[kittygilchrist]

Post your photos!

[Goober III]

A busy backyard:

[elizabeth52]

Wow! Impressive. I have only reared two or three at a time using Milkweed to feed them. Is that melon? I just love Monarchs.

We also grow Parsley just for the Swallowtails.

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist

Post your photos!

[elizabeth52]

Originally Posted by Goober III

A busy backyard:

I have never seen the chrysalis being formed. I only see it after it is completed. Very nice photos!

[kittygilchrist]

The milkweed was stripped by the last generation. They love butternut squash, but it is an emergency food....and I think these might be smaller butterflies.
The chrysalis forming is amazing. It is as if they have a zipper and unzip the cater pillar skin from the back within a few seconds and push it out the top of the chrysalis.

[kittygilchrist]

Originally Posted by Goober III

A busy backyard:

Thank you!

[kittygilchrist]

16 chrysalis visible, i'm not snooping through the bushes.
4 mature caterpillars looking for a good place to transform themselves.
8 seniors feeding
7 juniors feeding
1 "Peewee" Who hatched in captivity surviving on leaves that had been fed to the bigger guys.

The photo is the seven juniors and peewee in confinement.
Monarchs compete for food, and I keep peewee happy.

[Country Dreamer]

Thank you for posting your photos. They are fascinating. What a great job you are doing.

[kittygilchrist]

And I did not know the Monarch chrysalis is laced with gold, look!

[Sable99]

I agree that these pictures are fascinating! Would make a great science project for kids!

[Bonnevie]

one of my butterflies came out today. I'm waiting about 4 hours....for his wings to get pumped with blood and dry. then he can be released

[kittygilchrist]

Originally Posted by Bonnevie

one of my butterflies came out today. I'm waiting about 4 hours....for his wings to get pumped with blood and dry. then he can be released

Thanks for the info on the duration of pumped and dry.
Earlier ones here in chrysalis are starting to clear the green color so I'm keeping my eye on them...

Ain"t this fun?

[Bonnevie]

wish it was sunnier out....this one doesn't seem to want to leave the wings look fine and they move properly...maybe it's the gloomy skies

[Bonnevie]

Went out to get milkweed flower to giver to butterfly and found a bush with seven more caterpillars on it

[kittygilchrist]

That is wonderful! You are right that the overcast skies have a tremendous effect. The caterpillars are just as still if it were the dead of night.