies and please continue to update this thread.

Mary

Mary, my best advice is to check the smallest milkweed sprouts you can find. Most, if not all, of the eggs I found were layed on new, fresh plants. And I swear the Mommas know if any of the leaves are discolored or misshapen, because "ugly" plants never have eggs on them. It amazes me how they even find the itty bitty sprouts that most of my eggs were on. Wishing you the best luck possible.

Martha

Thanks for look at your set up. I think you will have your hands full in the next week or two!

thank you for sharing. I've been considering fostering and appreciate you sharing what is working for you. best of luck

wow!!!! 50 eggs! Thats a little labor intensive! Good for you! I've been raising them from eggs transferred after they hatch to potted milkweed plants inside a mesh enclosure, but only about 20 at a time. Its a little easier.. You need to get your sister and your neighbor to join the effort, they will get hooked!

Beth, I feel extremely lucky to have found so many eggs and get the chance to raise them. I have been amazed at what nature can accomplish with so little going for it, and the Monarch migration is a great example. How do they find their way back to Mexico? I hope my efforts help to keep this one natural miracle going for a little while.

Martha

How is air getting into your containers?

Jane

I use the 4748 forceps for picking up delicate things. Tough to hurt things with them because the harder you press, the less grip they have. Slight learning curve to figuring out how to use them.

http://www.bioquip.com/Search/DispProduct.asp?pid=4748

Martha....just how many Twizzlers does your family eat??!! (hahaha)

Jane, the tops don't fit absolutely air tight, and I've found that they do fine when small. I have another collection of tops that are just the rim. Once the cats are big enough that they can't fit through the mesh, I switch the tops to just rims with tulle fabric to allow better air movement. Early on, the leaves dried out before the tiny cats ate much, because they were so small. So, less air flow allowed slower drying. I have so many now that I open the containers at least twice daily to clean and replace the leaves with fresh.

kaboehm, the Twizzlers are my attempt to raise our snacking quality above Doritos and potatoe chips. We like the boxes because they stay fresh much longer. I've been collecting boxes for three years, since they make such perfect caterpillar containers and also wintersowing containers, and they stack neatly. I'll also admit that I'm a Twizzler addict. Could be worse, right?

martha

Very interesting, docmom. I hope your "twizzlers" can find good places to anchor when the time comes.

Socks, as they get bigger, I will transfer them into different containers. Paper grocery bags work really well. The caterpillars can form their chrysalis on any spot inside the bag, and when they have all transformed, you can open the bag and cut them apart and hang them anywhere convenient. The darkness doesn't seem to bother them.

martha

I have today off, so took some more pictures. It is amazing to me how fast they get so big. Here:

This is is what I found when I checked them this morning. Almost every caterpillar in this container is in a molting stage. I was trying to get batches at similar stages together.

martha

WOW! Thanks so much for sharing! Even more impressive in large numbers!

I am delighted to see that someone somewhere has been able to locate Monarch eggs. It has been two years since I've seen any Monarchs in my area and my plants are ready for them if they ever get here. I live in Hughesville, Pa.....where do you live?

I'm in West Michigan. I'm dreading the time when I won't be able to share these creatures with everyone who comes to my house during the late summer. I thought it would be last year, but I've been lucky. I do make it a point to watch for patches of milkweed, and always check the smallest little sprouts for eggs. In fact, I think I will wintersow a bunch of seeds so I'll have tiny sprouts when the Monarchs come around. Also, I don't expect to find much until July, so don't get frustrated too early and give up.

Martha

Here is another progress shot.

Martha, how many do you house per bin? My, that's lots of frass!! I'd bag it and call it Sassy-Frass organic fertilizer!!! :-)

I've lost count. Most have been transferred into paper grocery bags for pupation. Actually, my daughter got out my small tent for a camping trip and set it up to air out and dry after their weekend. I might turn the tent into a rearing cage and let them all loose to form their chrysalids. I can hang some string or put some old chairs in there for them to climb on.

martha

Well, I had to go out of town for a few days for work. So, I put all the sizable caterpillars into my tent out doors. Here are a few pictures from before I left and when I got back.

Wow, that past shot is amazing! I'm totally confused about what they are attached to. Paper bags?

What do you do with them in the house like that? Do you take the bags outside when the chrysalides turns dark? You can't have butterflies flying around inside your house!

Socks, yes, those are what is left of paper bags. When I have cats approaching the end of their fifth instar, I put them in grocery bags with fresh leaves and tape the top closed. Leave them for a few days and then carefully cut the top with scissors or a letter opener. Then just cut around whoever is hanging out. If they are still soft or haven't turned green, leave them alone until the green chrysalis is hard.

Liz, yes, when they turn dark, I take them outside. Or, I might put them back in the tent until there are several ready to release and release them together. I want to take a group of them to release at a nearby public garden, but haven't figured out how to transfer them there.

docmom-amazing! please excuse my ignorance but I'm new at this and would like to give it a shot next year: do you provide any water source for the cats or do they get enough moisture from the milkweed? (I've heard of some people misting??) also, do you grow your own milkweed from seed? you must go through a ton of it!!!

Gardendaydreamer, they get all the moisture they need from the leaves they eat. You do not want to spray them, because too much moisture can encourage fungi or bacteria to grow. I do grow lots of milkweed. But, I also have a large patch of Common Milkweed just down the road from me on the edge of a business parking lot. I got most of my supply for the older stages there. My yard isn't sunny and my soil isn't ideal, despite amendments. So, I go where it is plentiful and healthy.

Martha

I'm just commenting here so I can get updates whenever new pictures are posted :) I started milkweed this year and can't wait until I have enough to sustain some butterflies!

My tropical milkweed was getting pretty thin, but then I cut most of it back and now it is thick and lush, waiting for visitors soon, I hope!

We made it to the final stage. My husband are drinking coffee and listening to classical music and look what is happening just over our shoulder.

So....hope you have something underneath to catch the liquid that they seem to "leak" when they eclose!! Are you going to put the others in cages, or just enjoy them flying around while you have your coffee!?

Send them down south! I'm ready!
;-)

The front door is two feet from where they are hanging. I just let them crawl onto my finger and walk them out to the bushes out the front door. If any haven't emerged when we need to leave the house, I'll transfer them to the back porch. The liquid just drips onto the ceramic tile floor. Easy to clean up. Far less mess than my Newfoundland makes every time she takes a drink from her bowl. LOL