Raising Monarchs - Fallen J-Hanger (Help The Monarch Butterfly)

When caterpillars choose a location to form the chrysalis, some things can go wrong. Past episodes have shown how to relocate a J-hanging caterpillar, or even re-hang a fallen chrysalis. But what if the J-hanging caterpillar should fall before forming a chrysalis? What then? Is it an issue that needs to be dealt with, and what are some options? This was a "chance occurrence" episode, so to speak, filmed on the spot having found myself in this exact situation. Spoiler: All worked well, and he's already been released as a healthy, migrating adult!
Mentioned in this episode:
Chrysalis Repair - • Raising Monarchs - Chr...
Eclose Without Hanging - • Raising Monarchs - Ecl...
Side J-Hang Relocation - • Raising Monarchs - Sid...
Start here!
Raising Monarchs Instructional Video Series Parts 1 - 5:
• Raising Monarchs Part ...
Milkweed Instructional Video Series Parts 1 - 4:
• Planting Milkweed Part...
I have different uses for milkweed. Some are for caterpillar food. Some for seeds. This is some food for thought if you're getting into this long term.
"Milkweed Categories" - • Raising Monarchs - Mil...
Quick Tip for getting seedlings started:
"TP Core Sprouts" - • Raising Monarchs - TP ...
Sanitation instruction:
"Sanitation" - • Raising Monarchs - San...
Risks of overcrowding and tips to avoid it:
"Overcrowding" - • Raising Monarchs - Ove...
Outdoor rearing example:
"Outdoor Rearing" - • Raising Monarchs - Out...
Discussion of the outdoor rearing University of Chicago study:
"Captive Rearing And Migration" - • Raising Monarchs - Cap...
Issues that can occur with the chrysalis:
"Chrysalis Issues" - • Raising Monarchs - Chr...
How to bleach treat eggs:
"OE Parasite Prevention" - • Raising Monarchs - OE ...
How to bleach treat leaves:
"Preventing NPV and Other Infections" - • Raising Monarchs - Pre...
How to make a proper honey/water solution and feed adult Monarchs (or any butterfly):
"How To Feed Adults" - • Raising Monarchs - How...
Options for when an adult can not successfully fly:
"When Adults Can't Fly" - • Raising Monarchs - Whe...
What the experts have to say about OE Parasites and when to euthanize:
"Should We Euthanize?" - • Raising Monarchs - Sho...
Discussion on the life cycle of OE Parasites and how they affect the Monarch Butterflies:
"What Are OE Parasites?" - • Raising Monarchs - Wha...

[@drawingdandy]

This season I had an Eastern Black Swallowtail fall off his stick as he was forming his chrysalis; I watched helplessly as he writhed on the bottom of the enclosure but he successfully formed his chrysalis! I tried glue to stick him back on once it hardened but it fell off again, so I just placed the chrysalis on a paper towel and two weeks later he successfully emerged and climbed up the same stick on his own. I was so stressed out about the whole ordeal, lol. Great job helping the monarch! :-)

[@SBOK41]

Thank you for sticking with him & giving him a chance ❤

[@MrLundScience]

My mother-in-law was recently showing me her photos of an ESB caterpillar that was hunting down a good spot between some bricks to form the chrysalis. They're such a fun, cool species!

[@lindagibb5672]

Thank you for being back to us, missed you❣️

[@MrLundScience]

I don't ever see myself not doing this. I'm a long haul kinda guy. Life throws curve balls sometimes, though. So, if I'm ever absent, I'll be back. (No absent plans in the near future...but I didn't plan the recent one either!) At any rate, feels great to be hearing from everyone again.

[@zachcarney3910]

Ended my year with 35 successful releases. Thanks for the videos!

[@SBOK41]

Wow!! 😊

[@jangardner405]

Hello, Mr. Lund Science. I'm glad to see you're back! I started watching your videos five years ago and started raising monarchs four years ago and this is my forth summer. Again, I learned something new that I did not know. I never thought of this and this is important. I learned everything from your videos. Thank you so much!

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings Jan! Congratulations on your fourth summer! If you were not warned, it is addictive, but four years deep, you may have realized such. I hope this season has treated you kindly, as the migration begins!

[@TheKiAentoKiDaCe]

It’s a living breathing thing. Glue can clog the spiricals, making them unable to exchange oxygen, contain toxins that can cause issues and hot glue is hot and can burn, even on the lowest setting and can be hard to get just a dab. Too many unknown possible toxins, if you look at the packaging of super glue it says to use in a well-ventilated area. Glue can also plug the spiracles making oxygen exchange difficult, if not impossible. And if the cremaster is too short you risk damaging the chrysalis or death. Pieces of microfiber cloths are your best friend in cases like this, or a qtip.

[@MrLundScience]

I don't disagree with what is being stated here, but am confused in that it is describing a situation that is significantly different than the one involved here. In this specific case, there was still silk to work with and adhere to. In cases where the cremaster is exposed and no silk is present, this would not be attempted. What is presented here is one option, which has risks. Microfiber cloths or q-tip methods are also options, which come with other risks. Depending upon the individual, one option may be more accessible than another. If other viable options exist in such situations, this is certainly a place where a link to a video showing the procedure (or other website) may be provided, and as it's for the health of the Monarchs, I'm always a fan of options.

[@218America218]

Wow!!! This was amazing, Rich. And what timing!!! You are brave! You saved that little guy! 🎉🦋 (I was getting anxious during his wiggle dance lol.) Thank you for making this video, and thank you for all your videos, which, by the way, are excellent. Fantastic video-making skills! You are also a very good educator. I have learned so much from you. You have been my primary source of guidance in raising monarch butterflies, which I started four years ago (but I’ve only done it for three seasons, having taken last year off due to my daughter’s wedding…I’m old enough to be your mother lol). So in three seasons of raising monarch butterflies, my total number is about 70, not a whole lot, but my husband tells me that we are making a difference. I’m growing milkweed, spreading the word, educating others. This season, I raised a total of 16 cats from eggs on my milkweed…all super generation, released 14 over the last two days, 2 are still in pupae stage. Thank you, Rich, for all you do. When people tell me that they want to do what I do, I refer them to your videos, they are the best source of information on how to raise monarch butterflies. Sir, you are a legend; not sure if you realize the difference you are making in this world. God bless you and your family. With admiration & respect, from Greenwood, Indiana. 🦋

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings to you! Those are strong words of compliment, and humbling. I'll take them to heart. The information that is out there would be nothing, though, without the efforts of citizen scientists such as yourself. The number one way to help out the Monarch is to re-establish habitat and plant milkweed, and it sounds like you've become an ambassador at it already! Bravo to you, and for the time and effort you have put into this!

[@lindagibb5672]

What she said 👌 👍

[@Chopperdoll]

That’s incredible! I had 28 caterpillars and something killed 14 in 1 night. Now I’ve had flies lay eggs on some. 😢 Next year I’m growing my milkweed inside an enclosure from seed. We will have a large enclosure surrounding the small enclosures. Last year I raised 192 butterflies. This year I wanted to let them thrive naturally and it was a fail. It’s stressful but worth it.

[@neonraindrop8357]

Coincidentally this actually happened to me for the first time this summer luckily, the silk patch was still attached to the enclosure and I was able to use the hooks of the back legs to help it hang.

[@MrLundScience]

Having the silk patch in the case shown in this video definitely helped out. If it were missing, to my knowledge, the cremaster would be an opening for the chrysalis, and thus, bacteria or chemicals applied there (such as glue) could enter in. Cool to hear of your ingenuity in tackling this problem you also encountered!

[@Dobviews]

Yay! Missed you! Released 32 monarchs all OE neg!

[@MrLundScience]

That's fantastic! Thank you for putting in the time and effort to steward them into adulthood!

[@Dobviews]

@@MrLundScience Thanks to your videos filled with detailed knowledge I have learned how to keep my little flutterbies healthy and it has become a new hobby every year! *Thank you so much!* You made a huge impression on me and since 2020 I have released almost 100 flutterbies! *Stay curious!* .🐛🦋

[@MrLundScience]

Stay curious, indeed! Well said! If I have left impressions, I am humbled and thank you. I suppose I'm just trying to pass on the deep impressions others gave to me.

[@Dobviews]

@@MrLundScience *"It worked!"* 🤓😁😁😁😁

[@susansmith6680]

I love the excitement in your voice with the success of hanging of the caterpillar. With your videos I have helped several re-hang.

[@MrLundScience]

Thank you Susan! It was a heart-pounding, exciting, nerve wracking video to make! A roller-coaster, in a way!

[@EatSimpleFoods]

That was amazing timing! Thanks for showing us how to dive in to helping a fallen j shape.

[@CathyAhner-hf8mf]

Mr. Lund… instead of using any kind of glue that contains toxins please try using the sap from the milkweed itself. It is a natural latex, nontoxic and adheres just like chemical glue. It may not dry as fast as superglue but it dries faster that regular (Elmer’s) glue. It definitely works as I have used it successfully many times. It is just as effective and most definitely safer! I would be more than happy to provide/send you examples. I recommend/urge you to try it.

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings Cathy! I must say, the use of milkweed sap as a material for adhering is an incredibly intriguing idea that I had not considered. The materials scientist in me wants to do some strength tests, but if it holds well (as I suspect it would), this could be quite the viable option for rehanging when time permits the drying. As you point out, though, the sap would take some time to dry, likely longer than the 3 minutes or so that I had to work with, and as the video shows, I didn't have really any seconds to spare. Concerning the risks associated with glue, I would agree, they certainly exist. Care and caution should be used in abundance, as I attempt to show in this video. The very small amount of glue used, the viscosity of the glue chosen (ensuring it was gel), and the location it was placed were all important, and, I hope, given the adequate amount of attention. While I do not hope for the need to re-hang a chrysalis or J-hanger anytime soon, the next time it happens and there's enough time for drying purposes, I think I'll be ready to give milkweed sap a try. Thank you, kindly, for the recommendation, and I hope your summer season has gone well!

[@CathyAhner-hf8mf]

@@MrLundScience You’re most welcome for the tip. I’d be happy to send you some pics if you’d like to see how well it has worked for me. I completely understand the time constraint you were under and sometimes we do what we need to. I just don’t want people to get the wrong impression and grab regular glue when there is another safe and viable option. My season is going well… thank you for asking! All releases thus far have been OE negative! Happy Monarching!😊

[@SBOK41]

Mr Lund, Thank you for this amazing video. I'm starting Spring, in New Zealand, with another plan of attack in my toolbelt for a monarch crisis 😊 No matter how many times I see the dance, I have to watch it all the way through & I'm equally amazed everytime 😊 I really think this little one gave an extra few shakes! I was on the edge of my seat 😂 Congratulations on another success.

[@MrLundScience]

Yes, I don't know if it comes through on the video, but it was nerve wracking for me during the wiggle test of the attachment. I was on the edge of my seat I was no longer sitting in!

[@SBOK41]

@@MrLundScience 😄 No you sounded cool, calm & collected.

[@saulreyes7760]

Hi Rich. Greetings from Guatemala. First I gotta say THANK YOU! For all the things you help us with by showing your experience on these videos. I've learned a lot from a few people here in KZbin but mostly from you. My success rate from my last batch of 43 monarchs was 100%... Happy, really happy days.

[@SBOK41]

That's amazing! 😊

[@Debbiesnc]

Thanks so much, saw this today while seeking help from you here after something similar to this happened just last night and voila: there you are. Some would call it a coincidence though I don’t think there is such a thing as a coincidence. These happen often in my life, when “seek and ye shall find” bears truth. So last evening I discovered that one cat J’ing had fallen, and unfortunately was apparently mid-way or freshly through the transformation, i.e. alot of green, but “smushed” from the fall. I instinctively gently lifted her by the tiny end and cremaster without breaking that piece……I held her, gently swirled her for many minutes, and realized that she had probably fully achieved the stage, and thus her soft body had suffered damage from the fall in the next critical stage whereby it takes hours for it to be hardened. I didn’t give up, found a tiny clip like you have used on the MB clothesline seeing that I could thread a necklace-chain through the top in order to allow it to hang freely. I’m one of your longtime fans since I first learned everything to this day on how to help monarchs 5 ? years ago. Thanks so much for saying that you believe in giving a chrysalis a chance. I’ve shared that and used it myself to wonderful results. She just may make it, and though a bit warped-looking today I am seeing what is possibly only cosmetic exterior damage and she also appears to have more developed interior formation. Let us know please how she fares and if the glue turns out to be a safe technique….I would have tried it had I thought of doing that or better yet been able to have someone help me hold her while pulling up your youtube! Best regards❤

[@alexstrouse6333]

I had a j-hanger fell and i didn’t know what to do. I tried putting the caterpillar back up, but it didn’t make it. I wish i had this video for reference. I had a successful monarch a couple of days ago, absolutely beautiful, wings were perfect. After three failed attempts, i had success.

[@MrLundScience]

I'm sorry that happened, Alex. I feel for you, for sure. This video was one of those "chance occurrence" videos where, you don't hope such a situation arises, but because it did, it was a chance to test out the idea/procedure. In other words, "unscheduled" for sure! Congratulations on your reared adult! That must have been an awesome experience!

[@ursulareeg1171]

Are the very best. Excellent close-up. Bravo to you! Missed you.

[@MrLundScience]

Thank you, I appreciate that! The camera pressure was on, as I knew it'd be happening soon. I didn't know it'd happen that soon after hanging. It was intense!

[@lindafreeman1687]

Very interesting. I actually had this happen two days ago but did not have any of the webbing to glue to. Unfortunately it didn't make it. I tried to glue to that little black thing ( not sure what you call it) but as soon as I touched it with the glue it died. 😥 I guess the chemicals in the glue entered it's body through that little black thing. Hope you can come up with a way to save them when this happens. I have 16 chrysalis, 2 - J hanging, one wondering and at least 30/40 that I'm feeding so far this year. I have released 8 so far.

[@Dobviews]

I used dental floss and tied it tight. Worked great, might be of help to you in future.

[@SBOK41]

I'm sorry you lost him. Think you're wonderful for doing your best to help him ❤

[@MrLundScience]

There have been times in my experience when a chrysalis (never the J-hanger, though) has become unattached in a way that had the stem (cremaster) fully exposed. In those times, the chrysalis did not make it. Without the silk to "plug it up", the opening can let in bacteria, or other nasties. So, yes, I sympathize. When this situation happens again to me, it'll be a chance to find a solution, and I have a few ideas, but nothing concrete yet. I'll have to wait for the situation to arise, though, so it's not one that I'm exactly hoping happens, right? ;-) I'm sorry that you did experience this. It can be heartbreaking when an attempt at rescue can go wrong.

[@BflyMom_212]

Bravo 👏 👏 👏!!! I'm so glad you did this video! I have tried to save One that fell outside last year, but it didn't have any silk to rehang it. Sadly it died. I keep All your videos on My KZbin Playlist and often go back and watch them or refer Other's to watch your Channel. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful miracle with Us! Butterflies and Blue skies! 🦋 ✌️

[@MrLundScience]

Thank you, Bev. Your kind words are well taken, and mean a lot. Much appreciated. Thank you for all that you do for these awesome Monarchs!

[@colonelstunts4885]

yayy! always glad to have a video to reference in case I ever see it. Thanks, you've been a huge help for me this year!

[@MrLundScience]

I sincerely appreciate that very much. Happy to help! Thank you!

[@happiersoul]

My only chrysalis out of 9 hatched today in northern NH. The rest of them turned black almost immediately after forming. They were all outdoors. I have never seen that before, but it was incredibly sad. I also saw a hummingbird attack a Monarch today, which I have also never seen. So many challenges for such a magnificent species. Thanks for your amazing videos!!

[@MrLundScience]

Ouch...that many chrysalides turning dark must have been a blow. I'm sorry that you experienced such. Many challenges, indeed. Perhaps the hummingbird attack was over territory. The nectar is becoming more scarce each day as autumn approaches!

[@chantalfibrohope]

Thank you! Very helpful video.

[@MrLundScience]

Much appreciated. I'm happy to help, when and where I can. Thank you.

[@tinay.weaver5766]

Wow, perfect timing on the fixing. Today I finally spotted a bunch of cats on the milkweed. I was a bit worried that we wouldn't have any this year in NH. Been very wet summer.

WELL DONE!

[@elizabree1083]

ive raised a monarch before! multipule acctully :) they let me hold them after they hatched!!!

[@MrLundScience]

Hey hey, very cool! Sounds like an awesome present to commemorate the experience!

[@sennstrato7281]

I've had a record 11 monarchs on my flowers today.

[@MrLundScience]

Yowza, that's awesome! It's tough for me to make the call at my latitude if the Monarchs (not many, but occasional) that I'm seeing were just already here, or of they have come from the north. Once we're in the second week of September, it's a safer bet that they are migratory. Cool visitation from them either way!

[@sennstrato7281]

@@MrLundScience I'm having a good year for butterflies of all kinds. And all the different kind of bee's and wasps. Hummingbirds are going crazy. Plus I planted more native flowers this year. And about 20 milkweed plants and more on the way. This has been our 3rd year in a row of drought conditions, Minnesota...

[@ummm8511]

I have learned so much from your videos❤

[@lesliekellogg9687]

Great job. I have also used dental floss to rehang a fallen J hanger.

[@debraaurandt4228]

Beautiful

[@MrLundScience]

Many thanks! ;-)

[@mattschwab5143]

You are awesome.

[@glenn8287]

Wow, man. Just an amazing video. Saved a life!

[@MrLundScience]

Much appreciated. It was intense!

[@julie-nm6lv]

This year I had a stinker caterpillat attatched him self to anothers silk they both fell there was enough silk between the two of them I hung one through a hair tie so that on was on either side one higher one lower then used a saftey pin to pin them to the top of there cage so one is in a J the other is in crysalis they seem to be fine fingers crossed for a safe hatch, Thanks for your video and ideas have to be ready to trouble shoot in any situation and work with what you have on hand

[@Dcvmnaturalist]

Mr. Lund - have a look into what Cellular Tracking Technologies is doing in Cape May, NJ. They just invented tiny solar powered transmitters for monarchs. I attended a demonstration and it’s fascinating. Thought you might like to know.

[@Liannabelle8]

Glue is incredibly dangerous and, as some comments make clear, can easily kill the monarch. If you absolutely have to pick them up in this condition, a fluffed up qtip or microfiber cloth are more than enough to pick the dude up without glue or toxic chemicals. Sorry, Mr. Lund , this suggestion is going to cause a lot of fatalities.

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings Liane. I wish to be clear: In no way do I mind being criticized or questioned, as that is vital and healthy to science, and I certainly hope, we're all in it for the health of the Monarchs. At the same time, I wish to offer the advice that vague criticism that doesn't get into the details of improvement do not offer much help. If help isn't being offered, then what is the purpose of the criticism other than to insult? I don't wish to assume insult is intended, but if the intention is to be constructive, more details are needed, or insulting is how it comes across. In a recent comment you provided on the "BTS - My Relocation" video, I was accused of holding adult Monarchs in a "dangerous" way in past videos. I asked you for clarification on this, for you had not provided any details, only the accusatory word. I'm still left confused, as I hold the Monarchs the same way that is used for the tagging of Monarchs, which is a method Monarch Watch uses as well. If you choose to reply to this, I ask that your reply begin with addressing this. Please go into the details as to how my method of holding adult Monarchs is dangerous so that it may be discussed in a rational, civil manner. Concerning glue and its dangers, are there risks involved in the procedure I perform in this video? Yes. I would ask you to point out any portion or procedure involved in the rearing of wild sourced Monarchs that does not include risk. Can glue (or other chemicals) have a fatal affect on the chrysalis? Yes. You allude to comments that testify to this. At the time of this comment, I wish to point out that the two comments that you could be referring to also state that there was no silk left on the cremaster. This is a significant difference to the situation shown in this video. I do not show in this video, nor in any of my videos placing glue onto an open cremaster. What I have shown in this video is one option for rehanging a J-hanging caterpillar, by adhering a very small amount of glue (to minimize risk) to the remaining silk tip. If you wish to critique this procedure, fell free, but I ask that you critique the procedure that I have shown, not one that I have not shown, nor would show. This option is a viable one, as evidenced by the successful adult that already emerged. Are there risks to this procedure and ways to do it wrong? Yes. But that is true of every procedure. There are none that are without risk. I'm a huge fan of options. And again, as this is all for the health of the Monarch, any healthy options that can be used in the place of glue, I'm open to, and such links can be provided here. I would encourage such, as many can learn from them. You refer to a "fluffed up qtip" option or a "microfiber cloth" option, but have not provided the details as to what specific procedure you mean. This doesn't give myself or anyone reading this the chance to review the alternatives you are recommending. I'm aware of some procedures on the subject, and depending upon the method being used, some are very viable, and some are not. I'm also aware of some who rear Monarchs who also have disabilities that prevent them from using such methods, and for those people, this glue option is more accessible. But again, I don't know if the methods I'm thinking of are the methods you are referring to, as you have neither described them in detail, nor provided a source that does. I await a detailed procedure on how to use q-tips or microfiber cloth to solve this problem that is both risk free, and someone with Parkinson's can easily achieve. Ever Forward Rich Lund

[@Liannabelle8]

​@@MrLundScience​ I did provide you with the appropriate information regarding holding monarchs. A link from a group of scientists tracking OE across North America with appropriate information about holding and testing. While it may be a method that you've successfully used for years, that doesn't mean is the best way. The available information has evolved over the past few years. The notion that they need people to interfere and raise them in order to save them is of the past as per that information, just as an example. I've seen hobbyists use glue on silk or cremasters an inadvertently kill a monarch. Using a qtip or microfiber cloth is as simple as touching the tip, gently, and relocating. The cremaster will grip immediately and firmly to both of those materials. This can be done by anyone. I'm not sure how super glue is more accessible than a cloth or qtip, which most people already have in their homes. This doesn't require any dexterity or risky practices as it's just a matter of touching the rear of the caterpillar or tip of the cremaster to the cloth or qtip. I'm well aware that there is risk in interfering with them but anyone with a large platform should be providing the proper information to the people wanting to learn and minimize the risks. The critique is that far too many will see this and think it's a perfectly acceptable option regardless of where they put glue on the end. The chance of blocking the caterpillars spiracles or sealing the chrysalis shut if it's a fallen chrysalis someone's working with is far too great when there are other easy options.

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings Liane, You state that you did provide me with a link to some information on the correct holding of adult Monarchs. There was no link in the comment on the "BTS - My Relocation" video, and there is no link in any of this comment thread. If this is an important issue to you, please provide the link here and others, including myself may review it. For the second time, you have not answered the question, so I'm asking a third time, and very straightforward way: What about the method for holding adult Monarchs that I show is "dangerous"? Dangerous is a very strong word. You chose to use it. I ask that you stand by what you said and provide an explanation. Having requested this twice already, if you choose a third time to not put to words why my method is "dangerous", I'm forced to assume it is because you can not. "While it may be a method that you've successfully used for years, that doesn't mean is the best way." I have never stated that I have shown the "best" way to hold a Monarch Butterfly, nor the "best" way to do anything. "Best" is a subjective term, and "Not the best" is subjective as well. Both are a far cry from "dangerous" as you originally described it. "The notion that they need people to interfere and raise them in order to save them is of the past as per that information, just as an example." In 2014, at the end of Raising Monarchs Part 1, the very first Raising Monarchs video I made, I point out at the end that the raising of Monarchs means nothing if they don't come back to more milkweed the next season. I have never stated that we need to be rearing the Monarchs in order to save them. I have often stated that the way to help the population is through the planting of milkweed in order to restore habitat. Having read your procedure for using microcloth a qtip, am I correct in understanding that you are claiming, touching a qtip to a cremaster will allow it to adhere to the q-tip secure enough that as a J-hanging caterpillar is molting the skin and wiggling, it will be secure and does not have a significant risk of detachment? Many questions may still arise - How gentle is "gentle"? Do you need to fluff out the qtip first or not? If so, how much? Is it guaranteed to not fall, or is there still a risk of falling? And if someone attempts to perform the procedure you offer in your reply, and in doing so, something goes wrong because they deviate from your procedure, are you responsible for that Monarch fatality? (Please keep in mind, that is what you are choosing to put on me.) "I'm well aware that there is risk in interfering with them but anyone with a large platform should be providing the proper information to the people wanting to learn and minimize the risks." Here is a video that provides information for people wanting to learn an effective option for securing a J-hanging caterpillar within 2 minutes and 40 seconds. I showed a procedure that, if followed correctly and not deviated from, is effective and has minimized the risks. If your opinion is that this is improper, I will take your opinion into consideration and give it the weight it deserves. "The critique is that far too many will see this and think it's a perfectly acceptable option regardless of where they put glue on the end." So your critique boils down to, don't show people a way to do something because we shouldn't trust them to be able to do it correctly? I'm sorry, but I'm not of that opinion. I prefer to equip people with information and trust that they are intelligent enough to make their own informed decisions with it. If you choose to offer a reply, I do hope that we are able to find some common ground, but I will remind, if it doesn't include a specific answer as to how my method of holding adult Monarchs is "dangerous", I will not be offering it any of my time.

[@Liannabelle8]

@@MrLundScience I've attempted to offer 4 replies that are either being deleted or not posting for whatever reason. There can't be a conversation with this going on. 4 comments, 3 with the appropriate link and one without a link, none show up here moments after posting them. I'm not the only one who's offered criticism but I am the only one you've demanded "detailed procedures" from. That's very interesting, to me. The Monarch Parasites website that I keep trying to link is easily accessible online. It shows what's done wrong with how you hold them. I won't attempt again to comment. I've tried for days with each attempt not showing up on your video after I've hit the reply button.

[@Factfiles1001]

All sweet a new video yippee 👏

[@MrLundScience]

Thanks! Much appreciated!

[@Factfiles1001]

@@MrLundScience yes ya so I had a monarch and it layed eggs in clumps upside down and the monarch look pretty bad and it looked to have oe or so what should I do the eggs are covered in black dots

[@Factfiles1001]

The eggs look badly infected and I’m not bringing them In. I’m raising monarchs right now

[@donnathompson1619]

the cremaster has to bore into the silk to secure itself. So if we glue the silk to the paper towel, what does it have to bore into? All of the ones I have had fall never have any silk attached to the rear prolegs.

[@SBOK41]

Mr Lund, I don't know if you remember me.. but I had a conversation with you about this very thing a while back. I came back to rewatch to refresh my memory 👍 I wanted to fill you in on my experience tonight. I had a J hanger in my butterfly house & realised it had fallen. Unfortunately, unlike this video, there was no silk attached. So I carefully rotated in the palms of my hands while he undressed. He needed a tiny bit of help at the end, with tweezers. Then I held the little black end as soon as it appeared. What I've noticed is that when you're holding this, they don't do their jiggling as much. They seem to have sensation in that part & know their process is being interfered with (just my personal opinion anyway). Once the jiggling settled, my partner applied a little glue to some cardboard & I held it in place for a few minutes. It stuck & he is hardening & looking better & better each time I check 😊 So, so far so good. Healthy, even shaped chrysalis. If there's no bit of silk button, the hand rotation can be done successfully! 😊

[@SBOK41]

Update - He's perfectly formed now 😊😊

[@SBOK41]

Further update.. he's flown away ❤

[@kaynucklehead1633]

Hello and thank you for your wonderful videos! I have a question. In a video in the background is what looks like a Monarch nectar filling stations in a row hanging across your covered patio area. Reminds me of a Quick Trip and all the gas ports for cars. Is that something you made and can I ask you to share how to make one? Thanks!

[@mythicgamingmk1105]

Mr Lund if there is a j hanger that has fallen and it is to late what do you do

[@SBOK41]

Mr Lund, Here's an idea for a future monarch video.. I have just brought inside two J hangers.. both are young.. under 2cm. Nowhere near ready!! I've had this happen a couple of times in the past seasons. The chrysalis just dies or they die before forming it. It's the second week of summer here in New Zealand. Upset due to seasonal change maybe? Just a bit of info on how I raise mine.. I had issues with disease outbreaks in my butterfly castle, so I've created a large monarch garden in my yard where I regularly wipe the plants with the bleach solution & bleach the eggs. I fight away predators as much possible. I only bring the J hangers into captivity.. & the eggs, until they hatch. Any thoughts on what the cause could be?

[@lic.natachalanche8274]

Oh genial!!

[@marydiscuillo142]

I just read an interesting article from the xerces society on the possible downsides of captive raising monarchs. It was a n awakening for me and kind of went against everything I've been doing for the last several years. Since you have devoted so much of your time to this, I would love your opinion on this. If you look up the xerces society/why monarchs should not be captive raised. I hope you find this, look it up, and let me know. Perhaps you can give me the alternative side of all this. Thank you!

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings Mary. I'm not certain as to which article you read, but the one I find from June 2023 is here: www.xerces.org/blog/keep-monarchs-wild In that article, they offer tips and suggestions for how to rear captive Monarchs responsibly. They also state "Because rearing a butterfly in captivity enables people to share in the amazing transformation from a caterpillar to winged adult, it deserves a place in the future of monarch education and research efforts. However, we need to approach it thoughtfully and responsibly." The article continues from there to bring up valid risks that should be considered and minimized, and for those who rear Monarchs to understand, increasing the population without increasing habitat (planting milkweed) doesn't address the problem, and that habitat restoration is. In short, if you are making sure to keep sanitation in mind and aren't taking on more mouths than can be responsibly housed and fed, you need not worry and can continue to enjoy a very rewarding hobby. I hope this helps!

[@marydiscuillo142]

@@MrLundScience Thank you Rich. It sounded like the same article, will have to confirm date . I do, however, appreciate knowing I am not doing harm to my wild jewels. I plant plenty of milkweed, so that's not a problem! Thank you for the advice on looking for oe. I had a deformed monarch ( first one ever) that died shortly after 'birth' so I did a tape impression and looked under a microscope. No doubt, full of oe. Very sad My neighbor up the way has 20 ish tropical mw plants . After much pleading she cut it to the base. Do you think if she does that every spring it will be ok? We live in So Cal. so it doesn't die back. Ps I had a crystallis in a cage that fell, and I found on bottom Though a bit compressed, I rehung and she did fly off as usual. Thanks again for the reassurances. If I find a diff article I will let you know 🦋🦋

[@Crazyferretlady-in5sd]

Will the monarch use giant milkweed 😮🧐

[@RosyandHerButterflies]

I know you posted the "encouraged egg laying" video years ago. But I would like to ask you why you posted such a video while also speaking against captive rearing and overcrowding of monarch butterflies? Encouraged egg laying brings more Monarchs to you as an individual yes, but the release of all those Monarchs leads to overpopulation. Also having all those Monarchs in one enclosure is overcrowding.

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings Rosy. I'm slightly confused and I think there may be some misconceptions about me mentioned here. No harm, no foul. Misconceptions are certainly things that can occur. Please allow me to try and clarify things a bit. I do not speak out against captive rearing. If we are defining "captive rearing" as finding wild sourced eggs, taking them into controlled environments, rearing them until adults, and then releasing as adults back to the wild, I definitely don't speak out against it. That is precisely what the entire series is about. I do try to advocate for maintaining the health of the animal at all times, should someone choose to do this. This would include (but is not limited to) not overcrowding during a rearing process, maintaining sanitation, and for late season Monarchs, ensuring that they receive enough outdoor environmental cues to participate in the migration. In the "Encouraged Egg Laying" video, I show a method for encouraging a wild sourced female to lay eggs on a particular milkweed plant. The number she laid, I was not expecting, and others may learn from my experience. If memory serves me, I think it was 95 eggs in total. Since then, I've used the same procedure just a couple of times, and both times, with far less time spent with the milkweed, about 20 eggs were laid. I consider this still a viable option, particularly in cases where teachers and other educators have Monarch programs and wish to bring Monarchs into the classroom without going the option of paying a company that breeds Monarchs (which there are responsible, and irresponsible ways to do). In the situation of undertaking 95 eggs all at once, I have no qualms admitting, it was a LOT of work. Having time in the summer as a teacher, I was able to rear them without losing any quality of health, but certainly, that does not mean everyone has such time. In Monarch rearing, the individual needs to take responsibility for doing their best to only take in as many Monarchs as they are confident they have the resources to provide a quality environment for. The 95 or so that were shown in that video were not housed in the same containers, but many (many) separate ones. I would easily agree, 95 all kept in the same container would be beyond overcrowding. It'd be inviting problems and injuries. One last note...I'm not sure what was meant when you mentioned "overpopulation". Since the 1990's, we've lost 90% or so of the North American migratory populations. If your use of the word is to point out that having a larger population of Monarchs than a prior year, but even less milkweed to come back to the next season is not a solution, but a further stress on the population's limited resources, I would fully agree. The overarching goal is to plant milkweed and restore the Monarch's habitat, which many videos in the series focus on. I hope that this clears some things up. I know it was long, so I certainly appreciate what time you (or others) take the time to read it. Thank you for caring about this awesome species!

[@Ashley-lx9wr]

I had so many more females than males this year! Anyone else have that happen?

[@BflyMom_212]

I've had more Males than Females this year. I'm in Southern California, so I doubt They met up! I released 83 so far this year!

[@worksmarter.notharder.1033]

I released 9 so far and only 1 is male.

[@MrLundScience]

You got me curious, so I counted through my index cards. While my season isn't finished, I've currently released 24 Male and 20 Female. No statistical anomaly from my end. Even so, there will, statistically speaking, be others who will have that happen, and some who will have it happen in the other direction. It can be a case of "small numbers" where even 100 Monarchs isn't a large enough number to still average out to the 50/50 ratio we'd expect. I hope that makes sense. Thank you for your time and efforts with them!

[@Ashley-lx9wr]

@@MrLundScience Makes perfect sense. I'm in Canada so my season just ended today. 20 males, 37 females. I try to only take in eggs from "doomed" milkweed in my area.

[@lamma98]

Me too, so far 29 females and 23 Males. But I still got 10 more (chrysalis + caterpillars) to release, so may even out! - Southern Ontario.