Marvelous Monarch Help population by raising them at home
Famous for its exquisite beauty and unbelievable migrations, the monarch butterfly could use a little help. Your help.
In the past several decades, the monarch has experienced a dramatic decline in population, mainly because of habitat loss. Because of predation and disease, only about 1 in 10 monarchs reach adulthood.
One way to help monarch butterflies is to raise them in your home and garden. Monarchs are easy to raise. Observing and nurturing their metamorphosis is a memorable educational experience and an important opportunity for children and adults to interact closely with nature.
Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) go through four stages during one life cycle, which take about four weeks to complete.
In Western Pennsylvania, four generations of butterflies emerge from June through October.
The last generation to reach adulthood is special, as these monarchs undertake a spectacular fall migration to Mexico's warm climate, where they live for 6 to 8 months before heading north in the early spring to begin their life cycle.
Begin your monarch-raising venture by obtaining the necessary plants and supplies. Purchase a local source of pesticide-free milkweed (Asclepias), as it is the only food eaten by monarch larvae.
Plant milkweed in full sun and well-drained soil. In addition, plant and maintain a butterfly buffet of native perennials and colorful annuals for a season-long nectar source for adult monarchs.
The necessary supplies for raising the monarchs include plastic food containers, paper towels, water, a small paint brush, and mesh pop-up insect/butterfly cages.
Begin your adventure with the treasure hunt for monarch eggs on your milkweeds. The pinhead sized, cream-colored eggs usually are found fastened to the underside of a leaf. It is best to collect only eggs or newly hatched caterpillars, because larger caterpillars may already be infected with parasites or disease.Once located, cut off a small section of the leaf surrounding the egg, bring the leaf into the house and place the leaf segment into a small plastic food container lined with a moist paper towel to prevent the leaf from drying. Wash your hands after securing the leaf in the container to remove any milkweed milk.Use caution when handling milkweed, as the white milk can cause discomfort if rubbed into the eyes.Start raising monarchs on a small scale, raising only six to 10 eggs or small larvae in one container, as overcrowding can cause many problems.Once you have your eggs gathered and placed in their new home, snap on the lid; these little guys are great escape artists! There is no need to poke holes in the lid, as there is enough air for them.Place your hatchery out of direct sunlight and away from pets and small children.For the next four to five days, open the container twice a day to check for excess moisture and monitor the eggs.Soon you will notice the larva's black head at the tip of the egg, ready to munch its way out and begin its incredible metamorphosis.The larvae are tiny gray and barely noticeable, not the well-known white, black and yellow stripe butterfly. The larva's first meal is its own nutrient-rich eggshell.
Fully grown monarch caterpillars will be about 3,000 times larger than those newly hatched, growing from 1/16 of an inch long to 2 inches long within two weeks.With this rapid growth rate, they eat milkweed almost nonstop.For the next three or four days, your caterpillars remain in the plastic container, where they voraciously eat and then generate considerable amounts of droppings (frass). Provide fresh pieces of milkweed on a clean moist towel and clean out the frass every few days.If you need to transfer a small fry from a dry leaf to a fresh one, use a small clean paintbrush.When the caterpillars grow to about an inch in length, move them to a larger container.A mesh pop-up insect cage with a side zipper is ideal. Do not mix caterpillars of different sizes, as the larger ones tend to eat their smaller buddies.At this stage, they feed rapidly. Provide them with whole healthy leaves, making sure no aphids, spiders, or mites are hitching a ride.Daily, remove the caterpillars briefly from the cage and clean out the droppings, replace the damp paper towels, and add the fresh leaves. Watch closely, as the larger the caterpillar, the faster it can crawl away.Monarch larvae undergo five stages or instars, shedding their exoskeleton five times. Larvae may sit motionless on the side or top of the cage for several hours. When ready, the skin splits and sheds.You may see the shriveled skin in the cage, where it becomes a meal. Never disturb the larvae during their molt.About two weeks after hatching when the caterpillar is fully grown, it moves to the top of the mesh cage, spins a small silk pad and hangs upside down in a “J” shape.
Soon it completes its fifth and final molt and begins its transformation into a butterfly.The pupa or chrysalis is lime green in color, dotted with gold and crowned by a golden circlet trimmed in ebony. This final stage lasts 10 to 14 days.As the butterfly prepares to emerge, the dark wings become visible through the transparent chrysalis skin. The chrysalis splits, and the butterfly crawls out, clinging to the pupal case.At first the wings are wet and crumbled. The abdomen is quite large, and it will begin pumping fluid into the wings until they are fully expanded and stiff.About four to 12 hours are needed for the wings to dry, during which time the butterfly clings to its old chrysalis, beating its wings and warming its muscles.In a few more hours, the butterfly is ready to be set free. A warm sunny day is an ideal release time.Carry the cage to the garden and unzip the door. Observe your butterfly exercise its wings and prepare for its first flight. Some may exit immediately, while others linger until they flutter away to a tree or a flower bed.Their life as a butterfly is short lived, lasting two to six weeks, during which time they lay eggs for the next generation.Responsibly raising these beauties is a wonderful way for both adults and children to connect with this endangered species.This process may prompt us to learn more about supporting and conserving the many pollinators disappearing from our backyard habitats. And what can be more enjoyable than watching a monarch you have reared fluttering around your garden?
Mary Reefer is a Penn State Extension Master Gardener in Butler County.
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