How to ensure safe emergence from the chrysalis, see it happen, and ID sex of butterfly and tag!

[@garywait3231]

Thanks for another delightful story by my favorite ghost story writer, read by my favorite narrator!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@evilroyslade2491]

WOW, amazing videos, thank you, now I appreciate monarchs life cycle. Next year I will begin with my new Butterfly garden. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Awesome Evilroyslade! Means so much to me to be able to hear from viewers! Let me know how your garden works out and know you can reach me anytime for questions!

[@sm4942]

Thank you so much for sharing this info. I’m in south coastal Texas. We’re new homeowners and bough a milkweed plant to supply food along the monarch migration route. Days later I saw catapillers. I’ve been watching your videos ever since. I am hooked. We went out and bought more milkweed plants because the caterpillars had eaten all of the leaves on our one plant. Today I saw a monarch Lane more eggs on the plant. I don’t mind at all rearing more butterflies, but I read that we should cut back our plants to discourage winter breeding. I’m going to do some research. I believe we are far enough south to have the fourth and fifth generation butterflies. We are Corpus Christi.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Hi! Thanks for sharing from Corpus Christi. I had not heard that about winter breeding. It would seem that would be a natural event. Here monarchs enter a migratory state called diapause where they do not develop sexually. Look up diapause monarchs! Let me know How It goes and what you find out! Great you are planting more milkweed! What sps are you planting?

[@denisef1153]

I’m in S Florida East coast. I raised monarchs in December - March 2023/24. As long as you cut back the plants and regrow the milkweed fresh, you can rear them. The OE parasite won’t be an issue. This is what I’ve read over the last ten months. Now After every batch I cut the plants down and sterilize the cages and all equipment I use. Last year I had a huge outbreak of OE and NPV at the same time. I lost 30 caterpillars. It was very sad. So I now keep a rotating stock of milkweed plants. From seedlings to mature plants so I always have a fresh batch. I am continually learning and learned not to believe everything I read. I read if the chrysalis turns black it means what’s inside is dead and to throw away the black chrysalis. I didn’t have the heart so I left it there. Took 2 months but it was born healthy. It was so big too. I’m guessing it was too cold. even in FL the temps dipped into the 40’s which is cold here. so he stayed where it was and kept warm. So now I only trust in certain channels. This being one of them. Thank You Frank for all your teachings. I learn so much from a trustworthy source. ❤ PS. I’m using tropical milkweed which some experts say is a big no no and use only native milkweed which I can’t find at any nursery. I ordered some from Burpee.

[@tcm087]

Thank you for sharing. I planted milkweeds in my garden and have enjoyed discovering caterpillars and watching monarch butterflies eat nectar and lay eggs. A few days ago I discovered three chrysalis hanging from our privacy fence. Then watched a fourth caterpillar attach itself and form the ‘J’ you covered in a previous video. I am not tagging them or anything. Not sure I am brave enough to handle them. But appreciate the info.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Next year you should order a tagging kit. They are very resilient to handling unlike many other butterflies. Millions of years of evolution resulted in butterflies with pretty tough wings to survive thousands of miles of travel.

[@williamtaylor2412]

THANK YOU SO MUCH WITH THIS INFORMATION I AM 70 NOW IT'S NEVER TO LATE TO LEARN

[@natureatyourdoor]

Awesome...lol,I am 65 and I learned KZbin and video editing! Lol! 💪💪💪💪💪

[@natureatyourdoor]

Btw way my late dad and my son....both William Taylor's!

[@origrammy]

I loved learning all this. Thank you!! I need to move a chrysalis and your instruction is so helpful. I think I can do it safely.

[@natureatyourdoor]

You are welcome! Keep me posted on how the chrysalis does!

[@eze4life1000]

Interesting, I always thought it took several generations of monarchs to make the migration to Mexico.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Yes, several (3 to 4 generations migrate north to canada...the last flies to Mexico! 🙂

[@KryptoSpeed]

Oh this is great, just what I was looking for! Currently have Monarch caterpillars that I'd ordered from an education website and two have just gone to chrysalides with one in the "J" formation. I just went looking for more info and also was looking for info on what possibly happened to two chrysalides that never came out that were on Milkweed pots that I bought from a garden center. Found that info on one of your previous videos. This is my first time raising Monarchs but my third time raising some Painted Lady butterflies. Years ago I had also tried to raise Hawk moths, Hornworms specifically, for my Bearded Dragons but none of them formed properly. Their wings stayed small and wrinkled, now I know why, although I did have them in a big butterfly enclosure, made of netting, and I don't remember if they never hung upside down or what. I had the chrysalides in a plastic container in the dirt and I thought I had it pushed up against the side so that they could climb out and up the netting but honestly don't exactly remember.... but anyway, keep up the great education! I'm a homeschooling mom, perpetual student, animal and nature lover!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Welcome home-schooling mom perpetual student and animal and mature lover! My channel is made for you!!! Thank you for sharing with me and the NAYD learning community! I really love interacting and replying to my viewers! Send me questions any time!

[@Insect_Expert1489]

(I'M NOT MONOPOLIZING PLEASE BE OPEN MINIDED I'M TRYING TO HELP YOU. ) Monarchs can get lost easily if there in a building pretty crazy huh plus if the monarch caterpillars eat Tropical Milkweed it would be a 100% percent chance that the butterfly won't get to Mexico or Canada with the other Monarchs butterflies. So please switch your tropical milkweed and grow the native milkweeds and like i said it before I'm trying to help you save the monarchs. And yes i have researched them for 8 years now.

[@TheDebi1956]

Thank you for the information. Thesis the second years had milkweed and the first I found monarch caterpillar

[@natureatyourdoor]

Great...hope you find many more!

[@williamtaylor2412]

LOVE THIS

[@natureatyourdoor]

Thank you!

[@omarcontreras8888]

Hey Frank great video appreciate what you do!! what's your stance on the tropical milkweed controversy ?? we rear monarchs in Southern California and are wanting a plan on whether to get rid of our tropical milkweed.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Well...uh...oh geeze...their at least seem to be some unknowns associated with it...I personally always loved the plant and for nectar production...fall back? " when in doubt..plant natives...I wouldn't wipe it out over night...but perhaps transition away and to natives. It's NOT an emergency.

[@denisef1153]

@@natureatyourdoor thanks. I needed to hear this. Where I live, no migratory pattern. It’s like they skip the South East Florida. Travel along the gulf from what I read and see. Is it because we are a tropical climate! I’m not understanding this.

[@thomass.johnson8324]

Frank, Do you ever test for OE ? I believe on one of your clips you'd called it EO, one where you didn't test.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Yes..we do a Monarch Watch shared tip. Piece of tape sticky side on butterfly abdomen...tape to Glass slide, invert..and look through scales for football shaped spores.

[@sandraleamelendez9679]

Hi thank you for sharing. I’m wondering, do you have to test the butterfly for OR before tagging n releasing?

[@natureatyourdoor]

Yes. That is best.

[@melissatull4299]

These are such good videos! I found a monarch caterpillar that had recently been sprayed with weed killer while I was walking to work. I rinsed him off and took it home in a starbucks cup. I had plans to relocate it to a better enclosure, but when I woke up this morning it was already in a J hang. I've named it Mattew Monarch-Conaughey. I guess I'll have to wait a few more days to see if I need to change the name. Once it emerges, do I need to take it back where I found it to be released? Or can I just let him out at my house?

[@natureatyourdoor]

Thanks so much! You are fine letting him go at your house! Keep me posted!! 😀

[@theresalaurente3277]

Thank you for the information. I decided to raise the monarch caterpillars on my milkweed plants on the shady part of my lanai to give them more of a chance to survive. There too many geckos/lizards in my garden. I'll have to find a cooler place in the summer since I live in Florida. Do you have any suggestions?

[@natureatyourdoor]

Cover the milkweed after larva appear with mosquito netting?

[@denisef1153]

If they can Kline outside in Florida they can live on your lanai. That’s what I’m doing. But no direct sunlight of course.

[@gloriabrenes495]

Hello, Frank I leave Dallas, Texas we've noticed the milkweed plant that we have caterpillars on it we are so happy. Since the climate here just need to know should I leave them there or bring them in .Don't want to harm them.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Hi Gloria! Fascinating that you still have caterpillars at this time of the year! Since it is a "natural" event I would leave them outside! I would love to hear how this turns out! Keep me posted!

[@cathybogolin4320]

The information you provide in your video's is spectacular. Can you let me know if the monarch's become less interested in laying eggs on older milkweed plants? This year I planted 4 new plants and counted 11 caterpillars on them, at various stages. However my older plants, in a different garden have zero caterpillars. Last year we were lucky to watch one successful complete cycle, the chrysalis was on a trumpet vine near the milkweed and very well hidden. The birth was exciting. Now onto this year, should we leave the 11 caterpillars alone, or try to raise them as you did in protected environments? Lastly, my new milkweed plants had a few aphids yesterday, and then today so many more! Should I treat them, squish them, or what do you suggest? Do the aphids harm the caterpillars? Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Hi Cathy...yes..i have definitely observed that egg laying is more frequent on younger fresher plants...often the resprouts that occur after mowing hay for example in August. I generally just smoosh the aphids with my fingers! I think the 11 have better chance for survival if you read them protected from,parasitic wasps and other predators! Let me know how it goes! (Btw...i am actually climbing in switzerland at the moment)

[@cathybogolin4320]

@@natureatyourdoor Thanks so much and enjoy the climb, you are inspirational!

[@danaweston8238]

Hi it is the first of August in North Dakota. I have found 7 monarch caterpillars on my milkweed. Will the mature fast enough to fly south be for winter?

[@natureatyourdoor]

Greeting North Dakota! Great to hear from you! 12 to 15 days as a larva..10 days in the pupa and you are good to go! Keep me posted!

[@carydavis2062]

After the butterfly hatches, how long should you wait to release? Some sites say the three hours to dry their wings then release and others say wait at least 24 hrs.

[@natureatyourdoor]

I always waited 24 hours but then i would also tagged them before release so wanted to be 100 percent sure wings were fully hardened!

[@cathieb.2441]

Thank you! I have a chrysalis that is trady to hatch, i can see the wings, but it has not hatched after three days.😢 should i wait longer or remove it?

[@natureatyourdoor]

Yeah...that doesn't sound very good. Usually the wing colors show on the day they emerge as I think you already know. I might give it another day. ..also look for signs of decay or dessication.

[@bronlynbennett3371]

I just put a monarch caterpillar in a mesh enclosure with milkweed like you showed. Do I provide any water source? There dew on the leaves in the morning so should I spray water on my enclosed leaves??

[@natureatyourdoor]

Nope you are fine as is! They get all the moisture they need from the milkweed. Keep the milkweed fresh and you are good to go!

[@bronlynbennett3371]

@@natureatyourdoor oh great, Thanks so much!!

[@sitalamamasita2301]

What about when they has fallen to the ground and they are on its back and can’t climb? This just happened to me😢 also I have 2 tiny Pupas that have been hanging all black for over 48 hours. Will they not make it. This was my 2nd batch of Monarchs in 4 weeks. I’m still learning. I’m in south Florida in cutler Bay. Thank You.

[@natureatyourdoor]

If they fall to ground and don't hav3 a way to climb up before wings dry....they are not going to make it. There is a disease where the chrysalis turn black and die. See if there is not some brown mixed in...sign of disease. I healthy chrysalis will turn black thevday of emergence but you will be able to see orange too from wings if healthy

[@natureatyourdoor]

Have you seen my monarch playlist? Here is video I did on diseases kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIG9qX1veZh4fac

[@dorothyharrington7791]

I live in Brevard County, Fla. Do Fla monarchs migrate to Mexico?

[@natureatyourdoor]

Good question. I believe some are florida residents.

[@KnotyerbizKut]

I wish I could post a picture, but a caterpillar crawled from a potted butterfly flower I had inside, to cacoon itself dangling directly above my dogs food bowl, I didn’t know what to do so I just…finagled my butterfly “cage” up and around it…it’s days, if not hours away now from coming out…I’m nervous cause I have to leave in a few hours! Help!

[@natureatyourdoor]

You can move the chrysalis!

[@KnotyerbizKut]

@@natureatyourdoor well…so he came out…but fell from hanging upside down, I tried very hard to get him to try and hang onto something new, I don’t think his wings formed right though cause he’s still just inside the net cage

[@amandastakeonit7402]

🐛🦋

[@natureatyourdoor]

🐛

[@beccilee9344]

Some of your information is not true. I live in Ventura and this is my second year I’m not gonna say raising because I just really feed them but I have raised a few and released them and because I live in Ventura or Monarch butterflies fly to Pismo Beach to the central coast. They don’t go to Mexico because we have warmer climates here in California.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Yes...east of rockies goes to Mexico...population west of Rockies goes south...pacific Grove is another well known west coast monarch roost.

[@daniellejeanette]

His information is accurate. Most monarchs do make the migration to Mexico. The majority. But some stay in California, some stay in Arizona where I'm at, and there's a group that stay in Florida too. He didn't mention all the places they go but he did not give wrong info either.

[@chantedavis7755]

My teacher has a lot more butter flies

[@natureatyourdoor]

When I was a classroom teacher we raised as many as 500 a year! Who is your teacher ...does she share on social media that I could support and go see!