 |
| The monarch - a male - was still drying its wings. It must have hatched just minutes before. |
 |
| Black swallowtail with empty chrysalis. |
 |
| The monarch dries its wings before it can take off for Mexico. |
I was so happy to see the swallowtail since I've never raised them before. I decided to try after finding the caterpillars on the one small parsley plant and one brown dill plant in the garden. Our son Kevin graciously fed the caterpillars their fennel&parsley or milkweed diets while we were in Roatan last week.
I purchased a new caterpillar cube this year instead of using the cumbersome 29-gallon aquarium again. It's worked out really well. I cut a piece of plexiglass to form a partition to separate the two kinds of caterpillar, since they eat different plants. But I quickly discovered that the caterpillars easily get around the partition.
 |
| Caterpillar cube with chrysalises hanging from top (monarchs) and the plexiglass partition and sides (swallowtails). |
Raising the caterpillars inside protects them from birds, wasps, and spiders. Only about 1-2% of butterfly eggs survive to become adults. The butterflies compensate by laying hundreds of eggs. However, with butterflies at all life stages being killed by pesticides, vehicles, and habitat loss, their populations are suffering right along with the other pollinators. Many people are helping them survive by boosting the survival rate as much as they can.
While monarchs make a single silk peduncle from which to hang while they pupate, swallowtails use silk at front and back to form a "saddle" to attach securely to just about anything. I'm hoping all of them hatch. Swallowtails can overwinter in the chrysalis, but I hope they don't.
 |
| Sometime this evening the black monarch chrysalis in the foreground will hatch. I can tell by the filmy white coating that appears to cover it. Here you can see the different chrysalis shape and color of swallowtails vs. monarchs. |
If all goes well we should be releasing lots of butterflies this year. These two flew away less than an hour after being taken from the cube.
oh my they are GORGEOUS!!!! So, now when I see butterflies, I can wonder if they are yours???? I think it is beyond cool that you are doing this! Your photos are incredible! DakotasDen
ReplyDeleteCaren, it is easy once you grow the milkweed plants. As long as they have food and shelter they do the rest all by themselves. I started with just one caterpillar in a jar on my kitchen island :)
DeleteThat protective net is a great idea. Right now we have 2 monarch chrysalises, one on a fence and one on our siding. It is so nice to see so many in one area like you have.
ReplyDeleteThe net is available on Amazon or you can get one at the Monarch Butterfly Shop :
Deletehttps://monarchbutterflyshop.net/collections/monarch-butterfly-kits-for-raising-monarch-butterflies
The first year we had milkweed I left all but one chrysalis outside and the birds ate them.
What a wonderful and beneficial hobby...and WOW, they are beautiful!!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Jakey and Arty
oh how beautiful!!! it's amazing that such magic animals like butterflies really exist :O)
ReplyDeleteI completely agree! "Endless forms most beautiful…"
DeleteYou've had much better luck with your hatchlings that we have this year, no idea what we're doing wrong. I luffs the Monarchs and the colours on those swallowtails are jewel like aren't they.
ReplyDeleteLoves and licky kisses
Princess Leah xxx
I'm sorry you're having troubles this year :( It's interesting to me how dull the swallowtail chrysalis is and how bright the monarchs are. Maybe the green monarch chrysalis is camouflaged in bushes but they seem to prefer buildings and sticks so it's a mystery.
DeleteHow beautiful! Hard to believe the trees are starting to turn color here already.
ReplyDeleteSummer ends too soon but the fall leaves are so pretty!
DeleteThat is wonderful! I'd love to learn to do that... but we don't have milkweed or as many butterflies as you. What a great job you did of raising those beauties.
ReplyDelete