Remember when I showed you this monarch egg?
Monarch egg to the left of my thumb
I went back to check a couple of days later and found this
the caterpillar is the tiny, horizontal, yellow line at the base of the leaf
If you do start collecting caterpillars to raise, you need to be able to house them accordingly.
This is the setup I use for the babies.
A mason jar makes a great caterpillar nursery
Add some screening, some small twigs, and screw the cap into place.
A few days later and he/she has grown so much! Awwww….
It is very important to feed the caterpillar milkweed morning and night. They do not require water and you should not give them water (water and caterpillar poo is very toxic to them)
It is also very important to clean out the poo (frass is the politically correct term for poo) and it looks like this
Caterpillars grow very quickly and will outgrow their jar very soon. When they become teenagers, I put them in the caterpillar dorm.
You don’t need a dorm mother, but Magnum doesn’t mind
I found several of these little bug houses on clearance at a farm supply store. They make great housing for those awkward teenage years (or days in this case)
When I collect several more caterpillars, I will move them to the caterpillar condo
which is an old aquarium with a screen top.
This particular condo has a gorgeous view from the back porch, gets a couple of hours of morning sun, and loads of fresh air. It has housed up to 30 caterpillars, making it great destination for becoming a butterfly.
I will work on filling the aquarium this weekend and hope to show you a chrysalis very soon!
Brenda
Oh, Brenda – that is so cool! We’re working on increasing our milkweed patch this year – I’m seeing tons of monarchs arriving right now!
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I love seeing the monarchs fly around! And more milkweed=more monarchs!
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Brenda – That’s a LOT of work. I fear I am too lazy. By the way, if you are using a 35mm digital camera, you can get screw-on close-up lenses CHEAP. I bought mine eons ago. They came in a little leather case about 2″ x 2″ which I put on the camera strap so that I always have them handy. Beats all that nonsense of changing lenses and having to BUY the lens.
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It’s really not that much work. Maybe takes 5 min./day. I know the close up shots are terrible but my camera is a point and shoot so I can’t add any lenses.
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No problem. You told us where to look for that teeny tiny eenie weinee caterpillar.
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I’m really enjoying this series about monarchs! What a fun adventure for your little garden helpers!
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thanks! and hopefully a little learning along the way…
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What a fun way for your grandbabies to learn.
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I hope so!
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I love monarchs. So beautiful.
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I love monarchs, too! Your process is intriguing. I didn’t know you could do that.
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Yes! I’ve been doing it for years. Had a couple make their chrysalis today. Stay tuned….
Thanks for visiting!
Brenda
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You are so lucky to have these beauties to raise.
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I’ve had more this year and I am so excited! Had a couple make their chrysalis today. stay tuned…
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I love this! Thanks for sharing!
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