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.

Seems like Collison has what you want.

I have one Monarch chrysalis outside. It's been hanging for almost 2 weeks. I can see clearly in the sunlight through the chrysalis that it's developed halfway down since it's black on top half. Assuming it's slowed down development because of decreasing day length and will go into diapause for me to over winter chrysalis in attached unheated garage. Am I correct and should I bring it inside before we get a first frost or let it be until first frost predicted and then bring it inside garage for winter? Do Monarch chrysalids over winter when they're only half way done morphing? I thought chrysalids ready to over winter would be brown. I'd sure appreciate it if you guys could advise me on this last Monarch. :) The tropical milkweed I started indoors under lights last winter and planted in huge storage containers I got from recycling center worked out beautifully for me...and Monarchs. They grew very well, flowers are gorgeous and I was able to catch enough sun on this shady property to avoid foliage decline. Only problem was slugs and earwigs were horrible this year. Dumb me lined containers with fine screen mesh without surmising the miserable defoliators would just climb up sides of containers. I've got lots of it left but no Monarchs. I've got enough seed to last a lifetime from swamp, tuberosa and tropical milkweed. Thinking of putting flier in neighborhood mailboxes offering to plant milkweed on anyone's property who wants it. When I'm tending little garden at mailbox neighbors outside walking complain about not seeing any butterflies, especially Monarchs. I figure if I start the plants for them and plant them there should be a good patch of milkweed all over the neighborhood. I'm trying to figure out a nectar source to help draw in butterflies to go with the milkweed I plant for neighbors but can't think of anything deer/rabbit resistant that they wouldn't have to grow on decks or behind fencing like I do. Guess I shouldn't worry about that since I keep reading that Monarchs don't care if there are flowers or not for ovipositing purposes. Thanks in advance for advice you can give on this last Monarch chrysalis that seems stalled. I've checked it carefully without my glasses so I can see if there are any holes in it but there aren't. Leslie

Mary... I raised tomato hornworms for 2 years. I cut the stems off that had the "worms" on and put them in large jars. I gave them fresh leaves everyday. When they stop eating and start crawling around the bottom of the jar they are ready to go in dirt. I then would take them out and put them in a pot of dirt and they go underground. In spring they wake up and emerge as the sphinx moths. I love these things! I think they are pretty rare because most people kill them. I will never kill another one. I will just plant an extra tomato plant. You could put this plant away from the rest of your crop and call it the "host plant". Transfer all the worms you find to that plant. Do not pick them off, just cut the stem or leaf they are on and take it to your host plant. You don't have to put them in jars, just leave them in the garden and they will go down in the dirt by the plant. I was just worried that my hubby would roto till the next spring before they emerged and kill them. This was fun to do, basically just like raising butterflies.