Raising Monarchs - Identifying What Instar (Help The Monarch Butterfly)

So you find a Monarch caterpillar out in nature. What instar is it? How can you tell? There are a variety of different methods to determine the instar stage that the caterpillar is in, and some have more confidence than others. In this video, a technique for determining the instar with high confidence and low error is covered. By the end, you'll have the knowledge needed to immediately recognize in a few seconds what instar any Monarch caterpillar is in.
If you are new to this series, I highly recommend checking out the "core" of Raising Monarchs, Parts 1 - 5, which shows in detail, how I raise Monarchs from egg to adult, and how you can too with essentially zero cost using household items.
Raising Monarchs Instructional Video Series:
• Raising Monarchs Part ...

[@mewrongway]

Wow wish I had found your butterfly series back when you made them! I had no idea the plight of the beautiful Monarch. Now I know what to do with my 25 acres of grassland and retired free time! Thanks and keep us informed!

[@michaelangelo7511]

Great vid . 2023 and still learning from your vid. Top job. Thank you.👍🏻🇺🇸

[@Wirely]

Just wanted to thank you for this. I've been watching the caterpillars in my garden, but I noticed they were disappearing - no doubt, getting eaten - and I decided to bring the last two I could find inside to protect them. I am so glad I did! And your videos have been so helpful for me to really appreciate what they are doing, and to understand what's going on. The smaller of the two caterpillars molted this morning, I think into the 4th instar. It's been so great watching them. Even though I'm many decades past my grade school years, your videos bring me back to my early love of science and observation of the natural world. You remind me of my favorite teachers of my youth. Thank you for sharing your love of science with your videos!

[@MrLundScience]

I appreciate that very much. In my teaching, I've tried to mimic what I saw in my great high school science teachers, but have also been greatly influenced by the teaching styles of Dr. Richard Feynman and Dr. Carl Sagan. Perhaps you had teachers who were inspired by one or both of them as well?

[@Wirely]

@@MrLundScience I'm actually old enough that I used to watch Carl Sagan on PBS when I was a kid. 😁 The science teacher I remember best - he's just one of many- was Jack Troeger (Ames, IA). He was my 9th grade Earth sci teacher, and was simply amazing at telling great stories and stoking a life long curiosity. You remind me a lot of him. Thank you for being out there keeping up his example!

[@joanlalondr8872]

Love your videos very educational I’ve learned so much from you. Thank you so much. I’m raising monarch butterflies for four years and I am from Howell Michigan.

[@originaljazzgirl]

GOD that was the GREAT! I've not found anything on line that is this sure-fire and clear. Thanks so much!!!

[@MrLundScience]

Thanks. To be honest, I was a bit surprised that this method wasn't as often promoted since it doesn't deal with comparisons. Glad that this helped!

[@refriedbean4805]

One of my caterpillars just entered the 4th instar, can’t wait to watch em grow over the next few days!

[@jesscarnes6714]

I just started raising some Monarch caterpillars and was trying to figure out what instar they are in! This video was very helpful 😊

[@jennifercheco2561]

I released 100 monarch butterfly

[@MrLundScience]

Yowza! That's much more than my zero and counting tally. I have yet to find an egg. Soon...soon.

[@rileyfitzpatrick7558]

I have at least 10 not sure yet they are still eggs

[@rayyaanjessani2158]

Wow 100 is a lot

[@emmie-sh9wd]

I only have released 4 ;-; but hey at least it’s something. 3 males, Max, Toddy, and Chris and 1 female, Samantha. Lol

[@qb_designs]

OMGoodness! Just found your videos and LOVE them. I’ve been raising butterflies for several years now (monarchs and others) but have never found a more informational series. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and helping us help the Monarchs!!

[@MrLundScience]

Thanks Bridget! I try to offer those who leave comments the respect of a reply. That way people know that if they have questions, while it might take me a day or two (or more) that I'll get back to them with it. It's frustrating when questions arise and you leave comments on KZbin videos, never to hear anything back. If you just found the channel, perhaps explore some of it. There's many other Science topics here. At home science experiments (for kids, but also for the kid in us adults), along with some other nature vids too. I just started a new series I'm excited about called "Herp Quest" where I talk about reptiles and amphibians, and their conservation. Great to hear that you're already into raising butterflies! I'm sure you'll have some advice to lend in some of the comments sections of the Raising Monarchs series!

[@qb_designs]

MrLundScience - Thank you so much for your response. I totally binge watched your monarch and milkweed series and am starting on the others. Where were you when my kids were younger?!? 😂 I was constantly doing my own experiments with them. Some good, some great lessons of what NOT to do. 😂 But hey, that’s how you learn and I never blew anything up! Will def check out the other series. I’m a knowledge geek so I’m always happy to learn more. And, maybe, like you said, there will be something that tickles the kid in me’s fancy! 🤣 Thank you again, for everything! Can’t wait to learn more!

[@qb_designs]

MrLundScience P.S. No expectations on a timeframe for replies. I appreciate the rapid response, but understand that sometimes that is not may not always be possible. I’m a little OCD (Ok, let’s be honest, can you ever be a “little” OCD??) so I tend to rapid fire questions as I think of them and have time to do so. Any response is greatly appreciate, no matter when it gets back to me! So thankful to have found your videos. Hoping there will be new ones this year!

[@MrLundScience]

Where was I when your kids were younger? As I don't know their ages, nor where you draw the line at "younger", I don't know what to say. Likely, though, still somewhere in Michigan, though I did spend the 2005-2006 school year teaching in France. I originally made the KZbin channel in 2009, just as a way to put Chemistry demos on there in case a kid had been absent, they could still check out the demo. Then, I started to realize that KZbin was a way to get more Science education out there, and increase my sphere of influence, and the influence I wish to provide is certainly the promotion of Science literacy. Thus, it made sense to keep on going and see what I could do if I started taking it seriously. As for new Raising Monarchs vids, one is being processed now. I can almost 100% assure that other than the one currently being processed, there's at least two more coming this summer, but a good chance of even more than that.

[@MrLundScience]

Yeah, I'd love to be able to answer questions asap, but as with many others, there's plenty I also need to attend to in my days. I feel bad in a way when someone is having an emergency with their caterpillars or some similar situation and leaves a comment about their emergency, asking me to reply ASAP, and I don't see the comment for a few days. I feel bad for their situation, but at the same time, it shouldn't be expected that I'm going to be able to always be at the computer, waiting for emergency situations to arise. As long as people understand it might take me a few days to get to their comments, I try my hardest to catch each one and give them the respect of a reply. If they're taking the time to help the Monarchs, I think the least I can do is take the time to answer their questions when and where I can. But yeah, if someone is ever having an emergency situation, they should certainly leave a comment about it, but not stop there. Internet research and finding out if the problem has existed for others and what they've done about it is likely the best strategy.

[@nancyo4428]

Thanks, Mr. Lund - Your videos on monarchs over the past couple of years are providing very helpful advice for beginners like us! It's great you're adding more info this summer. We just spotted a few monarchs in the past week here (early for southwest Ohio.) Then, we saw one female late last week that appeared to be laying eggs on some of our front yard milkweed - which we planted there several years ago, next to a Monarch Way Station sign, to encourage passersby to plant some, too. (It's amazing how many runners we've seen stop to read that sign :) When we checked those plants a few days ago, we found 5 eggs, which we brought indoors to protect from predators. Those 5 all "hatched" yesterday, just in time to show them to our grandkids, Liam, 10, and Caroline, 6. Then, last night as the kids were going home, they and their twin 4-year-old siblings Ellie and Jim, helped us find a tiny 1st instar on the same milkweed plants. We've added #6 to the others now in protective custody on the side porch. We have our fingers crossed that we'll be able to watch all of 'our cats' make the amazing journey from egg to butterfly in the next few weeks. We also plan to check out more of your science videos this summer when all four local grandkids are here for their weekly "NanaPapa day." They're going to love your choice of music - and your unique spin on science will definitely help keep their attention - Nancy and Mike

[@MrLundScience]

Hi Nancy and Mike! Your comment is totally awesome. I can't thank you enough for so much of what you're doing. Not only are you attempting to raise Monarchs and help them out, but you're promoting it in your front yard, showing this to the younger generation and teaching them about conservation, and, finding a use for the other science videos I have here. The first two are awesome for helping the Monarchs, and the third is just my own selfish joy in that those videos can be of use to someone. They're certainly not as popular as the Monarch videos, but I love making them, and if they can inspire even just a few kids into trying experiments at home, they are worth it. I try to make the videos I know the 12 year old version of me would have enjoyed watching. So, thank you for putting them to use. I hope your grandchildren have an excellent Nana Papa day!

[@billiepeach4238]

Thank you for doing these Monarch series! I have 2 eggs that I found 2 days ago. I also found a couple common milkweed plants that were going to be mowed and I transplanted them to my yard, I hope it’s successful! 🤞🏻

[@MrLundScience]

I wish you much luck with your transplanted milkweed. The two times I tried to transplant milkweed, neither survived. That part has been tricky for me, and thus, I've stuck to just growing them from seeds. As I'm not much of a gardener, perhaps you'll have much better luck (ie: you might already have much better skill) than me.

[@billiepeach4238]

MrLundScience I seriously doubt that but thanks for the luck!

[@lisaroye4]

Rich, thank you so much for this explanation! You made it so clear how to tell which instar a cat is in. I am in SW Florida and I think our Monarch season is year-round - LOL. I only recently started raising them and I currently have about 70 cats ranging over all 5 instar stages. I'm trying not to go too crazy on collecting eggs, but if I wanted to I could collect at least 200/day. Anyway, thanks for this series, I have watched most of your videos and really enjoy them!

[@MrLundScience]

So glad that the explanation was clear. That was the goal. Make it easy, and then, we can identify instars in a rapid way. Mere seconds, I hope. Just a glance should tell you once you have the hang of it. Wow, 200 eggs a day is a possibility!? That's pretty awesome. I have yet to find an egg. They're out there, but I have not been able to locate one yet. Soon, I'm sure.

[@debsievert4766]

Lisa Roye wow! That’s amazing!

[@lily1495]

Thanks so much! I found 1 monarch caterpillar on my milkweed plant on our deck/balcony, and I was super intrigued to find out the in-star. It turns out it was the 3rd!

[@AAEMH]

Thank you for such informative videos. Two years ago we planted milkweed, and it's finally thriving, and spreading. In May, I had the opportunity to actually visit a monarch farm, and purchased a plant that already had eggs on it. It only had three, but they all survived and were released last month. We are hoping to attract monarchs with what we have, and we are thinking of getting some caterpillars next year to help give them a boost.

[@MrLundScience]

Hey, thanks for planting the milkweed! That's the number one way to help these guys out: restoring lost habitat.

[@johnifly]

Hey Rich! Your fellow monarch buddy in east-central Pennsylvania here! Found my FIRST monarch egg of the 2018 monarch season on Monday, June 11th in the afternoon down at my monarch waystation #9392 that I have at my brother's place! And unlike what they usually do, the egg was laid on TOP of one of my Common Milkweed leaves!! YIPPEE!!! Two days later it hatched and is now in it's 2nd instar already! Just watched this video on instars and thanks for the GREAT tip!! Keep up the GREAT work and I look forward to sharing your videos with my "Monarchs and Milkweed" group! They ALL love your videos and keep making them because they are SO HELPFUL to the whole group!! Keep in touch! John U. "Monarchs and Milkweed" Group Owner/Adm.! My motto for the group is: "Plant Milkweed!" "They WILL Come!" ;-)

[@MrLundScience]

Hey John, good to hear from you. Glad to hear that you're off to a great start in PA already. Nice also to hear that this video is helpful. I wanted to make an easy, surefire way to recognize the instar at a glance...and I think I did it. We'll see as the season progresses if this indeed works for people. Say hello to your group for me, and please express to them my continued thanks for the efforts that they put in. They are awesome. I know first hand, it's a sacrifice of time and requires much effort and patience, and they should know, that doesn't go unnoticed. It's a labor of love. Perhaps, ask them about some issues they'd like to see covered in the near future. Last year, people were asking a lot about insect pests, so I made a video on that, best I could. Another big one was identifying instars, and thus, this video came from that. I like to try and be responsive. Is there a topic that they are often asking about? I already have some vids planned, and can't guarantee anything, but I'll certainly look to help out where I can if possible. Thanks for the continued support and feedback. It's much appreciated!

[@johnifly]

Thanks for getting back to me Rich! Hope you don't mind me calling you by your first name. We are on the same team together, that's for sure! :-) I thank you for getting back to me and I DO appreciate you always responding to me! I will indeed pass your message onto the group! Keep in touch and I will do the same! ;-) Have a GREAT day! :-)

[@MrLundScience]

Of course you can call me Rich. Some of my students do that too. And I think if people take the time to watch a video and further take the time to comment on it, they deserve a response back, for sure. That's just mutual respect. While I might make some videos about it, we're all on the same page with this. I'm no authority. You and I, we're at the same level. We're both doing what we can to help out the Monarchs.

[@MyIEGarden]

I’m glad you’re making videos again (even though this is an old one) 😂 I finally have the courage to try again. I lost a lot of my caterpillars to tachnid flies, so I’m finding them as eggs and first instars. So far so good! Thanks for the inspiration strike, again!

[@LLopez-sx1jr]

This was so informative! I've usually just looked for them eating the notch in the leaf and eating upside down to know they've reached fifth instar 😂

[@MrLundScience]

Happy to help! Now that I've learned these distinguishing differences, I can't unsee them. Hope this helps!

[@Debbiesnc]

This is a great explanation. I had actually been wondering about this ever since I brought our rescues inside to raise, through watching your videos exclusively. Now I feel confident that I can ID the instar stages, thanks to another informative and accurate scientific video!

[@MrLundScience]

Yeah, I had reviewed multiple sources online, but they often would require measurements. I wanted to find a way that was more qualitative than quantitative so it could be useful in the hands of anyone with or without a ruler in their pocket that goes to millimeters. Glad this could help!

[@gkillcrece1425]

Thanks! These videos have helped me so much. I’m a newbie to this and just have two tiny cats in their 2nd instar. I’m like a brooding mother.

[@lisagentile2]

This was an absolutely fantastic technique. Thank you so much.

[@barbgrajewski9696]

I started growing milkweed about 3-4 years ago, and they've finally taken in my garden, as well as around the neighborhood. This year, I'm raising some monarchs! I currently have a chrysalis, one 5th instar, 2 4th instars and 1 3rd instar. Thanks for your informative videos!

[@MrLundScience]

And thank you, Barb, for taking the time to help out this amazing species!

[@seanpolidori737]

You’re the man. I have an experiment coming up that’ll require accurate identification of these developmental stages. This 100% helped. Thanks!

[@MrLundScience]

Glad I could help. Good luck with your experiment! Science!

[@crazfox3415]

VERY BEST way to tell! Thank you! 3rd vs 4th used to drive me crazy!

[@zbruce04]

Hi Rich! Fascinating about the five instars. I'm a little new to Monarchs and have wanted to know this for a while. We live in Texas and have some interesting challenges (heat, drought, pesky aphids) but I laughed when I heard your accent. You certainly must say to yourself, "Huh? What accent?". That's what I said before moving to Pensacola (lower Alabama) 20 years ago at which point I took so much s**t about my Illinois accent that it was painful (but broke the ice and was actually fun). "Dang! Wherdge Y'all learn to talk like that??? Remember when y'all wont to go home Delta is ready when you are!" Met my Texan Wife in Warrenville. She called my Illinois accent "background noise". I grew up in Arlington Heights and lived in Lansing when working in Whiting. We grow swamp Milkweed here in Friendswood with good luck. Tachnid flies are a problem as well as aphids but not insurmountable. Boiling hot today. We dodged the recent Hurricane. No snow and no -20°f, though.

[@MrLundScience]

Actually, I hear you about the accent. My wife and I speak French and have an interest in languages for sure. I know from my region of Michigan, when I say "for", I often am pronouncing it "fer". Stuff like that. But I'm weird too. My wife hates that I call carbonated beverages "soda" because in Michigan, I guess I'm supposed to say "pop", and yet I don't, and can't really explain why. Maybe it's the chemist in me. I grew up in a family that said "pop", so who knows. As I live in the Lansing area, what areas of Lansing were your stomping grounds? What places do you miss?

[@zbruce04]

@@MrLundScience We'd get drunk at the bowling alley in Calumet City and hung out at a bar across the street from the Ford plant on Torrance Ave. (as well as all the other things that recent College grads do when employed finally). I was working as a technical photographer at the Standard Oil Refinery and Research Center in Whiting. It was during the first "gas crisis" (1973) and I was working about 24 hours a day 7 days a week. We got paid for our overtime so I went from being poor to downright wealthy in one year. Those were the days. Year-round Daylight Savings Time. Since you are a Chemist I have a fun story. I'd mix up a batch of sodium hydroxide to change the PH of one of our photo chemicals. It was tough getting it to dissolve. A chemist buddy explained exo and endothermic reactions. "Get some dry ice and a stainless beaker: You'll be golden". I put the beaker in a stainless pan, dumped in the dry ice and voila! I would do this in the darkroom sink and (when complete and the NaOh solution was bottled) I'd run hot water on the dry ice to form a big cloud of water vapor. It would fill the art department, the darkrooms and the studio. We creative types loved it and my Boss hated it. Win-Win! I transferred to Naperville after a while and had a good long career. Those sorts of jobs are gone forever. I miss the Prairie Path in DuPage County. I could spend all day bicycling and never encounter an automobile. I really don't miss the Winter. Things are pretty calm in my part of Texas.

[@ckwilli8142]

My first ever caterpillar has just started j-hanging and i’m very excited! I had watched this video and thought she(or he) was in the 5th instar but I wasn’t completely sure because I found her when she was already hatched and quite large.

[@chausd2972]

I'm about to start raising Monarchs and I'm so glad to come across your videos. I'm learning so much from you. Thank you for sharing. You're the BEST!

[@BenDover-wu6lu]

Just gonna start this with, I have a butterfly phobia- well, a Monarch Phobia. Started when I was 5 years old, I still have the picture my mom decided to take (instead of helping me escape a viscous monarch attack= 6-8 monarchs swarming me) but I don't think the internet is ready for that. Even after that, no matter where I was, if there was a monarch around, it would try to land on me. (they did the same thing with my dad as well!) Fast forward 27 years - I now have a 5 year old ( a 14 year old too, but she is too cool for me, and nature) after 3 successful years of veggie gardens- 3rd year garden we found caterpillars in our dill, which happen to be black swallowtail-we checked them everyday and one day they were just gone- the birds got them, or they went off to overwinter since it was late in the season (Minnesota) This year, I promised her a butterfly garden- just plant a bunch of dill and hope they come back. They did! I got 3 chubby caterpillars sitting on my dining room table munching on the dill- very cool to see how fast they grow. and as of this week, 6 more eggs on the dill. We also tried to plant milkweed, which did not grow past 2 inches- but it's still out there. Since no milkweed, we have been checking the neighbors milkweed, ONLY when the mama monarch is not around, otherwise I high-tail it into the house, and we had found a monarch caterpillar that was 3rd instar (thanks to your AMAZING videos) we did bring him in, but he died shortly after and we seen the fly larva come out of him- pretty sad, so we decided no more caterpillars (the fly thing happened to a Mourning Cloak caterpillar as well ). If we find caterpillars now, we just wish them luck and check on them everyday. We had yet to find any eggs...until.. July 9th. A monarch kept landing near my bushes in the front yard, landing , flying and landing, flying and landing. This year, I didn't pull weeds out of the rock beds, I wanted to see what would grow, one side I got petunias, sunflowers and 2 tomato plants, so that was cool. other side with the poorly cared for bushes, is where this Monarch butterfly kept landing, she finally left, and a storm came, I went out there in a thunder storm, since I knew she wouldn't be flying around- and seen 2 stalks of milkweed in my crappy front rock bed. I instantly wanted to know why she kept landing over and over - I thought they only laid one egg per plant, maybe 2? She laid 11 eggs!! July 12th, I went out of town- came back the 14th and all 11 hatched. Not sure what day, but yesterday they were all very still for most of the day, then I got to see their heads pop off, and then they shed-and then ate the shedded skin. however this morning, their heads are now all black again? according to your video, after they shed the first time, into the 2nd instar, their heads are no longer solid black. I can see the black, yellow and white stripes on their bodies, under a magnifying glass, and also see the head is completely black..A lot of "internet" sources say each instar is about 1-3 days, (except last instar) and I feel like if they hatched Sunday morning at the latest, they should be 2nd instar by now, and I am actually questioning my sanity because I seen the majority of them all shed and the heads come off lol. And now today they are all actively eating again, but their heads all turned black again. Also, I stupidly anticipated find one egg. and watching it grow, and then release it. Now that I have 11 monarchs, and 9 swallowtails, I am trying to see if t is OK to release them in different locations? We spend most of our summer weekends at the cabin (where the initial monarch attack happened to me as a 5 year old) A few readings, do say release them where you found them as eggs/caterpillars. I plan on bringing all 5th instar and chrysalides with on our weekends away- but just wanted to know your thoughts on releasing them in a different location than which I found them. Sorry this is a lot. thank you for being so knowledgeable and good source. I enjoy watching your videos!! and please, my phobia does not mean I HATE butterflies, I think they are beautiful, I understand and respect their importance to the world, and to my culture (messengers to and from the spirit world- I'm Ojibwe) I just also respect their space, so much that I completely avoid them at all costs. :)

[@MrLundScience]

Naw, worry not. I don't take a phobia as meaning you hate something. With my python, I've met multiple students over the years who are very afraid of my snake when I bring her in, and at the same time, very interested in her. They've told me, they wish they weren't afraid, because they think she's really cool and would love to hold her. They just can't bring themselves to do so. When it comes to second instar, they do have the stripes on the head cap, but it doesn't mean that they will always be a vibrant yellow. This page of Monarch Watch shows the instars, and if you look closely at the 2nd instar, you'll see some faint stripes on the head cap. They can be vibrant, or faint. Just some variation within the species. Here's that page: www.monarchwatch.org/biology/cycle1.htm I think you get some extra kudos in raising and helping out an animal that you have a phobia of. Let nothing stop you!

[@BenDover-wu6lu]

@@MrLundScience thank you for the information!! I now have 9, 5th instar caterpillars, and they EAT. Today is their 3rd day as 5th instars, last night I put 15 milkweed leaves in their container- this morning they had nothing left! I put 8 more leaves in , and 5 hours later, they are almost done with those! I am sad to say that 2 caterpillars died- at the 3rd instar- the lid to the top of their box failed and they all fell onto some plush carpet, but I am assuming the 2 that died, were struck with the container. I still feel so bad that we wont be releasing 11 butterflies, due to me not being more careful. thank you for the response, again. One more thing, the 5th instars, I noticed, when I go to open their cage or put in more milkweed leaves, they ALL do this weird twitching thing, it scared me the first time but now that I realize they only do this when disturbed, I am thinking, (and hoping) its normal?

[@MrLundScience]

@@BenDover-wu6lu Yep. Normal behavior. The twitch, which is like a reverse head-butt is a way of saying, "Stop touching me" or "Get off me".

[@AIDANRASMUSSEN]

Thank you Mr Lund for your helpful videos. I’ve watched a lot of videos trying to figure out how to best take care of my babies, and yours are the ones I always go back to every time. I’ve learned so much!!! Keep making videos!

[@MrLundScience]

Thank you so much, Sarah! As long as I can still be useful to people, and have something useful to share, I'll definitely get in front of the camera and do so. The feedback is most certainly appreciated! Thank *you* for what you are doing to help out the species!

[@lameru32]

I am working on making an animation for someone and had a hard time finding good references for ways I can show stages/changes in a Monarch caterpillar. I found this helpful in my search for references. Thank you!

[@shelby5577]

I am beyond thrilled to have found my first caterpillar walking on my Milkweed which has been in a bucket of water for over 3 weeks in fear that they wouldn't take transplanting :( I've seen all your video's and have learned so much, so thank you for that :) I've filmed him sleeping, saw his molted skin and just filmed him eating some of it, I am just so taken with him I barely leave his side. I am stuck on whether he is the 4th or 5th Instar, but he still seems small and the big difference I've noticed on his recent molt is in the face. This has got to be the most thrilling adventure I've ever been on. I am hoping to go down to the stream that has good amounts of milkweed to find eggs or other cats. Not sure if you check your messages from a year ago but I am hopeful. Thank you so much for all you do with nature and all the time you've put in making these informative video's. I know so much more in the last couple of days having him then I could ever have imagined. Thank you x100 - Karen

[@MrLundScience]

Welcome aboard, Karen! I see all the messages. I have videos set so that messages have to be approved first. It was from back when I wasn't totally sure how KZbin worked, and as a teacher, I didn't want videos my students might look at to have a bunch of f-bombs for them to read in the comments. I've never really encountered much vulgarity in the comments, so I was probably being over cautious. Still, having it set up that way causes all comments to go into a "Held For Review" section of my account, and so they are all there for me to see. So yep...I read them all. And if questions are asked, I reply to them for sure, answering the ones I know, and admitting when I don't. But if I don't know the answer, in most cases, that causes me to want to go find the answer. With 4th vs. 5th instar, the front antennae will be *obviously* long enough to go well past the head if stretched out that way when they are 5th instar. If 4th, they'd just barely make it past the head. So if it isn't obviously a length that would go past the head, it's probably 4th instar.

[@shelby5577]

@@MrLundScience His antenna does reach beyond his head and does touch the ground and they move like feelers (I watched your " Instar video" once I found it). After eating his molt he became very quiet and still and didn't eat anymore. He then went to the top of the container he's in and just rested there and afterwards he went to the middle and started swinging around, but then went back to his corner and stayed put. He is still very small and someone had mentioned that they usually eat again and double their size before going into a chrysalis. This morning I found him back down on some milkweed eating and then taking rest breaks, so I am hoping he is going to get bigger, I am also going to make him a better home with screen put in for him to better enclose in. On another exciting note, while picking some new milkweed I found an egg!!!!!! I brought it home right away and is now in a separate container on his milkweed. What an exciting journey this is even though it is causing problems in my daily chores lol.

[@MrLundScience]

Usually for me, once things get rolling, I don't need to specifically look for eggs any longer. I find plenty just in sourcing the milkweed leaves needed to feed what I already am rearing. As for size, while I can't seem to find it now, I saw a very good photo online that showed two 5th instar caterpillars, and one was about 4x the size of the other. There can definitely be variability in their sizes, despite being at the same developmental stage. It's normal. You might just have one that is on one end of the bell shaped curve.

[@shelby5577]

@@MrLundScience thank you for the info, the darn thing has me worrying more then I do about my children lol. He seems to take long nap breaks and then goes back to eating. I went to get some more milkweed for him yesterday and found 2 more eggs on one leaf, so in a different container they went. I am not sure if I can leave them in a container with holes in them or put them in a airtight one? My hubby has assured me that mine has gotten alot bigger :)

[@davidmccracken647]

Your ability to give concise and informative videos is really helpful! I have wondered about this, and now I find the video that shows what I wanted to know. Thanks again. I would love to have had you for a teacher! Enjoy your kids, and I will keep watching your stuff!

[@davidmccracken647]

Today is 8 19. I have 4 in chrysalis, and hope to have close to another dozen if my eggs all hatch and I can monitor them. I went out tonight looking for more, and found zero. Lots of milkweed, and I will collecting pods in a month or so, but no eggs nor cats. Is this too late? Looking forward to next year when I get an earlier start!

[@MrLundScience]

That's a strong compliment. As a High School teacher, I take that to heart and will do what I can to try and keep such consistent.

[@MrLundScience]

Too late or not too late can depend upon latitude. For me, here in Michigan, I've found an egg as late as mid September. Still, I actually haven't found any new eggs for the last week. It somewhat goes in waves, though. I don't *think* it's too late in any specific large areas, but in some pockets of areas, it could be becoming less and less. Good luck!

[@davidmccracken647]

@@MrLundScience I just released my first monarch butterfly! She was gorgeous! I found one as I was weeding in my flower bed. An instar 5 cat in a butterfly flower (orange flowers). I did not know it was a milkweed! I left the caterpillar, saw it the next day, and now I assume it is in a chrysalis. I left it alone as I was unsure if it would adapt to the common milkweed, and it was doing a healthy job! I will add some more of that flower next year, and gather common seeds, and control my milkweed! It is a mess to control when I did know what to do, and yet I wanted it to help. Knowledge sure helps. THANKS!

[@sleepykoinu]

Thank you! I have about 100 caterpillars and am trying to get the fifth instars separated to eat cucumber/squash/pumpkin to try to save milkweed. It's a bit hard to separate the fourth and fifth so this is helpful.

[@skylady64ish93]

Did they eat the cucumber/squash/pumpkin? I haven’t heard of that before.

[@maestroinabox]

so very useful. We have found about 10 caterpillars (between 1st and 2nd instar), so we're very excited in raising them to adulthood. Thank you for your very helpful series.

[@nygelburwell7533]

Love all your videos. Thank you!

[@MrLundScience]

Hey, you're very welcome. Glad that they could help!

[@knightbook1003]

You’re so cool! Watched your vids the past week to start raising monarchs. Found 10 eggs at the lake yesterday! Waiting for them to hatch in my to-go container. I get my new mesh bfly cage tomorrow to rear the cats outdoors. Thk u🐛🦋

[@melissadiaz-strahan274]

Hi Rich, Thank you for your informative videos😊 I have my first monarch caterpillar “J hanging.” I am very excited!

[@ktruth4real]

This was very helpful, thank you!

[@annhenderson5937]

This was so helpful I’ve been wondering which in-store I have especially as they start growing

[@kellydiss2277]

That was so helpful! I now realized I have one at each stage. : )

[@sofiamesa6156]

Great info! Thank you :)

[@Dembonz49]

Your videos are sooooooo helpful! Thank you!

[@MrLundScience]

Happy to help! Thanks for having an interest.

[@mduke555]

Thanks! I'm learning so much from your videos!

[@MrLundScience]

Hey, you're welcome! I hope your season goes well!

[@leggs247]

Hi Mr. Lund your videos are always amazing and right on point. You have helped me so much over the last few years to raise healthy Monarchs, I can't thank you enough! This year has to be a record and it is still early in the season. I have already raised and released 136 Healthy Monarchs and currently have 8 more in chrysalis. One had a run in with a dog and I had to search the internet on ways to repair the wing. Luckily the repair I did worked and the butterfly was able to fly again. Have you ever thought about putting a video together about repairing butterfly wings? :) Keep up the great videos! I re-watch them often and I can't get enough. =) Have a wonderful week and thanks again!

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings Miss Leggs247! Thanks for continuing your efforts with the Monarchs! Good to see you again. "On point" is what I go for, so I very much appreciate that sentiment. 136, wow! Now that's a nice number! And, it's so awesome that you took it upon yourself to find out what you could and attempt a wing repair. So very cool. I would definitely be open to doing a video on wing repair. However, there's some things that stand in the way of that: 1) In the years doing this, perhaps I've just been lucky, but I haven't had a Monarch need wing repair. 2) Regarding #1, and I know this is obvious, I'm not going to cause a need for a Monarch to need wing repair. 3) Regarding both #'s 2 and 3, without a Monarch in need of repair, there's not much of a way I can make a video about wing repair. 4) I definitely wish to avoid showing people how to do something I've never done myself. That's just pretentious. So, if the situation ever arises, I'd definitely be looking into how to do it, practicing, and if I know enough about it in doing it that I feel I could make a quality video about it, I certainly would. For now, though, you know much more about this than I do! Great job! Must have been very uplifting to watch him/her flap away! You should feel quite proud.

[@ChooChooRosenbloom]

Great video!

[@user-hu2wi8pk7i]

What a great video!!

[@samanthalinson58]

This video is so helpful thank you so much!

[@MrLundScience]

You're definitely welcome. Thanks for the feedback. It helps me to know which videos are helpful or not, and how well they are received. Much appreciated! Feel free to share it wherever you think it can help others.

[@reynagarcia778]

Thanks for your videos I am learning what to do in many cases.

[@MrLundScience]

Happy to supply them. Trying to get what knowledge I can out there. Thanks for checking them out!

[@emh6021]

My friend found a caterpillar near me in Toronto a few days ago but I haven't found any eggs yet. There's lots of milkweed ready to be eaten :) Hope you have a great season Mr Lund!

[@MrLundScience]

That's awesome, Emily! Yep, they're up there, just not in high numbers. I've yet to find an egg, even though, I know they are sitting on some leaves (somewhere) right now. I hope you have an excellent season as well!

[@Sam-le4gl]

Super helpful! Thank you!

[@jarretzendt3527]

Thank you for video. I found my first cat in central pa this week and this helped me figure out what instar. I only found one but 30min south a lady released her 110th so far. So they are around.

[@MrLundScience]

Awesome! And I'm pleased to hear that this technique is working for others and that they are finding it helpful. I know that they are here in Michigan, but they are staying elusive along my jogging paths. I'll make an egg hunting day a priority soon. So far, I've found zero.

[@ryanyarbrough1343]

Nice video and cool shirt. Little Shop of Horrors.......Anyway, here in Dallas Texas majority of the Monarch butterflies are all up north except for the remaining ones I have here which are either still in their chrysalis or still in caterpillar form (still have two caterpillars left). This has to be the longest duration so far that I have been taking care and raising Monarchs (started finding eggs Saturday March 31 and found 11 less than a day old caterpillars the next day, Sunday April 1st, which was Easter. I've released 37 Monarch butterflies and 1 Queen butterfly. Still have about 11 Monarchs to go and 1 Queen under my care until I'm done with raising them......until September and October. Looking forward to the videos and best of luck on finding the caterpillars. They're out there.

[@MrLundScience]

Thanks for the luck. Great to hear your numbers. Those early generation members are definitely important ones to help swell the numbers. Thanks for putting in that effort!

[@ritaschiferl3615]

Great information!

[@MrLundScience]

Happy to supply it!

[@leahkogut]

Thank you sooooo much for your videos

[@Tamarajo]

Very helpful! Thank you!

[@MrLundScience]

Happy to oblige!

[@hastycontemplation]

This video is so helpful. A+++

[@MrLundScience]

Thanks! Reading other descriptions that are out there, I wanted to find a way that was fool proof, and didn't require a ruler to be pulled out of a back pocket.

[@evatrois350]

You are terrific!

[@aljim2889]

Very helpful!!

[@georgannvohsen2692]

Excellent, informative video! C

[@MrLundScience]

Hey thanks! Hope the information can help! C

[@skylady64ish93]

@@MrLundScienceC 😂😂😂

[@lisabelen363]

Love this and all of your videos I have been updating my Nextdoor Neighborhood group chat with your videos, they are trying to just plant milkweed without collecting the eggs and separating the instars by stage and hoping for butterflies. I did the same until I watched you videos and read articles about diseases. I released 3 last week and have 3 in chrysalis and 6 more in different instar stages. I did follow you advice to only collect what you can take care of and feed. I sent you a question about a broken tentacle last week and I am happy to say that he/she is doing well and is an instar 5 right now and eating like a pig! Thank you for your videos.

[@MrLundScience]

Great to hear that the one with the damaged antenna is doing well. And great job on being conservative with how many you take in at first. It's the best way to start, and if you feel next time around you can do more, you know what you're getting into. Cool as well that you've gotten your neighbors involved!

[@lindarichardson8137]

Very useful information when my husband and I are documenting monarch migration

[@MrLundScience]

Glad I could help! Thanks for documenting the migration and contributing to our knowledge about it!

[@jamestetzlaf5739]

Rich, this video was very informative. I have to add i have been planting milkweed here in Florida and did not realize how ravenous the caterpillar were. I finally have some stage 5 instars and to my horror found wasps laying eggs in them. I turned on the sprinkler to ward off the wasps and moved the caterpillars to inside a pool enclosure. Any suggestions? I'm 62 and I'm learning so much. Thank you

[@zeeskyte]

Brilliant!

[@MrLundScience]

Thank you. Much appreciated!

[@marilynredmon8296]

Thank you so much

[@MrLundScience]

You're very welcome! Glad you found it helpful.

[@kimberlyfaircloth2234]

Great video. I always wondered how to tell the instar. 😊🐛 I have found one egg this year but my dog was acting up at the time and I lost it. Lol. Oh well at least we have seen monarch's flying around.

[@MrLundScience]

You've found one more egg than I have! I'm up to zero so far. But, no worries. It's usually July that I start finding them. Glad to hear that the video was helpful!

[@kimberlyfaircloth2234]

MrLundScience. Hi, me again. Well my first egg hatched. I made sure it had fresh leaves. But about 4 days later I found it dead. 😞 Once I found it in the top of the terrarium so I carfully moved it with a leave. We could see the stripes and it just had dots for antena so I figured 2nd instar? Still very small when it died. I did not bleach my leaves but I live in a very rural area and no one sprays pesticides. What did I do wrong? I have a new egg that has not hatched yet. But I don't want it to die too. I washed the terrarium with bleach water before using them. I do open it every day to give leaves. Am I bugging it too much. I did store some leaves in the fridge in a baggie with a wet paper towel. Bummed.

[@MrLundScience]

The first question to ask is, how sure are you that it was dead? Sometimes caterpillars, just before going into a molt, will be very still and not move. Sometimes, for up to a day. Assuming it was dead (and not trying to question your judgment, but that was and always is the first question to ask) then understand that sometimes, they just don't make it. I've had it happen too. We know may ailments for humans because we are humans, and it's definitely worth our time and money to study them and learn how to prevent them. We know many ailments of popular pets. For caterpillars, who knows what types of fatal afflictions they can have. Still, something that can take them out early in the game is bacterial infection, and it doesn't have to be a lot when they are that small. If you had, say, six going at once, and all six die this way, yes, that might indicate something within your set up or process was causing it. If it's an isolated incident, then there's not much to tell from it. Still, sanitizing was a good response. I hope things go well from here.

[@JAAnastasi]

Thanks for this video - very informative! We are having a good early Monarch season in eastern Minnesota. 31 chrysalis’ (what is the plural??) so far. Probably could have found more eggs but I had to stop because of some traveling I needed to do. Hoping for a 100+ butterfly year!

[@MrLundScience]

For a long time, I understood the plural of chrysalis to be "chrysalides". However, someone pointed out to me once that it's been updated, and "chrysalises" is also recognized as correct. I think, though, it was one of those things where so many people were saying it that way, it became accepted. Kinda like how "aint" is now in the dictionary, and "kinda" might follow!

[@7777Tilly]

Your monarch videos are so informative! I am now raising my first eleven, probably all 4th generation in late August and first part of September in Vermont, using everything I have learned from your videos. Couldn't have done it without your help! One question: since we don't have a screened in porch, we have them inside with us. If we turn lights on after dark in the room where they are, could this possibly interfere with their development or urge to migrate?

[@MrLundScience]

There are some who speculate that this could be something that does interfere with their migration urge. This is because we don't fully know what factors or what combination of factors contribute to it. We have some good ideas, though, and it's most likely that amount of daylight does play a role. However, does it play a role in chrysalis? That's not very well known. It certainly could. But it also could very well be that the daylight trigger would be more likely to cause the urge after the eyes are fully developed. They do get quite developed towards the later stages of they chrysalis, but since that's only about a 10 day period, that'd only be 3 days at the most, likely. Three or four days off of the day/night cycle, I wouldn't think would cause them to not know when to migrate. And if it did, it could stand to reason that a few days out in nature would counteract this unlikelihood anyway. If they were that sensitive to it, I would also expect that street lamps and parking lot lights, along with other forms of artificial light would pose them migratory problems. But, nobody seems to report Monarchs hanging around well lit human populated areas either. So, I don't know for sure, but I also don't think this would be very high of a likelihood to cause them problems. It'd be something a true investigative research study would need to find out. I hope that helps!

[@mahalatbeams568]

+MrLundScience Thanks so much for your response and for all you do to help monarchs. Our first butterfly is about to eclose. We can see the chrysalis moving and the butterfly inside. It is thrilling to watch!

[@19Photographer76]

Another great video. You forgot to mention how aggressive they become at the 5th instar stage.

[@MrLundScience]

They certainly are. I don't know if I'd trust aggressiveness to be used for identification, though. I've met some fairly aggressive 2nd instars as well!

[@lisabelen363]

I learned the hard way to keep the 4 and 5 instars away from smaller ones as I lost a little dude to cannibalism!

[@memadoodle]

Thank you for your time in creating these very informative videos. This is my first time raising Monarchs, I have a large mesh cage and purchased eggs already attached to a small swamp milkweed plant. I followed your examples of gathering common leaves I've grown myself and now have 14 instar 3's, plus also one 4th I found in my garden. I'm now using large leaves in floral tubes inside coffee cups. My question is, if they climb off the leaves, out of the mugs and on the floor will they find their way back or should I put them back on the leaves? I'm very busy now collecting, washing and transferring leaves to sustain these hungry buggers and want to be successful in this endeavor. Also, where did you get the Audrey tee shirt?

[@MrLundScience]

If they crawl off the leaves, there's a good chance that no, they won't find their way back. A closed container is best to keep them from wandering too far from the leaves. (See Raising Monarchs Part 3 for more info on this.) It's very cool that you have that many going at once! Great to have you aboard!

[@dougjohnson9628]

Hi Rich- I have been following your videos since 2017 (all very good, I might add). The one area I have not seen much info on (from anyone) is the generation structure for the four quadrants of U.S. I live in Connecticut and was under the "assumption" that when August arrived, this would be the migration (gen-4) generation to make the trip back to Mexico. I recently had a conversation with a guy who has been raising for a number of years and he says "oh no", this is only gen-3. Gen-4 butterflies do not migrate until Sept. and Oct. I have 31 in Chrysalis right now and have released 3 males / 1 female with only two caterpillar losses. My milkweed is getting old and drying up. There is more egg laying going on but I'm afraid I will not be able to feed the new batch of caterpillars if I were to start a new run. My question is; when do you know which is gen-3 and the start of gen-4?? I'm assuming, the eggs being laid now (as of Aug. 4th) will be gen-4 or is it still too early? I bought tags for the first time (50); I am truly into raising these guys and want to do right by them. Maybe you could run a short 10 or 15 min. video that would clear up this confusion. I'm sure others may be scratching their heads, as well... Thanks

[@MrLundScience]

You're right, many are and will scratch their heads. Let me explain. 1) Rough, sloppy answer: In early August to mid-August, we are in some gray area. MOST of what ecloses and becomes adults right now will be gen-3. As we get to mid-August, more will be gen-4, but some will still be gen-3. Once we are in late Aug, most will be gen-4, but some may still be gen-3. 2) More details to the rough, sloppy answer: There's some overlap in generations. An "older" male that is in gen-2 might mate with a young female from gen-3. What eggs would she produce? Gen-3.5? Gen-4? Next, does it matter fully what generation it is in order to migrate? Would a very late gen-3 that is alive when migration starts "choose" not to migrate? It's not fully understood how those that migrate "know" it's time to migrate. Some would very much argue that there are seasonal cues. Some say that it has to do with genetic instinct. Some say it's a mixture of the two. So, would a gen-3.5 have the genetic instinct to migrate or not? 3) Even more complex answer: Not too long ago, there were pockets of populations (I think close to Virginia/West Virginia, near valleys of the Appalachian Mountains) where it was confirmed that the Monarchs there seem to make it to 5 and even 6 generations. Please don't 100% quote me on that. I need to re-read the article. But still, definitely past just 4 generations. And in years where the migration starts late, it's definitely possible that other places in the US and Canada might get some Monarchs that are a 5th generation. If 1st gen eggs hatch, and two from them mate right away and lay eggs as soon as possible, they would have the earliest 2nd generation Monarchs. Well, if temperatures are warm, the chemistry goes faster. Lets say that there's lots of food, and the temps are high. You'd have these 2nd gen eggs become adults sooner than under normal conditions. Ignore inbreeding for a bit, and just assume that multiple Monarchs from 1st gen laid eggs quickly. Those 2nd generation adults might mate and lay eggs before other 2nd generation adults are even out of chrysalis yet. Now, continue this idea for a few more generations. Could there be some 4th generation Monarchs that were out doing their thing in late July? Yes. And could they be laying eggs right next to some 3rd generation Monarchs that have laid 4th generation eggs? Yes. So, the idea of 4th generation being the ones that migrate is a general rule, but also, isn't being honest with all of the details. And this is easily a topic for a video, but I don't think it'll be happening this summer. Already many that I want to get out before the season ends for me!

[@dougjohnson9628]

Thanks Rich.. That does help to some extent, but like you say; it's a grey area. So if I get the jest of your answer(s); the 30+ I have in chrysalis right now probably should not be tagged. I should just let them go, to do their thing. I have 50 tags waiting to be applied to wings.. So, if I wait another week before gathering eggs again (gives me time to get these others on their way and clean up the cages). I still have the problem of running out of food for the new batch. Do the caterpillars care if the Milkweed leaves are old and tough? Or do they just chomp right on through everything? I do have some swamp Milkweed in the back yard (still in flower); I will have to get the machete out and clear a path to get to it. I usually don't mess with checking it for eggs because it is surrounded by 7 foot stalks of weeds and Nettles, I am 70 years old.. so it would take me a few days (in this humid heat we've been having) to get'er done. But I would do it for the Monarchs! Thanks for the REP.. My best to you..

[@MrLundScience]

Doug, you're a 70 years young trooper, and an inspiration to me. Happy to have you along for sure. To be honest, it's not a bad idea to tag those emerging in mid-August, which in a few days, we're there. It's just that the probability increases that they will be a migratory Monarch as the days go on. Still, with *early* migratory Monarchs, if they have tags, that could (over time with many specimens) allow for study that is more fleshed out as to how the migration starts, and when. There's a lot we don't know about the migration, and there are things we don't even know that we don't know, if that makes sense. Still, if the hope is that you get to look up and find one of your Monarchs on the "recovered" list, yes, later in the season provides a better chance. As for milkweed that is old or tough, they'll eat it if that's their option, but certainly, the fresher the food you can provide, the better, within reason.

[@retronostalgiafan8635]

Ok, thanks for letting know man

[@MrLundScience]

No problem. Glad I could try to help.

[@saltlifegull4091]

Awesome video, as usual, Rich. It's Dec 31 now and I have about 50 catepillars harvested off my milkweed plants. Freeze will be coming and hopefully they will hatch in the large mesh laundry container I've contrived a top for. Have about 9 crystillas so far. My questions are: won't they freeze if I release them? Will they do okay in this container for at least a month? THANKS!!

[@bmmorton73]

Hey, my name is Peter and I live in the suburbs of chicago, this is the first year I’ve gotten into raising monarchs and I just wanted to thank you for getting me into it. I found my first 2 2nd instar caterpillars in my garden on June first. I haven’t seen a lot of eggs lately in mid June and I was wondering when you typically start to find most of your monarch eggs. Also I’ve seen these red beetles with black spots on a lot of milkweed plants eating noticeable amount of leaves and was wondering if you knew what they were. So far I’m doing well and have three chrysalides.

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings Peter, and welcome aboard! When I first started doing this, I'd go looking for eggs as soon as school gets out (I'm a high school teacher) and thus, I'd be out in the second half of June. Doing 4 hour bike rides, checking multiple plants, I'd often come back with 4 eggs...or 3...or none. But, without fail every year, when I'd do a bike ride egg hunt in the first week of July, I'd almost always come back with about 20 eggs if I were out there for even just 2 hours. Thus, to maximize the use of my time, I'd make it an unofficial rule to usually wait until after the 4th of July to really go looking. Since doing that, I'd still always "spot check" a few plants on my morning jog. And many years in a row, I'd find zero eggs in June, but I'd always start finding them in July. This year turned out to be different, and in spot checking, I found four caterpillars the other day. Then, about 5 days ago, a female did an egg dump, and gifted me 19 eggs at my own milkweed stock at home. Being in the Chicago area, that's not much different than where I'm at in Michigan as far as time period to look for eggs. I hope that helps. As for the red beetles, I'm guessing it's the aptly named "Milkweed Beetle". I made a video last year that discusses the different pests/predators I find here in Michigan: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5LIZoehr86YrpY Likely, there's not too much different from what I find in Michigan and what you will find in Illinois. Good luck with your rearing! Fair warning: It can be addictive!

[@bmmorton73]

Thanks, i’ve seen a lot of milkweed lately but we have a rabbit problem so I had to put my milkweed around a fence but it still works great. and I’ve released three monarchs so far and found some Caterpillars, and a couple eggs.

[@MrLundScience]

Sounds like your season, like mine, is in full swing! I'll say it again: addictive

[@bmmorton73]

Thanks a lot! I’ll let you know if I come across any more problems.

[@qtjess84]

I live in coastal SoCal and there are tons of monarchs. We have milkweed and so there are always tons of caterpillars in our yard. Sometimes I see the caterpillars just lying still on the leaf litter under the milkweed. Are they going into the next instar? Is that typical behavior? They look like they might be dead but for no reason, no injuries or signs of predation.

[@robertfusselman8108]

Mr. Lund..Question so I made a box/screen around it with a flap I created so I'm able to enter inside the box. So I had a caterpillars. So I had a caterpillar on the top inside the box and it started to J form and wanted to create a crystalist I moved the caterpillar because he was super close to the side wall and thought I have to move it so no issues. Well now the caterpillar looks like it may be passing and just wondering if this can kill them when

[@dbdevkc]

Very good. Now I know that I currently have two 2nd instar cats.

[@MrLundScience]

Aw yeah...

[@lilrayasunshine54]

Video idea: could you do a video on a caterpillar molting, from start to finish? I haven’t found any videos on KZbin showing the full molt + eating the skin.

[@franboutwell8810]

Mr Lund, I noticed that your milkweed leaves are so much larger than mine are. Yours also look pliable , while the leaves that I grow (common MW) are thin and brittle. Do you happen to know, or be able to point me in the right direction to know, what I may need to amend my soil with? And thank you so much for your videos. I am enjoying learning more about the Monarch butterfly's and will look forward to seeing what all you will post in the future. TY, Evy Boutwell

[@dzhay1981]

Can you tell us how to tell how old monarch butterfly’s are I have one? Thanks👍🏻

[@KMD.11]

I found 15 caterpillars yesterday. I have several asclepia plants to feed them. Everyone or the one were in different stages. But the biggest one disappeared today morning and I can't find it. I have the asclepias and monarchs open sky and here in Guatemala it's raining all nights, some times on day time. Any comment or advice please?

[@tinay.weaver5766]

This year is the first time I am trying to raise Monarchs. I wanted to keep them out in the wild, but they were being preyed upon by other bugs. so I grabbed what caterpillars I had and put them in nice terrarium. I watched your 5 part video series and it helped me a great deal. I love this video too, it was very informative. My only question is, how long before they form their chrysalis once they reach maturity?

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings Tina, and welcome aboard! To answer your question, I'd need to know what you mean by "reach maturity". Technically, until it is an adult, it hasn't reached maturity (and even more technically, until it is sexually ready to reproduce, it hasn't reached maturity). What I can say (and hopefully the answer to your question is somewhere in here) is that a Monarch caterpillar typically forms a chrysalis after 10 - 14 days of being a caterpillar. Within those 10 - 14 days are the 5 instar stages, which also have their own ranges of how long they are in those instars. Those ranges depend upon such things as how much food they are eating, what temperatures they are at (they develop slightly faster at warmer temperatures), and if they are disturbed by other caterpillars or not. Once a caterpillar has reached the 5th instar, they can be just 3 days or as many as 6 days away from forming the chrysalis, and again, there are variables that affect that. Usually, I've found it to be 4 or 5, depending upon if we're talking actual calendar days, or just dividing the hours spent in the 5th instar stage by 24 hours. I hope that helps!

[@tinay.weaver5766]

Thanks for the information. I believe they are in there 5th instart if I go by your video. I was just curious how long it took from the last stage to reach the chrysalis stage. I am a little nervous since I was not planning on raising them indoors, but had do something since I saw two of them get caught by some kind of bug. I have been feeding them well. I went out and got plenty of food. Next year I plan on planting more milk weed and maybe raise more inside. I plan on making some kind of screened enclosure so I can put the chrysalide in so that I don't have to worry about the emerging Monarchs as much.

[@marydiscuillo142]

This is fantastic. Would you be able to make a video or at least let me know how many days they are at each nstar? Then after they reach the 5th how long before they j hang. I believe it's 10+14 days after that when they are "born* but would appreciate confirmation! Sorry this is the 2nd group of questions I am asking. Don't mean to monopolize your time

[@merrileeread8613]

In wester NY State, when should I stop collecting eggs in late summer?

[@nadeemurrahman4224]

Sir your videos are very helpful to study the instar. I have one question. How to distinguish the instar of one family to another?

[@MrLundScience]

When you say "family" do you mean other species of butterflies? If that's the case, I have no idea. I really only work with Monarchs, and while I do know some things about other species of butterflies and butterflies in general, the majority of the things I know about Monarchs I do not at all know about other butterfly species. I would presume that there are indicators of what instar just about every species of caterpillar is in, but that it's likely quite different indicators from species to species. Beyond that, though, my knowledge would be pretty limited.

[@saltlifegull4091]

Question: When do the Monarchs start showing up for my milkweed plants? Live in NW Florida, Zone 9.

[@MrLundScience]

To my knowledge, there are pockets of FL where they are year round...and I've hear of them already showing up in Louisiana. I don't know enough about your area to say further than that, though.

[@willyschannel_]

I know that monarch start laying eggs as soon as or before spring but I have not seen any before that in Florida.

[@Rndmstff737]

On my birthday ( June 15th ) I caught like 30 caterpillars black swallowtail and monarch

[@rebeccacleary942]

I've been raising/ releasing monarchs for more than a decade now. This year I've noticed a few of my 3rd/4th instar caterpillars go to the top and begin to start with their silk "button" - sorry I can't remember what you call it. Is it going to hurt them to take them down and put them back on a leaf? I even had a 1st instar j hang, then die. Can a 3rd or 4th instar successfully go through the metamorphosis? I wouldn't think they could but do you have any idea why they might be doing this? I can't remember any doing this in the past. Any ideas as to what I should do when young ones do this?

[@MrLundScience]

That's pretty wild, and something I've never heard of before. If it were happening to me, I know I'd want to reach out to experts, probably through email, and with photos so it can be identified and verified as to what instar it is. I'd consult such groups as Monarch Watch, Joint Venture, and/or Journey North and see what they think might be going on. On their websites, they often have email addresses offered that you can contact them with. Very interesting! I mean, sad for them, for sure, but still, interesting.

[@artandanimation4119]

Hey, my 4th instar caterpillars front antennas are only about as long as they would be in the 3rd instar but his back antennas are quite long even longer then his front( they look almost like 5th instar caterpillar back antennas). I’ve watched him molt. He’s already molted I think about 4 times so I believe he’s 4th instar but I’m not quite sure.

[@MOG007]

I have two second instar caterpillars right now that have stopped moving around and eating and their little head caps seem way too small for their bodies. I suspect they will both be molting soon.

[@Sereneis]

What good is it for to learn instars? To estimate food supply?

[@retronostalgiafan8635]

Now with instar as a topic, is there a pre-first instar for caterpillar, where he or she just hatch out and don't have the stripes?

[@MrLundScience]

Hey Noah, With instars, there is not a pre-instar stage. Once out of the egg, it is a 1st instar caterpillar. However, it doesn't have black stripes yet because it needs to eat food and process it for its body to produce the black coloration. If they have no stripes, or only black stripes but no yellow, it is guaranteed a 1st instar caterpillar. The biggest giveaway, though, as the video mentions, is that 1st instar is the only instar where the face is 100% black, and yellow markings are absent.

[@El_B]

Do you answer questions? I need help! Based on this video I think I have one 2nd instar, one 4th instar and one 5th instar. Last night my 5th instar climbed off the milkweed and onto the wall of our enclosure. He’s upside down but not hanging. He’s been there almost 24 hours and hasn’t moved. His antennas are rigid and he’s shriveling up. He’s not plump anymore. Might be dead but I could’ve swore I just saw him move a little bit. My 4th instar just did the same thing today now. He went up on the wall, is upside down and barely moving. Also my 2nd instar is still on the plant but hasn’t eaten or moved all day. Are they all dying? What could be going on. I need help! I had 2 other probably 2nd instars that just sort of disappeared. And there’s no where for them to go in the enclosure. Like they vanished into thin air. I also have 3 day old hatchlings and I’m scared they’re going to die too. 😢

[@El_B]

I have been watching them and both caterpillars that are upside down on the wall are moving a little. And when I gently blew on them they both retracted their heads. So not dead but what are they doing??

[@agnessacramone6521]

Thank you for your great videos. I have a cat that hatched 2 days ago. It’s eating and pooping and moving around. Today he reached to his butt end and pulled off the black cap (butt cap?) and ate it. Does this mean he’s getting ready to molt? Having a great time with this and thank you again for your inspiration and helpful videos.

[@MrLundScience]

From what you describe, it sounds more like it already did molt, but had a piece still on its rear, which it took care of. Caterpillars tend to eat their molted skin, though not always all of it, and sometimes, they don't even bother. When they do eat it, it gives them that extra dose of protein.

[@kx250monster1023244]

do you have a video that tells the rough time line of instars? i apox 30hours ago my egg hatched just wondering how long till its going to be going into 2nd instar. thanks!

[@MrLundScience]

Part 3 of the core of the series shows the caterpillar stage, roughly, though it isn't dissected into exact instars. But the first instar only lasts about a day and a half to two days, depending upon how much he/she is eating and what the temperatures are at.

[@kx250monster1023244]

@@MrLundScience yeah its gotta be on the 3rd or 4th now its getting big. its odd tho isnt it supposed to shed? but i havent found any of its sheds, perhaps its eating them for protein like its egg?

[@MrLundScience]

While not always, yes, they often do eat the skin that's been molted, be it all or most of it.

[@kx250monster1023244]

@@MrLundScience i actually got to watch it shed last night! ++++

[@daniel-mc2ph]

How do i tell when there molting, or just hanging on the side of a container? 3rd instar but wants to climb up side of container "silking" a path and resting on it. i don't want to disturb a molt, but i don't want to be neglecting a caterpillar by allowing it to waste energy when i think it should be eating.. didn't think id be diving into it this quick. i planted milkweed earlier this year and they'er still small enough for a 3rd instar to eat a whole plant a day. i don't want them to out eat there supply so im forced to help.

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings Daniel, As with just about any animal, we need to have our human expectations take a back seat to what the animal wishes to do. The only time I bring a caterpillar back to a leaf is if it's a 1st instar that 1) has wandered far, and 2) has been away for quite some time and is moving around. In such a case, it's possible the 1st instar left for some reason, and did not find its way back. I first notice it, and then check back a few hours later to see if it has changed position. If it's in the same position, I assume it's about to molt to 2nd instar, and that's usually true. If when I check back, it's moved further and is moving then, I coax him/her onto a bit of leaf, and then place that bit of leaf back on the main one. In all other cases, I let 2nd - 5th instar do as they please. They find their way back to the leaf pretty much always. The only times they don't immediately, are when they are about to molt. I hope that helps!

[@SIC66SIC66]

I have a question. How many shirts do you own?

[@tunes4toons]

I found a caterpillar about 75 ft from the milkweed “garden” and eating a vine (clearly not milkweed.). Why would a monarch eat something other than milkweed? Did the adult lay the egg on the wrong plant? Alternatively how likely is it that it crawled from our milkweed plants to get there?

[@skylady64ish93]

It may have been eating twine vine which is in the milkweed family. Or it could have been a caterpillar which was not a Monarch.

[@tunes4toons]

I just learned that there’s a milkweed VINE!

[@joneymir9023]

Mr. Lund is it normal for my caterpillar to not move? It has been a few hours and it is still in the same spot its leaf. It is in its 2nd instar I believe. I touched it lightly with a leaf and it moved but other than that no movement.

[@MrLundScience]

Yes, this is 100% normal. Caterpillars sometimes just need a nap after eating. Usually, though, this means that it's getting ready to molt. It'll hold still for sometimes several hours before molting out of its skin. During this time, it's vulnerable. I'm sure you didn't harm it by touching it with the leaf, but try to avoid disturbing it so it can properly molt. Again, no worries. What you did is fine.

[@megtradamus]

I have 3 milkweed plants for 6 caterpillars. Is that enough or should I be looking for more?

[@MrLundScience]

That depends upon the size and species of the plant. But, as a general rule, I would say that if you have doubts, that means, you should definitely look for more. Worst case scenario, you already have enough, but end up knowing where more milkweed is if you ever need it.

[@redacted__redacted__8146]

Why does fifth instar caterpillar feel everything in front of it with its tentacles?

[@MrLundScience]

I'm honestly not sure, but the answer might be along the lines of - it can. At previous instars, the tentacles aren't long enough to do so. By the 5th instar, when they are long enough to do this, it makes sense to do it and have a better idea of what's around them. And again, I'm only speculating here, but it's also at the 5th instar that this could be helpful in deciding where to form the chrysalis.

[@iangoddard5915]

By the 5th instar they're about ready for a possibly long journey to pupate. That's when they most need to feel their way around.

[@MrLundScience]

Agreed. I didn't want to speculate too much in the video, as I don't know any of this 100% for sure, but that being the instar where the caterpillar likely needs to travel, feel around, and get a better sense of its surroundings to pupate, it makes very good sense that this would be the one stage where it would do this. But, some things in evolutionary biology have made perfect sense before, and have been shown to not be the reason. Is this also your assumption, like it is mine, or do you know of anything that has studied this? In other words, do you have a source that has discussed this?

[@kx250monster1023244]

old and wise moves with caution lol idk just a guess

[@brianasarmiento3425]

What temperature do caterpillars need to be in to molt? Does this vary with butterfly vs moth Caterpillars? If a Caterpillar is having troble molting, is there something we can do to help? Sorry for the questions....i literally can not find these answers any where...

[@MrLundScience]

Nobody need apologize for questions. I'm a huge fan of questions, the very principle of having questions, and have many (MANY) questions of my own! If I can answer them, I do, and if I can't, I fully admit it. It also helps me see where my lack of knowledge is, and keeps me learning. You may absolutely and always ask away. For the temperature of Monarch caterpillars molting, I suppose the best answer I can give is that I'm not aware of any typical temperatures where they can't molt. They've done it for me at normal room temperatures of 72F or thereabouts, but they've done it in the high 90's for me too. I can also say, the warmer the temperatures, the faster chemistry tend to go, so I'm guessing that the process occurs easier when they've been kept more in the 80s than in the 70s, and in the 70's easier than in the 60's. But still, I don't know of there being an actual problem, per se, with any of these temps. As for caterpillars from butterflies versus moths, truth be told, I don't know much about other species. I have raised some Tussock Moths in a good number before, but didn't necessarily pay attention to how easily they were molting. Never had any problems with any of them not molting, though. And that's about it. I pretty much stick to Monarchs. Finally, can we help one molt? Can we? Probably. Is there risk involved to the caterpillar? Very much so. It's a really delicate time, and I don't know that we (myself included) would have the proper tools to help it out. Sometimes molt skins can seem to get stuck and not molt off. I've seen images of unmolted skin seeming to make a restricting band around some caterpillars. I don't know what I could have done if that happened to one of mine. You'd almost need the smallest surgical scissors out there, and I know I don't have any of those. And even then, would I know what I'm doing? Probably not. It'd be touch and feel guesswork. Have you had issues with molts? It sounds like it. What were they?