Monarch caterpillar – Growing in Gardner

Firstborn of the nine

Before tucking the Monarch incubator containers under a tea towel for the night so artificial light doesn’t interfere with their sense of direction, I checked them all for dryness and development. Continue reading “Firstborn of the nine” →

Status• Posted on July 4, 2020 by Lily

Improving my Monarch data collection.

Compared to last year, it feels like the flood gates have opened as far as egg and cat finding and that’s brought about some challenges for me related to keeping track of them. I am aware that there are folks that are raising significantly more than me, and I am amazed at them. Before I get into organization, here’s a peek at the current older instars in their keeper.

Behold the awesome eating power of late instar caterpillars! — These four are now between their second and third milkweed top sets of leaves just for today’s eating. The one to the right you see with most of them on it was pretty much gone when I brought in the third early evening.

Continue reading “Improving my Monarch data collection.” →

Status• Posted on July 28, 2019 by Lily

Hatching eggs on a rainy day

The weather finally came through to break the short heat wave we ‘d had. Rains most of the day, and I could not get the timing right to look for eggs between them. Continue reading “Hatching eggs on a rainy day” →

Status• Posted on July 22, 2019 by Lily

Later update on the growing foster family.

While we were doing our evening watering, I startled a Monarch butterfly as I was wending through the one common milkweed patch that is overtaking a path. Then I watched fascinated as it flitted back to a plant within breathing distance, and laid an egg right in front of me. Continue reading “Later update on the growing foster family.” →

Status• Posted on July 21, 2019 by Lily