Raising Monarchs

[JBtheExplorer]

Two males came out yesterday. But we are having rain all day so I'll have to keep it for a while. What should I feed them?

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Awesome!! I wish I would've seen the post sooner, but so you'll know next time, you can keep them for 24 hours without feeding them.

 

[Nepen]

Awesome!! I wish I would've seen the post sooner, but so you'll know next time, you can keep them for 24 hours without feeding them.

Thanks, that's what I came to conclusion from many hours looking up many other webpage about Monarch I ended up holding them about 36 hours. Good thing the day after storm it was very sunny!!!

I put them on the flower but after only a minute they just took off and gone in a minute, not even stop to eat!! The other one that came out of its Chrysalis later stayed a bit longer but then flew off to the south without eating too It was about 52 degree but super sunny

I hope they make it.

 

[Nepen]

I ended up with 4 males and 4 females. I release last one yesterday afternoon. She was not happy in the tiny enclosure and kept trying to fly so I put her outside. It was around 6PM already but still warm. This morning she was gone.

OK, done for this year Now I know what to expect for next year!

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Here's a Monarch egg on Swamp Milkweed. Found three eggs total. I'm not planning on raising any this year, though. Nature will have to take its course.

 

[addy1]

Welllllllllllllllllll never expecting to see this. I put in a few swamp milkweeds last year. I went out to harvest some of the seeds starting to fly and found FIVE! caterpillars.

 

[j.w]

I'm sure seeing a lot of butterflies this year. Must be a good year for them. Neat @addy1 that you got to see the c-pillars.

 

[Lisak1]

They do have the prettiest caterpillars!

 

[j.w]

They look like something from Alice in Wonderland

 

[j.w]

I think I'll mess w/ @Mmathis and use this as my avatar for a minute

 

[Nepen]

I saw some of the monarch at the beginning of July but they didn't lay any egg. I have not seen any egg from them yet...

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Found four or five caterpillars today, sadly one was freshly dead. Probably tachinid flies. It was a bigger one too. Surprised I didn't see it before today.

Also had a Monarch flying around the garden. It was a female so she might've been laying eggs.

 

[Mmathis]

I think I'll mess w/ @Mmathis and use this as my avatar for a minute

Gee, thanks!

 

[Mmathis]

Darn! Well, my swamp milkweeds are growing like, well, weeds, but no signs at all that they are going to bloom. And even if they did, haven't seen a Monarch butterfly around here in YEARS! @addy1 that is sooooo cool that you have caterpillars!

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I didn't bring any caterpillars in this Summer, let nature take its course. However, last week, I saw a large one, and figured I'd bring it in since it would be turning into a chrysalis in a day or two. Well, then I found another large one, so I brought that one in, too.

Long story short, I have six now.


I just keep finding large ones on my milkweeds.
The first has turned black, and should be a butterfly any moment. I have two others in chrysalises and three caterpillars. Luckily have not had any die from tachinid larvae yet. I wish I had one of those ZooMed terrariums that opened from the side. It'd be so much easier to raise Monarchs and clean all the poop and dried leaves out.

 

[MoonShadows]

Picked up a packet of milkweed seeds at the nursery the other day for a $2.00 donation. If you are buying milkweed seeds, take a look at http://www.saveourmonarchs.org/