From Monarch Eggs to Monarch Butterflies
Nov 23, 2011 21:31:41 #
During the hot summer months here in Buffalo, I like to raise Monarch butterflies when I have the time. It's really remarkable to watch the eggs which can barely be seen transform themselves into the majestic Monarchs that we see in nature. I have posted a series of photos showing the development from start to finish. Some of them may be a little out of focus. I hope you enjoy seeing the process and if anyone has any questions, feel free to send me a personal message. :P
Monarch eggs on back of Milkweed
Caterpillar getting read to become a chrysalis
Caterpillar transforming into chrysalis
Chrysalis
Chrysalis turns into jade color with metallic gold specks
Transparent chrysalis shows butterfly wings just prior to emergence
Monarch emerges with folded, crinkled up wings
Perfection
Newly born Monarch waiting for friends to emerge
Day of release. I give them orange and coneflowers for energy for their 1st flight into nature
Farewell sweet butterfly
Nov 23, 2011 21:33:57 #
Curious where you get the eggs. I've heard they return to the scene of their birth. True?
Nov 23, 2011 21:52:50 #
Stumptowner wrote:
Curious where you get the eggs. I've heard they return to the scene of their birth. True?
You can find the eggs on the back side of milkweed leaves.
I'm not really sure about the 2nd part of your question. It they are born at the end of the summer, they all somehow know that it's time to migrate down south. If they are born early on in the summer, they will die before they have a chance to migrate south.
Nov 23, 2011 23:52:01 #
whitewitch wrote:
You can find the eggs on the back side of milkweed leaves.
I'm not really sure about the 2nd part of your question. It they are born at the end of the summer, they all somehow know that it's time to migrate down south. If they are born early on in the summer, they will die before they have a chance to migrate south.
Stumptowner wrote:
Curious where you get the eggs. I've heard they return to the scene of their birth. True?
You can find the eggs on the back side of milkweed leaves.
I'm not really sure about the 2nd part of your question. It they are born at the end of the summer, they all somehow know that it's time to migrate down south. If they are born early on in the summer, they will die before they have a chance to migrate south.
I'll explain: years ago, I took some photography classes from someone who studied @ Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara. Hos project was to document all the stages of the Monarch Butterfly. He meticulously photographed and then released them. As I recall, he said he opened his apartment a year after his study concluded to discover that his apartment door was covered in Monarch butterflies.
So I assume you collect the eggs yourself?
Nov 23, 2011 23:58:32 #
whitewitch wrote:
During the hot summer months here in Buffalo, I like to raise Monarch butterflies when I have the time. It's really remarkable to watch the eggs which can barely be seen transform themselves into the majestic Monarchs that we see in nature. I have posted a series of photos showing the development from start to finish. Some of them may be a little out of focus. I hope you enjoy seeing the process and if anyone has any questions, feel free to send me a personal message. :P
Great set of photographs. It is good to see someone giving nature a hand.
I love to visit the Butterfly Palace in Branson, Mo and was suprised to learn that butterflys seem to love citrus fruit and more so over ripe bananas. You must have tremendous patience to do these over a fair time frame.
Thanks so much
Ian
Nov 24, 2011 00:03:11 #
its amazing what can be learned here. how long do butterflys live. I didnt even realize they made it a full year.
Nov 26, 2011 21:24:28 #
ianhargraves1066 wrote:
quote=whitewitch During the hot summer months her... (show quote)
You're very welcome. It's a lot of fun and not hard to do. From egg to release it takes about 2 weeks. It really doesn't take so much patience just a constant fresh supply of milkweed leaves. It's incredible how fast the caterpillars grow. They are constantly eating the milkweed. Nature is amazing. I'm glad you liked the photos. I wonder if the Butterfly Palace is similar to the Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara Falls Canada. I live in Buffalo but it's not a far drive at all to the conservatory. It's a great place to visit during the cold winter months to see butterflies all around you in a warm environment.
Did you get any pictures at the Butterfly Palace? I'd love to see them if you did...
Nov 26, 2011 21:32:02 #
rivernan wrote:
its amazing what can be learned here. how long do butterflys live. I didnt even realize they made it a full year.
They don't make it to a full year. This is what I learned myself - "To put a true average on the life span of a monarch butterfly, you would literally have to go all over the world. In the USA, adult monarchs live 2-6 weeks if they are in the first 3 generations of butterflies in the year. The 4th generation can live up to eight months because they have to do a long migration"
I'm glad you enjoyed the information :-P
Nov 26, 2011 21:37:11 #
ianhargraves1066 wrote:
quote=whitewitch During the hot summer months her... (show quote)
Oh, by the way, Monarch butterflies have a much higher rate of survival when humans are raising them because they are in a protected environment. I've even brought them to work and watched them hatch there. In their natural environment, they are prone to chemicals, being eaten, being mowed down, etc. plus Monarchs only lay one egg at a time. (Unlike say fish and fish eggs)
Dec 4, 2011 14:43:01 #
rivernan wrote:
its amazing what can be learned here. how long do butterflys live. I didnt even realize they made it a full year.
Below is a link to an amazing video from PBS's NOVA on the Monarch from their birth to their migration to their homeland in the mountains of Mexico from Canada. It's called the Incredible Journey of the Butterflies. You can also find it on Hulu or You Tube. It's 52 minutes long but it's worth every minute - visually stunning
http://video.pbs.org/video/1063682334?starttime=1200000
Jun 30, 2012 22:52:45 #
Well well well - look what ya find when you go nosing around - lol - I love these WW - just beautiful and I still want to do this too.
Jun 30, 2012 23:26:01 #
Janice wrote:
Well well well - look what ya find when you go nosing around - lol - I love these WW - just beautiful and I still want to do this too.
I'll have to send you the notes on it when I have a little time....This is the time to be looking for Monarch eggs on the underside of milkweed leaves. You really should use a magnifying glass because they are the tiniest specks and it's hard to see them with the naked eye...
Jun 30, 2012 23:27:00 #
whitewitch wrote:
I'll have to send you the notes on it when I have a little time....This is the time to be looking for Monarch eggs on the underside of milkweed leaves. You really should use a magnifying glass because they are the tiniest specks and it's hard to see them with the naked eye...
Janice wrote:
Well well well - look what ya find when you go nosing around - lol - I love these WW - just beautiful and I still want to do this too.
I'll have to send you the notes on it when I have a little time....This is the time to be looking for Monarch eggs on the underside of milkweed leaves. You really should use a magnifying glass because they are the tiniest specks and it's hard to see them with the naked eye...
ok - i have a magnifying glass - just gotta find some milkweed
Jun 30, 2012 23:36:34 #
Janice wrote:
quote=whitewitch quote=Janice Well well well - l... (show quote)
Do you know what it looks like? It grows in open fields, not in the woods..
It's a good idea to wear latex gloves so you don't get that sticky milk all over your skin...
Jul 1, 2012 00:08:21 #
whitewitch wrote:
quote=Janice quote=whitewitch quote=Janice Well... (show quote)
yes I know what it looks like - and i didn't think about the gloves
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