Raising Monarchs Part 4 - The Chrysalis (How To Care For Monarch Butterfly Chrysalides)

[@jeniferking8960]

I love your video series! I planted a butterfly garden in my backyard and enjoyed watching the butterflies and caterpillars but they all disappeared before I saw any in the chrysalis stage. After watching your videos, I brought 14 eggs inside and they hatched today, I'm in FL and our milkweed has much smaller leaves so it's harder to cut and place them but I was successful and looking forward to watching them grow. My teenage son laughed at me and said mom, we did this in kindergarten, I said "and I remember how happy it made you to see them fly away"!

[@lynncobia6214]

Lol I'm doing tbe same thing . I currently have 29 eggs. I don't know if u have enough milkweed now ....

[@caseysaling6644]

I just planted a garden and saw eggs. So I bought a tomato cage and a mesh drawstring bag to put over it so they’re protected form predators. I can’t commit to do more than that, but hoping they survive!

[@KateCarew]

I have an excess of maternal energy coupled with a lifelong entomology obsession, this year I finally took on monarch safekeeping, your videos have made it less stressful for all of us!! I'm subscribing because anyone who takes care of the tiniest of critters is tops in my book! I don't mean to sound like I was born in the 1920s but it just happens on KZbin :) Thank you for sharing and being so conscientious!

[@MrLundScience]

I don't know if I'd know what someone from the 1920's would sound like. At any rate, welcome aboard! Very pleased that you can find these videos to be of use. Hope your season has gone well!

[@KateCarew]

MrLundScience waiting, oh so patiently for eclosure!

[@lindavincent2995]

Observe: The male Monarch flies around garden with Milkweed for a few days. Then two to three days later the female Monarch comes and checks out the layout then she starts laying her eggs, lots of them. The eggs I was finding were on the lower New leaves and some up in the budded flowers. On the larger leaves she layed two eggs. This year I noticed there were less Monarchs. But the one or two that came to there butterfly garden, layed lots. Also this year there were different species such as Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Skippers few different types, Grey hair streak, one have not identified yet. And of course the Anise Swallowtail. And several Cabbage whites, so pretty to see white butterflies. Going to plant more host plants if I can find them...lccv

[@staceywilson4725]

I use a reptile container for my 5th instars as well, however, I put it on its side. This way, the caterpillars pupate on the clear plastic top and I have an outstanding clear view of the process. Also, it enables me to remove the lid easily for cleaning and photos/videos without disturbing the chrysalides. Try it!

[@Netchick41]

I have my first Crystalis. I'm so excited. Watched it turn and all. My 65 years I never seen this. Scratch another off my bucket list.

[@derektoney6832]

I'm getting all my friends involved with monarchs. Project: Save the monarch!

[@fostoriadistrictrailfan3907]

Yes. i must do same.

[@bst3055585]

DEREK TONEY I new to this bur I he’d 2 healthy Caterpillars. The leaf they were j-hanging from fell from the milk weed. One even fell to the ground. Can I save them. I didn’t see any silk? Please help. Bonnie

[@Debbiesnc]

J Hook is in the chrysalis stage now after watching him/her the entire time suddenly there it was and had happened during an hour I was in the other room! Wow, relief and now I understand all the commotion they go through seeking that spot, not eating, etc. I can't believe how the entire process happens and can't wait to have more of this experience with the upcoming J II and the tiny Jimmy J now too small for the larger habitat but it won't be too long! Thanks again, you are amazing and your energy for doing all of the videos I have now found is stunning. Kids are blessed to have you in their lives.

[@MrLundScience]

Blessed due to me? Naw. I won't take such credit. I'd say, they benefit from some tax dollars paying for public education in the case of me being in their lives. I'll take the compliment humbly, nonetheless, so thank you. I'm excited for you getting to see the chrysalis stage! Just a few days now, and oh, the excitement you'll have. Good luck!

[@marefairfield6901]

Much gratitude for your series! You broke all the steps down to where I could understand each stage and what my tasks were in nurturing. You mentioned Michigan and in your first video wore a shirt that had St. Johns on it so yes, I looked your name up, and hooray, you are from the same neck of the woods so I know now I might have a chance! Thank YOU!

[@AsioEntomo]

I have 6 caterpillars right now, three of which I've raised from eggs, and the rest I found while picking milkweed or biking. Two of them, lovingly named Sausage and Meatloaf, are due to form a chrysalis any day now. This is my first time raising monarchs and I am SO excited. Thanks for the great info!

[@MrLundScience]

Cool to have you along! Many rewards await you along the way of your first time. Enjoy!

[@paulaotteson2044]

This is exactly the video I needed! We usually have maybe 6-8 chrysalides at a time waiting to eclose but a fertile mama laid 30 eggs so I needed to know exactly how to move them to a bigger enclosure. This video showed me how! Thank you for taking the time to film it.😊

[@nicholascaliendo5699]

I keep a little note with the dates when the chrysalis was formed and the butterfly emerges and it has been exactly 11 days for the last three. I keep them inside my home. For a few caterpillars, I found the mesh splatter guards, plastic strainer and plastic salad bowls helpful in container the caterpillars while keeping air flow. My first time raising these beautiful creatures since last summer, 2021, and have raise 21 to date. When they first emerge from their egg, I call them Schmooie.

[@bobbipygott5566]

My first year with milkweed plants and I saved 28 caterpillars! I live on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We are in our fall heatwave. I’m almost completely out of milkweed but I only have one guy that would rather eat than make his journey to the top of the enclosure. I wasn’t planning on raising them so I sure hope this beautiful insects survive the trip. I’m not tagging them because I simply wasn’t prepared! I have hung the chrystilides that are ready and will free them the same way you do. I am definitely going to plant a lot more milkweed next year along with marigolds and anything else that keeps aphids away! I think my fingers are stained yellow from trying to fend those suckers off. It was a loosing battle but I found two good sized plants at Lowe’s. I’m looking forward to doing this again next year but in a more prepared and responsible way.

[@njmccarty1580]

Thanks for your time and effort in making these videos. I have three caterpillars that just entered the chrysalis stage! Your videos have been very helpful. Great music too.

[@MrLundScience]

Thanks Nami! I hope for your three chrysalides that you are at a more southern latitude than I. Here in Michigan, we've got snow on the ground! Good luck!

[@kellysybesma9973]

Elementary teacher here! I bought a milkweed and planted it in my garden and was so excited to see several caterpillars on it 2 weeks ago. I am documenting the progress for my students. 2 of the caterpillars disappeared when they got big enough to make their chrysalis. I think they must have crawled back between another bush and my fence. BUT, today on started J hanging under the ridge in the siding by the plant. I am so excited to watch the process. Your videos have been very helpful. Thank you for the time and attention you put into them.

[@gkvideo4you]

Thank you so much for the time you put into this! The earth needs more people like you!

[@MrLundScience]

I don't know if another Rich Lund would be a good thing or a bad thing...or even if they'd get along. They'd probably skate together, but chess matches could get bloody.

[@amberlbrowning]

Thank you!...I think this is a good project to do with my kiddos I'm going to plant lots of milkweed this year

[@MrLundScience]

You're welcome. Thanks for getting the younger generation involved!

[@Jessica_Crease87]

My monarchs hatched on July 5th and crysalised on July 19th!!!! So excited to release them!!!

[@janetrocheny3254]

My monarch was J hanging at 8:30 this am. It is now 5:00 pm and caterpillar is in chrysalis form. In 10- 14 days, I hope a male butterfly is born. His name is Johnny since egg... thank you Rich for all-out help. Bayonne, NJ

[@MrLundScience]

Great news, Janet! Sorry that I haven't been able to be more on top of these comments. This summer, I'm getting even more per day than previous years. About 30 a day, or so. But, I want to make sure to give everyone the respect of replying, as they've taken the time to help the Monarchs, and that's always so very much appreciated! So very cool to hear that you have it already in a chrysalis form. Is this your first one ever that you've raised? Ah...I remember my first! It's so exciting!

[@ophadamia2579]

*JHN-238*

[@athenad8636]

Both have just made the change from 5th instar to chrysalides! Even though I watch your video many times I was, well, it was so amazing! The additional milkweeds have been planted. I'm in So. CA so it's going to be summer temps for a while longer here. Thanks again Mr. Lund!

[@toadallynice4802]

Thank you Mr Lund for the great info on raising monarch caterpillars. Your videos have been super helpful! This has really been a fun & exciting time raising 12 monarchs. Next year I will be starting earlier so I can save more monarchs :) Such an amazing little creature.

[@MrLundScience]

Cool that you've found a new thing to enjoy. Each year, we learn from the last and it only gets better.

[@toadallynice4802]

@@MrLundScience Thanks! :)

[@Tasoan]

You're doing amazing work here. My dad and I have milkweed seeds, and we plan to help the monarchs also. I'm learning a lot from these videos. I'll pass the info to my dad and we will also help hopefully on this kind of scale.

[@MrLundScience]

Definitely cool that your father and you are both involved. Keep it up! We need all the help we can get!

[@elmrmes653]

TasoanSpawn awesome!!! im doing the same, hope it helps!

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings Toast Goddess, and welcome aboard. 1. Everything needs heat, of course, but do you need to keep them at a specific temperature? No. In nature, the Monarchs deal with all sorts of temperatures. So, keeping them indoors at room temperature is fine. 2. I would suggest, no, do not add anything else. As I show in my videos, they are given milkweed leaves, and that's it. Most Monarch caterpillars will spend their entire caterpillar stage on a milkweed plant, provided it has enough food from that plant. Giving your caterpillar other things to crawl on can only cause it to get lost, and have more work to do to get back to the milkweed. These aren't pets, and while we might think in human terms that they'd like to "spruce up" their homes, truth is, the caterpillar will not care about these things. These caterpillars care about milkweed, and that's it. 3. Usually, a leaf will dry out, even with the moist paper towel around it, in about three days. I'd say they should get a fresh leaf every three days, or sooner, of course, if it's eating through the leaf. 4. For cleaning the tank, soap and water works fine, but if you are worried about possible infections in your area, a dilute solution of bleach water can be used, but you must very very thoroughly rinse the bleach water out when finished. 5. NO! Do not use baby wipes! They have other chemicals laced within them, which can potentially harm the caterpillar. Further, paper towel is considerably cheaper than baby wipes. Why not just get some paper towel? 6. As mentioned in Part 5, the Monarchs should be released the same day they emerge as adults. The longer they are kept in captivity, the higher the probability is that it could damage its wings. These are not pets, but are animals that have declining numbers, and they have a busy schedule! Now, that being said, it's certainly understandable that you might want to spend some time checking out the amazing adult that you spent so much effort in raising. So, I would say a day would be the most they should be observed. Beyond that, though, they need to fly free to keep the generations going. Good luck!

[@j.elkeertle4192]

Thank you for creating the series. I felt reassured at each phase of their development having watched what it supposed to happen next. I just raised 5 monarch on three store-bought milkweed plants. No 1, 2 and 3 just flew the coup. Maybe some of their descendants will come back.

[@MrLundScience]

J. Elke Ertle That...is...awesome. Thank you for sharing that. Makes me feel great to know how these videos are being used. I appreciate it very much, and definitely appreciate you taking the time to help them!

[@Debbiesnc]

Hi, Mr.LundScience and a great big thank you for your diligent and great work! I am looking at my first caterpillar who has moved from one spot to his third on the ceiling of my large net cage, and without your comments and the followers I would be somewhat freaked that he hasn't settled down! I have had one of the three original, (one sadly died ;'-( ), cats do this at an early stage as he/she had climbed up the sides but it was not nearly as large as this one, so assuming he/she was "lost". I replaced her on the leaves below where she was happy! Now this guy! I named him "J Hook" and "J" for short, and his little sis on the leaves hanging out now is "J II" to make it easier ,and hopeful! Thanks again for this stuff, you are amazing and I would not have been convinced to help these little guys in my garden last week without your videos that we have watched now for the 2nd time. Oh ,and yes ,I observed this J guy twitch and also his antennae looking crinkly now but this is going into 24 hrs. since he attached in first place on the top.

[@MrLundScience]

Yep, when the antennae look to be withering, that's an indicator that within an hour or so, they'll be forming the chrysalis. As this comment was 2 days ago, I would imagine you've gotten to enjoy that transition by now. Great job, Debbie! I'm very pleased that these videos were able to help you out. When I was trying to figure these things out, there were some videos on KZbin I looked at for guidance, but not many. Just not that many showed things very well or provided details I wanted. So, once I figured a few things out, I thought I'd make the videos I had wanted when I was trying to learn. I had no idea there'd be this many people benefiting from them. It's pretty humbling.

[@jennyanderson9357]

I harvested our first 6 caterpillars today. My kids and I are very excited. We have used insectlore to watch caterpillars but now, I have a milkweed garden that has been visited!

[@moxiee216]

Thanks for the informative videos! Watched them last year towards the end of the season, after planting my first milkweeds in my garden and raised and released one monarch butterfly. This year I have 22 caterpillars, and am loving this little hobby/obsession! I plan to keep the seeds of the milkweed and start as many plants as I can next spring, then I will give them away to community members in an effort to attract more monarchs to our area of Nova Scoita, Canada. Thanks again!

[@MrLundScience]

Yep, the number one reason I have milkweed, after the idea of just helping the Monarchs in general, is to have a source of seeds each year to give out to interested students. Planting milkweed can be pretty low commitment, and thus, many are willing to do it to help out. Great job getting your community members involved!

[@melissawollard164]

Your videos and information has been extremely helpful. You are my go-to when I need information. Thank you! We've had one monarch emerge on 08/07. Two more are heading to 'J' hanging. These are the most exciting as we found them as eggs; so, we're experiencing the full process... Amazing!

[@ashleywendt9541]

My son and I go for walks and he likes to call them scavenger hunts!! We hunt for caterpillars! We every year hatch out about 10 or more. We have watched all your videos and we this year just found today 9 eggs on leaves and we also brought in today 21 caterpillars of all sizes! We have them all in containers from size to size so the big ones don't bother the real little ones. We have a total of 29 and on has turned into it's chrysalis and we have 9 eggs!! My son loves watching nature and releasing them back out into the wild! This is something he will remember all his life and I encourage parents to have fun like this with there children!!!

[@MrLundScience]

That all sounds pretty awesome. Of course, make sure you have enough food to supply all of those lil' tykes, but it sounds like you have things under control. And oh yes, this is fertile ground for lasting memories. Great job!

[@ashleywendt9541]

We just watched 2 hatch from eggs and the third is just trying to wiggle out now!!! This is such an amazing thing to watch nature at its best!!!

[@ursulareeg1171]

Fabulous! Thank you! Just the most amazing venture to witness. U so appreciate the hard work and stages that these beauties go through

[@joycejune5172]

I hatched two or three last year ... need to raise them now ... this is addicting! also plan to get tadpoles this year ... love bull frogs!

[@bobdixon4454]

Wow! What an awesome series of videos! Not sure how I missed out on this hobby all these years. I am making this comment now as my first Monarch is about to J hang. This has been quite a thrill and I would not have attempted to do this without watching your videos. Thank you! I'll pay you back with dozens of Monarchs added to the world ... deal?

[@MrLundScience]

Bob, that's a total deal! Exactly why I made these videos. Hoping to find those interested in getting involved. Glad to hear it's J-hanging, though if all is going well, it's a chrysalis as I type this. Careful...this is addicting!

[@bobdixon4454]

The last two days we had a beautiful experience as our two 5 year old granddaughters each released their two monarchs. Thank you again for making this possible with your wonderful series of videos!

[@daisycate]

This is a lovely exchange, and I have had the same experience, Bob, I have given away 6 chrysalides thus far -- with Mr. Lund's instructions and links -- and my three year-old granddaughter is naming the chrysalides as she carefully helps me hang them. What a simple joy and collecting new leaves every day from different patches of milkweed has gotten me outside walking more, to boot. :) Thank you, Rich.

[@jenniferp347]

Thank you for these videos! They have been very informative for my 6yo and me. We currently have 3 eggs and 2 maybes, 1 tiny caterpillar, 1 likely in 4th instar, and one likely in 5th. We are excited to help take care of these insects! I hope we do them justice and it's a great learning experience for my child. We also live in Michigan and everything we have found so far has been on common milkweed.

[@MrLundScience]

Very cool that your 6 year old is learning to care about the environment at such a young age! Glad I could help. Thanks for helping out the Monarchs...and fair warning - it's addictive!

[@jenniferp347]

@@MrLundScience it really is! We now have one hatched egg and the biggest caterpillar is chilling at the top of the container. For the babies, we currently have them in peanut butter jars with paper towel rubber banded to the top. Think that's alright? Picking up a small plastic aquarium today for the bigger ones but I don't think I will be able to move the one that's at the top of the container already.

[@MrLundScience]

I think the jar will do the trick just fine.

[@cinaminlee2148]

Thanks so much for these videos! I bought a milkweed last year that went to seed and I never checked It to see if there were any monarchs on it it but this year one plant grew through the crack and I enjoyed the flowers until I saw 5 large cats chomping away. Didn't know what to do so brought in two and started doing my research on what to do and found you. The next day they went into j hang. Amazing. I went through my garden to search for the others. Three had chysalized in the compost under the lid a few inches above the grass clippings. A big spidery web was under one so I removed It even though I don't think it was more than 12 hours. I left the other two for the 24hrs before moving. I feared the one was under a spider web but could it have created a "hammock" to protect itself? A day or two later, the one under the spider web had a string of web leaking and turned brown (Tachinidae?). The others I hung but they shook a lot! one I dropped (ah) I'm worried I shook them too much and they'll come out deformed. Did I make a mistake in moving the one under the hammock or was it best to move the chrysalis if there are lots of compost flies around? Do they spin webbing to protect themselves. Anyway, Now I'm OBSESSED with taking care of them. !! I'm even keeping the infected one around to see if a fly larva comes out. I hope I didn't shake it to dead when I moved it. Could I have bumped it and made it turn brown? Nature is amazing.Another question, should I take the chysalis outside in their container to get the air / heat of their birth site? My kitchen doesn't have much climate and I was told the elements was healthier but I have to move "shake" them when I do take them outside. Please advise. Thank you!

[@lilbitl8019]

I have a swamp milkweed that on June 29th I went outside to water my plants and on one of my watering containers there was a 1 in or a little bit smaller monarch caterpillar on it. So I went and looked at my milkweed and I had at least 100 caterpillars all different sizes but no bigger than that 1 inch, so since then I have kept my eye on the plant and the caterpillars in the majority of them have disappeared and moved on and done their last stages elsewhere or I know I had found numerous ones crawling on the ground that got knocked off the plant. Today July 5th I came home quickly from work at about 1:30 checked out the two that I have in their container and checked out the ones plant and they were all munching away and crawling around and some were sleeping. I got home about 8 p.m. from work and I found 1 on the plant in its J form and the two in their container in their J form. I am so stoked and so excited, I have loved monarchs since I was a little girl and through Elementary every year my project was on monarchs. So you can imagine my excitement when I seen these three in their J form, which is odd to me to see one on its plant that it grew up on because the majority of them go about 30 feet from where they grew up to form their J and turn into chrysalis.

[@sandyhultgren4140]

I've watched this entire series at least twice now and this is my first time raising monarchs. I have five caterpillars that have all crawled to the top of their container. The top is wire mesh and the cats all hatched just over two weeks ago. They have been on the top like this all day and I am wondering just how long before they go into the 'J-hang'? I'll feel so much better when I see that happening. Many thanks for putting together these videos.

[@sandyhultgren4140]

Oops!!! During the time I was writing my above comment, one went into the J-hang! Oh happy day!

[@MrLundScience]

Yesterday, the "big guy" from this video went into J-hang. It's confirmed, he was 5th Instar at the time of making this video and finding him in the field.

[@sandyhultgren4140]

I am happy to report that I have five chrysalides and one in J-hang. Woo-hoo! I'm batting 1,000! I've watched your videos all several times through this process and I'll be watching the last one again in about 10 days. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

[@MrLundScience]

Beautiful! I hope I can have similar success with my three remaining, struggling python eggs in a few weeks!

[@jessicaalbarado7294]

@@MrLundScience what’s the best temperature for them?? I am in Louisiana and got a few in the spring but just recently found about 30 caterpillars on my milkweed plants in September and we’ve been having some nights in the 50’s. What should I do?? I have them in a tent that has a bucket of milkweed planted in it

[@kathleenambrose877]

Interesting to me that the Ad below this video is for Round Up. Love the work you doing. My whole yard has been converted to pollinator friendly and native plants. Never tried this but giving it serious thought

[@MrLundScience]

Yeah, there's been a few times that Round Up ads have shown up there and people have commented about it... Usually KZbin wants to take ads off of questionable, slightly adult themed, or controversial videos. I doubt they have anyone looking into what pesticide companies might not want their ads featured on.

[@Debbiesnc]

Hi, Kathleen! I could not resist telling you that it would be a great thing to try out since your yard is a healthy place for all living things, especially in this world of chemically treated yards, land, etc. I imagine you can grow milkweed as well! We have been "organic" for 25 yrs. on our little horse farm, now without horses, thus we have paddocks w/ wild milkweed growing just a short hike from the front door. We have had Monarch Butterflies come to the perennial garden for the flowering things, and the milkweed that I started growing in the gardens! After seeing some caterpillars in the "wild" this year I and reading that only 10% of Monarchs make it when raised outside, I knew it would be helpful to at least give it a shot, with the guidance of this video series and the kind Mr.LundScience~ finding the 3 caterpillars I have now, (one sadly died since, I believe he was injured after I found him crawling loose off of the leaves in the cage!),but the others are healthy) was exciting. I am new at this and have fallen in love with the 2 caterpillars having them inside, in a butterlfy net cage where we can watch them, easily find a way to check them, while I put in new fresh milkweed branches/leaves (I have a technique using water pics like used at the florist, then insert them into a base form like laboratories use. Next if we are lucky they will attach to the ceiling of their home, J-hook and become the last step as a chrysalis. I can't imagine how stunning an experience it will be as the butterflies emerge! Good luck! This guy answers people's many questions, too, as do others.

[@valeriegordon4295]

Your videos are very helpful and amazing! I planted a butterfly garden at my house and have my first 3 J hangers! Anxiously awaiting a chance to release them! Thanks for the videos....complete instructions and timing scales! awesome!

[@MrLundScience]

I'm very glad that they have been able to be helpful. Congrats on your J-hangers! Getting to see them emerge in about 10-12 days will be awesome the first time through.

[@ScarlettandTheFever]

So thankful for all these helpful videos and tips. I'm new to this and appreciate the guidance and advice!

[@LShaver947]

I now have 32 monarch caterpillars 1st and 2nd instar and 11 eggs also 4 crysalides I am very excited because I just started raising them in June

[@MrLundScience]

Congrats! That's very cool! It's quite exciting to hear how much you have dived into this! Good luck!

[@athenad8636]

Thank You Mr. Lund - I appreciate your guidance!

[@MrLundScience]

+Athena D Guidance Thru Science, y'all... kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHibn6KKeL9jgZo

[@robox2725]

This video series are so well made, informative, easy to follow and a pleasure to watch. I’m only wondering about the best temperature for raising Monarchs? Thank you 😊

[@MrLundScience]

Hey Rob. Thanks for the kind words. As for the "best" temperature, it depends upon how you are defining "best". If we are just saying that "best" would mean temperatures where the caterpillars / chrysalides are healthy, then "best" can be anywhere from 70s to high 80s, but keep in mind, that doesn't mean 60s or 90s are necessarily bad either. The Monarchs are just more comfortable in these summer weather temps. Meanwhile, if the temperatures are cooler, 60s and low 70s, the caterpillars will have a slower metabolism, and eat food less quickly and take longer to reach chrysalis. For some, where milkweed isn't as easy to come by, this is preferred to give them time to go get more milkweed from sources they know around them that aren't easily nearby. That would make those temperatures "best". But, if you're hoping to push as many as possible through your process, 80s and 90s would be "best", getting the chemistry to run faster and having them reach the chrysalis stage a few days earlier than at cooler temperatures. Hope that helps!

[@CA2ILGAL]

MrLundScience Hi I have further temperature/location question. If warmer is better, is sunshine required? If I bring the eggs and am raising indoors I have the house a/c on so I suspect it’s too cold. I have them by a window so perhaps it’s 75-78 max if the sun is shining. Should I move this to my garage where it’s definitely warmer? But less sunshine. Looks like your hanging string is in a Sun room?

[@dragonmaster9008]

My cat made her chrysalis today. Cant wait to see her hatch

[@MrLundScience]

According to my records, it's between 9 and 14 days, depending upon temperature (the warmer, the faster). The average is 11.24. Enjoy!

[@smithonkz]

Your video on moving chrysalides was helpful. Had to move one that was coming loose from food tent mesh. I released her this morning.

[@MrLundScience]

I'm glad it was there for you when you, and especially she, needed it!

[@nicholasledoux1334]

We had two J-Hanging but this morning, one fell from its attachment piece and bled to death but before was still trying to pupae but didn't make it. Jasmine and Belle were hanging, but Jasmine hatched the day after Belle but Jasmine is the one button first while Belle was eating still. not long after that though Belle went to look for an estate. So as of August 1st 2017, we lost one. We thought we share.

[@MrLundScience]

Sorry to hear that occurred. It can happen from time to time. Stay with it, though. There is, unfortunately, loss along the way, but you'll have your successes as well.

[@tasteegold7772]

sorry rich..false alarm lol..i watched 5 minute's into the video and during the transformation it pinches it's tail off while "chrysalising"..it had me a new monarch parent a little worried lol..great video's and information my friend

[@allisonetheridge446]

incredible!

[@jenniferdrydsale460]

Update from SLC, Utah... I found a wild Milkweed patch and low and behold I've found 10 eggs. Four of the eggs have hatched and now are caterpillars. I sure hope that I can get my Milkweed garden growing next year because it's no fun driving 3 miles to get Milkweed leaves. Nonetheless, I'm driving up every other day to try and find more eggs and to replenish the leaves for the little munchers!

[@MrLundScience]

That's cool stuff. I've picked leaves, wrap them as shown in the videos, and then refrigerate them. When I do this, they can last for multiple days longer. I usually need them within 1, 2, or 3 days after placing them in the fridge, so I've never really found out how long they last. Point being, you could collect even more leaves, refrigerate some, and then not have to make as many trips as often.

[@jenniferdrydsale460]

I've been doing that and the leaves actually seem to be keeping for around 7 days (which is great!) I have a few million questions if you get some extra time :) Just kidding... But if you could answer a few questions so that I don't kill these little fellas out it would be sooooo helpful... 1. I have the caterpillars indoors in food safe containers in my house. I'm worried that since my house is air conditioned to around 73 degrees that I might shock them when I let them go. It's around 100-103 degrees outside and tends to stay that warm until the end of August. Do you think I should try leaving them outside so that they acclimate better? 2. Is there any reason I can't put newspaper in their bug houses when they get bigger so that they are easier to clean up? 3. When I release them should I release them where I found them? I haven't ever seen a Monarch in my garden, but my neighbor across the street has seen them in his, and he has a huge organic garden. Do you think it would be okay for me to let them out over there? 4. Lastly.... I bought this big butterfly mesh enclosure that I was going to put their chrysalides in so that they are safe from my dogs and other house hold elements. Can I put multiple ones in there? And if so, when one hatches how long do I have until I have to release them? Thank you soooo much all that you have done with these videos!

[@MrLundScience]

Hey Jennifer. Here's the best answers I can offer: 1. I would say, yes, leaving them outside would be a safer idea. I honestly don't think the abrupt change in temp would cause them a problem, but why not err on the side of caution, right? As long as they are in the containers, it should be safe. 2. I don't know if newspaper ink causes them any problems, but I highly doubt it does. (If newspaper ink was truly toxic to the environment, I doubt we'd use as much of it as we do.) Seems like a safe and good idea to me. 3. You can release them wherever you like, and at home is fine. Monarchs can travel quite a distance in a short amount of time if they wish. You're already driving far to get the milkweed. If I were in your shoes, I'd just release from home. They make it to Mexico (if they are of the east of the Rockies population) so you can count on them to travel enough to find food. But, here's a tip... Releasing them *with other people* can cause others to *easily* want to become a part of this next year! 4. As long as it's not overcrowded, yes, multiples could easily get in there. Use your best judgement. I try to always release mine the same day, unless there's a huge thunderstorm on the horizon. They have much business to attend to, be it finding food, finding a mate, or later in the season, taking the long journey to Mexico. If you wanted to keep them around to show others, certainly one or two days is fine. (There were times it was storming for two days in a row that I didn't release some of mine until it had passed. They did fine.) Questions are always just someone wanting to know something more. I'm a fan of questions. If people are wiling to take this on, I'm willing to field whatever questions I am able to answer (and admit when I don't know the answer to them as well).

[@jenniferdrydsale460]

Thank you again for all of your help. I have around 17 eggs and baby caterpillars as of today. The first egg that I found a few weeks ago is already a huge caterpillar who is eating around 1 leaf a day. I was reading some other sites and found out about the deadly OE parasite. I haven't rinsed any of the eggs or leaves in bleach. Should I start doing this?

[@MrLundScience]

Are you in an area where OE is at a high rate? These areas include Florida and the West Coast. If so, it's not a bad idea. It's actually what my next video is about, which will be up within a day or two.

[@MrLundScience]

To Melissa Whitehead: Sorry that I can't reply to YOUR comment. KZbin has some bug happening. Thus, I had to leave the comment here that I typed: Greetings Melissa. I'm sorry that you're having issues with your cats, and I don't know if I fully understand what's going on, but here's some questions and my attempt at some help: 1) You put the cats in containers and then took them inside, and they didn't like the cold... What's the temperature inside your home? Most go with a 70F situation. Even if it's as low as low 60's, that still shouldn't deter them from eating and developing, even if it might make the chemistry a bit slower. It's possible, too, that they may have not stopped all activity permanently. If they were about to molt, caterpillars cease eating for a day sometimes. If you happened to put them inside when they were coincidentally about to molt, it may have seemed that they stopped all activity when they were really exhibiting normal behaviors before molting. I would advise trying to keep the caterpillars in containers, and if for some reason it really is too cold inside, why not leave the containers outside? 2) Wasps and other predators are definitely a natural reason that not every egg or caterpillar makes it. As in my videos, I don't really ever run into this problem, for once I have the egg, keeping them in containers prevents natural predators from having the chance to get at them. 3) As for when the cats will decide to J-hang, they don't have a for sure indicator to you that they are going to do it necessarily. I've had a few I thought were going to, and then didn't. Still, usually, they start wandering to find a good spot, and then they remain upside down in one place for a few hours (having already spun much silk to secure themselves) and start the hang. Predicting where they will hang can be tough, but if you give them one or more obvious options (and by obvious, I mean, they can easily find it by just crawling around) they are likely to hang from there. Still, you do get those rebels who might decide to divert from your plan, and find very interesting places to hang that they are more comfortable with. Again, I don't run into this because of the use of the containers. In summary, it seems like if you do what I do and show in the video series, the issues you're having won't be able to cause you worry any longer. I know that there are others who let the caterpillars they raise hang out on actual plants in their yard, etc., but if those plants are outside, nature can and will take its course, and that includes predators. Even if our intentions are to help out the natural world, nature need not conform to our hopes and plans. It does require more work to collect fresh leaves and feed the cats in the containers, but the payoff is, you don't lose any to predators, and you (rarely) loose any of the cats due to wandering. I hope this gives you some help!

[@clarabell60z]

Thanks so much for your thorough reply. The temp runs around 74 degrees in my home so I must have just not given them time to do adjust. I'm so grateful for your kind helpful remarks. #1 The aquarium you show and the grating cover: Do the caterpillars climb the glass to get to the grating and did you purchase that at a Pet Store? Is it for lizards and such perhaps? #2 Okay, I'm an "old gal" so it's hard to change course but I think that's what I've got to do.

[@clarabell60z]

Well, now one than two fair sized cats started wandering. They acted like they wanted out of the pot. I had that plastic grating (openings just the size of a full sized cat) in with the plant but they were not interested. One managed to climb onto the porch screen but I just wasn't able to leave him there wandering. It gets very hot there full sun in the p.m. hours. I've made a tupperware tub with paper towel moistened and put a piece of the plastic screen mesh in there supporting itself. It's inside on my dining table. Got leaves in there but they are not interested in eating. Best I can do right now. This activity has a 'huge' learning curve.

[@MrLundScience]

I have no problem giving thorough replies, especially those who are willing to help out with this cause! So thank you for what you are doing! As for the containers, I did buy the one with the green lid at a pet store. It's normally for small lizards, hermit crabs, etc. They are WAY more expensive than they should be. Ridiculously priced for being just plastic. So, yeah, if you can make your own with tupperware, go for it. However, ventilation IS definitely important for good health, and to help prevent too much moisture building up, causing mold to grow on leaves. Have you seen Part 3 of this series? In that video, I show how I'll keep the young ones in "to go" food containers. I do that to prevent what you describe - so as they do not get out through the grating (cause they WILL if you give them the chance to). That video is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXu4aWB8pax8bZo And if you haven't, check out all Parts 1 - 5. There's a good wealth of info there that may answer questions before you even knew you had them. Thanks for what you're doing, and as more questions pop up, bring them here and I'll do the best I can!

[@MrLundScience]

Good job with the tupperware! I feel that it's important to keep this activism as low cost as possible. If it has a minimal price tag, more are willing to get involved.

[@clarabell60z]

Believe it or not, 'Teach' I viewed all your videos before writing you and was just saying to hubbie I've got to go back and review those videos again. I an sure I will be reviewing them for some time. I'm a former first grade teacher (10 yrs.) so I do know about reading comprehension and all those blasted questions!!! :) You are a good teach to be so patient and helpful with newbies to the Monarch world. Hubbie went up in attic and brought down an old aquarium and purchased a top.It's not like yours but I think it'll do. Of course I don't think cats can climb glass so I've done some inventive things to help them climb to the screening of the cover. I've transferred the two wanderers to this on the back porch. In the coolest part of the porch. While they were in there emergency tupperware in the cool of our house AGAIN they did nothing. No movement--all day. As soon as I transferred them to the porch enclosure they went right up to the grid. ?????? INTERESTING NOTE: The mature cats did NOT like being transferred off the plant to the aquarium. Your way from cradle to flight must keep all the critters satisfied with their conditions. I just can't express enough how these cats responded to the aquarium. Uh-uh. Oh no. They were furious. They careened into each other and (bit?) each other thinking it was a leaf and some just did somersaults for awhile. I'm wondering if they have 'a thing' about being 'grounded' so to speak. Not liking the touch of the paper towel perhaps? The only thing that settled them down was I noticed they all went to the one 5 "milkweed branch I had put in their container along with a number of good single leaves. So I cut a few more twigs w leaves attached and propped them up and all have settled down for hopefully a good night. Anyway! This has been quite a day for me. Here's hoping tomorrow goes a little smoother. Thanks for listening. It means alot. I do not think I could have continued 'figuring' out solutions without your intervention/tips etc. I wish you had a blog or FB page but I guess this is work enough what with your own Monarch responsibilities. Anyway, Thanks Mr. Lund!!!

[@staceywilson4725]

In Southern California, our native milkweed leaves are smaller.

[@vladimirvonklan5125]

Hi Stacey -- I am in southern CA too and have the narrow leaved milkweed that I am using. Is there anything special that I should do when placing it in the container for the caterpillars? Any tips on the yellow aphids?

[@heidigee8992]

I like this guys videos a lot.

[@patchichester5296]

I have noticed. If a caterpillar stays on a milkweed plant it will grow much bigger. If it is removed and put into a container it will form the J hang sooner. I left one cat on a MW plant and it got very big. I put into a container yesterday and overnight it went into the J hang. So I guess they are like gold fish. They will grow if they have room to grow.

[@clarabell60z]

Pat are you still raising Monarchs and where are you in Florida? North or South, East or West?

[@patchichester5296]

South.... 1 hr north of Miami

[@joannmicik1924]

As of September 2018, I've released 18 monarchs and have another 14 in chrysalis. I think the numbers are rebounding here in PA.

[@MrLundScience]

Great job! Tough to say if numbers can rebound in an area, though. I mean, it could certainly be true for a summer. But, next year, these migratory Monarchs will mate in the spring before coming back up. And a PA Monarch might mate with a GA Monarch, or a TX Monarch, etc. So...where do those offspring head? I don't know that science knows yet what causes a Monarch to head up one migratory path versus another. Could be random chance. Could be that it follows wherever the food supply takes it (as in, nectaring flowers). There's always more to learn. So, I hope that numbers everywhere are going up. But it's good to hear that your PA summer has been going well!

[@joannmicik1924]

Thanks for the reply! In my rural neighborhood for the past several years, we've got a "Monarch Factory" going. My neighbor, is much to be commended: she has released more than 100 monarch each year for the past 3 years. She's done presentations locally and there's great interest here in helping Monarchs by both rearing them and growing milkweed. I think if we all continue this grassroots effort, we'll turn things around.

[@Debbiesnc]

That is SO wonderful, congratulations!

[@igorgerlovin3185]

7:05 - you said that when a female comes out, she needs to dry her wings. Is it not the same with the male?

[@staceywilson4725]

Also, when I transfer my chrysalids, I use scotch tape to hang them in a better spot in the reptile container. I have too many critters running around my house to leave them exposed.

[@hastycontemplation]

My caterpillars are forming chrysalides and as the 5th instar migrate to the top of the cage will attack the chrysalides. I had to put one 5th instar outside because it was particularly aggressive practically lying on the newly formed pupa and biting; I had to intervene several times before it committed irreparable damage and resorted to placing it back outside. This ordeal was very stressful! Now two new 5th instars have settled in on the chrysalides which have hardened off a bit but I feel I have to keep a watchful eye since they are so curious about the chromatophore and pupa as a whole. This has made me rethink the logic of keeping the pupa form in the same enclosure as the larva, also, this issue is rarely addressed online or on KZbin. Am I the only one who has had this problem? I am convinced that the agressive cat would have eaten the new pupa if I had not intervened- this would have been an absolute tragedy. Any thoughts in what I should do?

[@MrLundScience]

Wow... I'm not surprised that there isn't much info on this. I know in the years doing this myself, and answering comments/questions through these videos, this is the first I've heard of this behavior. Perhaps the reason I haven't encountered this is that pretty early into doing what I do, I started having enough numbers to want to always relocate the chrysalides. If I left them in with caterpillars, perhaps I'd have seen this behavior too. My recommendation would be to yes, relocate chrysalides into a separate container. I know not everyone has a screened in porch like I do, so if I didn't have such a porch, I'd be getting myself a second container and doing it that way. Good luck!

[@hastycontemplation]

MrLundScience Thanks for the reply. I ended up rearing 10 of the 11 eggs successfully so hopefully they will make their way up to MI soon. I found some info. about the aggressive cats, some have said they remove the j's once formed to prevent being eaten. I am hesitant to remove a J but will have to research further. I was so worried the remaining 5th instars would do the same, I watched them like a hawk for 2 days! I was worn out. Unfortunately the aggressive cat that I had to put back outside ended up being snatched by some type of animal while in the chrysalis stage :( I have to say that my intuition told me something would happen if I put it back outside but I had no other choice. Overall though, this was a very successful maiden monarch rearing!

[@jeslynkakani591]

Thank you for this amazing series, I just wanted to know the ideal temperature for a chrysalis, should they be placed under sunlight? and important Do's and Dont's.

[@CC-ho5lw]

I have now planted 50 milkweeds in my backyard and for the first time in the 5 years I’ve lived at my home I’ve now seen 3 Monarchs. How, having never seen them before, do they find the milkweed? Your series is beyond fascinating. TY so much for sharing your knowledgeable. A friend recommended - she is passionate about the Monarchs and raises them as you do. I’m getting eggs from her but question here - what would be the most desirable place to place the line with the clipped chrysalides? Part sun & shade? No direct sun? Have a huge covered porch so I have lots of options. In Athens, GA. Thank you so much!!!!

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings CC! The antennae of butterflies is amazing. They are incredibly sensitive, and able to detect scents at the molecular level. Just like hearing a quiet sound that is still loud enough for you to hear, a Monarch can pick up on just a few molecules of an odor, and because there's two antennae, be able to have a decent idea of the direction it came from as well. Whichever antenna is receiving more of those molecules, that's the direction the molecules must be coming from. Like hearing in stereo, but they are more "smelling" in stereo. What odors/scents the milkweed gives off, these trigger the instinct in the Monarchs to visit said milkweed, be it a female looking to lay eggs, or a male looking for females who will likely be around those plants. If you are looking to hang your chrysalides, direct sunlight is probably the less favorable of the options. A bit won't hurt, as they experience that in nature, too, but non-stop intense sunlight *could* potentially have issues. Not highly likely, but it's a possibility. Another commenter said that when a heat wave went through her region for a spell of 4 days or so, many of her chrysalides that were in direct sunlight shriveled, and eventually, did not produce an adult. Whether it was just the heat, or sunlight as well, or possibly something not related, it still would make me wary of placing them in direct non-stop sunlight. Hope that helps!

[@CC-ho5lw]

MrLundScience Yes makes perfect sense about the direct sun and heat. Fascinating about their smelling abilities. Thank you.

[@trishlanza4367]

@@MrLundScience Now that might make sense of why several of my chrysalides turned black recently and did not eclose. I am in South Florida, and raise the Monarchs outside, so they choose their J-spot. Some of them hang on the side of the house, unfortunately in full sun, and it has been very hot and sunny. I just don't understand how one "season" of cats and Monarchs can produce say, 12-15 chrysalides. Of those, 4 produced beautiful, perfect Monarchs. I was away, and when I came home, 4 chyrsalides were empty, and when I awoke the first morning there were 4 more empty but I saw the results of two beautiful Monarchs. The chrysalis were all over - on the house wall, in the window overhangs and above the patio doors - these all emerged safely. The last 4 were awful; 3 were eclosed with their wings still in some kind of sheath (?) and although I was able to remove this covering on one of the butterflies, it seemed a wing was missing; it never filled its wings and was unable to fly; the 2nd was the same, and the third was worse, dragging its body. Was this OE? Sadly, all three were euthanized. Lastly, one chrysalis was actually on the milkweed plant, and I could see the orange Monarch wing actually pressing against the translucent chrysalis. I sat down to watch. The chrysalis cracked. Nothing. Nothing. I was shocked, and became a scientist - I cut it open, and the wings were all there (I was wondering, since the other three were lacking one wing) but the body was mush. Again, OE?? How could it be so close to emerging and not eclose?? I can send pictures but tell me where. My milkweed has been cut back to one inch to the ground, or at best 3-5" tops and yet it's already getting leaves. I am considering covering with netting so I do not get eggs for a while. Can anyone give me some help?

[@wendymatsonmartinezpreferr5039]

Your music choices are great

[@Rome274]

In New Zealand they are getting wiped out because of the wasps and preying mantis eating them if they are outdoors . I have to have swan plants inside in pots to protect them.

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings Fisel! This is part of the reason that with the process I show, it involves taking them into a controlled environment. While left in nature, they are left to nature's whims, and mother nature is definitely not kind to caterpillars. I understand not everyone will have the time to take in the cats and care for them, but if people are able to find the time to do that, well, these videos are here to help. I don't advertise this as the best way, simply a way I've found effective (and cheap).

[@amye6229]

Once I had 100 monarch cats in a 30 gal aquarium. The cats that were still feeding ate some of the crysalids that had already dried because they ran out of food while I was at work. It was a little disturbing....

[@user-wx9zr8jp4f]

Great info. Thanks!

[@SantiagousDominguezus]

The one that Jay hanged in the opposite direction, did it cause he/she is a born rebel.

[@MrLundScience]

I've always had a soft spot for rebellion.

[@crosleysparty]

Oh my watch at 5:00 so incredible

[@lisadalessandro3396]

amazing and inspirational!!!

[@MrLundScience]

I can only agree. The Monarchs have inspired multiple aspects of my life at this point.

[@carolcampbell1778]

Very informative.

[@kate9576]

I am really learning a lot from your videos. Thank you. If you decide to do another video, may I recommend the song "Cousin Caterpillar" by Incredible String Band?

[@MrLundScience]

I don't use music I don't own these days for videos. Back when I made these, I didn't fully understand how KZbin works with such things. Usually it just means that the copyright holder will earn revenue from your video, which isn't a big deal in my opinion. But it can also mean that down the road, the copyright holder could tell KZbin to shut down any videos containing that music, and just like that, poof, they're taken down. I doubt that will happen with any of these, but still, it caused me to want to always own everything in my video production so that it's a risk I need not worry about. But I checked out the song you recommended, and gosh, that's a fun song! I agree, it'd perfectly go with certain scenes in Monarch vids.

[@rileyfitzpatrick7558]

“It’s gonna look for a stable place with no motion” *proceeds to move top*

[@aphoticism6523]

My monarch’s chrysalis turned brown, I think it died.

[@henpeckedlizard9873]

No it didn't die! That's the sign that its about to hatch

[@maydabalboa8613]

my chrysalis are turning black and dying. When I started I got a lot of butterflies. But now they chrysalis are dying. I am not sure what happened. I live in Florida. It has been really hot. I have them inside at the screen porch. I have seen some ants crawling inside were I have them. I am not sure if this is the reason. I am very sad. I just started a couple of month ago and I am new at raising them. Could humidity have anything to do with it? Could the ants be the culprit? I have plants inside the container they sell at the nurseries. Should I remove the chrysalis and hand them like you do. Can the chrysalis get wet, since I spray the plants inside the container. Since I am new at growing them, I did not know I could move the chrysalis without harming them. Please let me know if you or anyone can assist me. I am really sad that after all the time I spend taking care of them my butterflies are dying in their chrysalis😢 Your help would be really appreciated?

[@lindaboggio596]

When mine come out they climb all over me when they are in the chrysalis I wet my fingers and I touched the outside of the crystal is just barely Wayne just enough so I don't stick to it and when they come out they must know me because then I have pictures movies that are climbing all over my face down my arms my legs my hands especially but when the female comes out she just flutters all over my hands she'll just stay there and flutter and flutter so I guess she's drying her wings I didn't know that I was just so happy to have her there

[@clarabell60z]

Help! I absolutely don't know what I'm doing and am so grateful for any help. I have the cats at different stages on one very large plant in a pot on my back western facing porch. I'd tried putting them in containers from info found online but in my air conditioned home in Florida I think they did not like the cold. (They just stopped all activity!! Thought they would die) So I brought the plant that was in a pot onto the porch. This all happened because as I'm studying my year old plant I find the cats disappearing and eventually actually witness a wasp staking out the plant limb for limb for cats and attacking and eating them. Crazy!! Question: I just know from the size of one of these cats that they are going to be looking for a place to hang? Will they hang on the branches of this plant? I've stuck a piece of plastic grid that I made into a cylinder shape and secured it to the soil so that it won't move but will this be sufficient? I'm petrified I've saved all these beautiful critters from 'evil' Mr./Ms. Wasp and will end of ending their lives myself!!! What to do? What to do? Omg. Thank you in advance for your help.

[@luningfang6506]

Thanks for the informative video. I found a monarch egg about three weeks ago and this is my first time taking care of a caterpillar. It has been about 17 days since it hatched, but it's still not doing the J hang. It's still eating and pooping a lot. I have a net on the top of a jar and a few sticks in the jar for it to hang. Sometimes it stays on a top or the stick for a long time, but it would go back to eating again. Do you have any idea what is going on? Is it normal to take that long? Thank you very much!

[@andream7949]

Wow! Your videos have been by far the most informative videos on how to raise Monarchs. Thank You! My question is, I do not have a screened in porch such as yourself, what kind of cage would you recommend, so that I could allow the chrysalides to hang from a string? Thank you and also great choice of music in all your videos!

[@MrLundScience]

Thanks Andrea! If I didn't have a screened in porch, the size of a container (and thus, type) would depend upon the number I'd be having in there. I have a python who has grown over the years and needed larger aquariums, so I have some at my disposal. I know that since I already have them, I'd likely be using those. Multiple strings/yarn could be attached to those lids in secure ways that I could clip the chrysalides from. I'd want that large space so that when they emerge if I wasn't home at that time, they'd not be over crowded if more than one came out. I'd also be giving them plenty of surfaces to find and stand on or hang from. When they only have slick surfaces, such as glass or plastic, they tend to keep trying to grab on to something. This extra, added movement can only lead to wing damage. If large aquariums are easily at hand, I suppose I'd be in search of another plastic container like what I already keep the larger caterpillars in, but if I were spending that money, I would figure I might as well get a used aquarium, as I'd find it for probably the same price and it'd provide more space. I hope that helps!

[@patchichester5296]

I hope they don't die it it's cool outside. I've been keeping them in 24 hers and then letting them go. But it's only in the 60's in Florida.

[@lynettegreen7617]

Thanks for the great videos! I live in North Carolina and I have been raising Monarch caterpillars in my sunroom this summer. I have 12 beautiful seemingly perfect Chrysalis. There are 2 that have reached Day 10 today and the chrysalis is barely clarifying yet. The temps have been cooler than normal for the past week (66-70 degrees) but the room hasn't been below 60 at night. Should I do anything or add heat to the room? The high today is supposed to be 75 but is dipping to 68 later this week I am concerned about these coming out, it would break my heart if they didn't. Does the clarification stage happen quickly? Thank you in advance.

[@TheChrome1955]

We really enjoyed your video and had success raising four Monarch this year. We were wondering where you got the green containers/cages you used in your video?

[@MrLundScience]

Glad you were able to use the videos! As for the containers, it's been long enough to where it's accurate to say, I don't honestly remember. However, such containers I have seen for sale at Meijer, Walmart, Pet Smart, Pet Co, and other non-chain pet shops. Look around for deals to keep the cost low, as these are just about always over-priced for what it actually costs to produce them. Good luck!

[@dorisschaffer7189]

Mark Wallace where did you get containers

[@wendy8184]

Great tips!

[@MrLundScience]

Thanks!

[@TheHappyNisha]

I'm not sure about the use of plastics in your work here Sir. I'm wondering what impact that could have on the butterfly evolution over time. Their development impacts humanity too after all, and vice versa. I wonder too, how they feel about having gone into their chrysalis in a plastic box and then awakening hanging on a thread of wool? Feels a little too traumatic for me.

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings Nisha. I'm not exactly sure what to say here. Evolution is a process that happens over hundreds of thousands or even millions of years. Synthetic plastic has only been around for about 110 years, and only widespread in human use for the last 60 years. Further, the tremendous majority of Monarch butterflies never come into contact with plastic, nor humans. My concern would be much more for that of their habitat (milkweed / nectar producing flowers) and what human impact occurs there (devastation and loss due to pesticides and herbicides). We could add plastic to the list, but far higher priority should probably be given to human activity involved in climate change and the use of pesticides/herbicides. While I don't agree with your concern, please understand that I do respect it. As for how the Monarch feels coming out of the chrysalis in a new location, I suppose I don't have much information on that. What's pretty interesting, though, is that when the caterpillar has formed the chrysalis, enzymes are released within the chrysalis that essentially "digests" or dissolves the components of the caterpillar's internal structure. So, all of the organs and tissues become what is mostly a protein "soup". The brain is digested in this way as well. Only a few key cells survive this process. The genes within those cells, though, contain the information needed for the adult body to be built from the "soup". In that regard, I am skeptical that the butterfly remembers much from its caterpillar days. Still, there was a study, which this article mentions ( www.scientificamerican.com/article/caterpillar-butterfly-metamorphosis-explainer/ ) that speaks of moths somewhat having "learned" from things that they experienced in the caterpillar stage. I'm a bit of a numbers guy, though. And as nature statistically gives Monarchs a 10% or less chance of making it from egg to adult, I'm comfortable with a Monarch emerging as an adult and wondering "How'd I get here?" and not being one of the 90% that don't make it otherwise. Unrelated - I checked out that carved statue you made. That thing is awesome! A very artistic undertaking, and I hope you are proud of it. Much more talent than I when it comes to that skill!

[@devintheguru]

Great video, but the pronunciation is not "kris-uh-lahyds". It's Greek, so it's like iris > irides, "ahy-ri-deez". Chrysalis likewise becomes chrysalides, "kris-al-i-deez". The metamorphosis is so fascinating for butterflies, but I the transformation into adulthood amazing across all of nature. Butterflies and moths have such a mystical nature to them 🦋 🍵🙏

[@Jessica_Crease87]

If my chrysalides are close to the edge of the mesh cage should I move them? They are almost touching the wall thanks for ur info it is spot on!!!! And has helped so much!

[@ms.empower7946]

Same here! What did you do?

[@tammywalker9463]

What is the ideal temperature for 1st instar till enclose? Also does humidity matter? I have monitors in all my cages. This is only my second year but I have become TOTALLY OBSESSED! I have also placed fans near by if I start to see the humidity over 80% THANK YOU 😊

[@harker222]

Is their a reason you like the plastic cages instead of the “silk screen” type ones? I’m just getting into this myself and was wondering about the choice of cage. I’m not saying you’re wrong by any means. Was just interested on your opinion. I ordered two of the silk/mesh type screen ones today. I was just curious if there was a reason behind your choice. Thank you. Great videos. I enjoyed all 5 parts and I’m so excited to get this going.

[@MrLundScience]

The tents can work too. I had these containers already, and that's partially why. For outdoor rearing, I use the mesh tents, as seen here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpuomIhmisdonrs

[@ScrepTure]

What time would my monarch make his/her chrysails? It's still J hanging

[@MrLundScience]

If all is healthy, the J-hang should only last about 24 hours. It can be slower at colder temperatures, though, and I have had healthy ones take almost a full second day.

[@ScrepTure]

Thanks! :)

[@nancymcmonarch]

Yikes. Skip the tweezers and start pulling the silk at some point AWAY from the chrysalis; that way you don't risk tearing the black cremaster out of the silk button altogether (or piercing the top of the chrysalis). Don't worry about pulling down multiple chrysalis at once! It's faster and easier to pull down a whole curtain of silk with two or ten chrysalis attached. They're easily separated with scissors or even just your fingers, leaving each with its own little section of silk, once you get them out of the cage. Not sure I trust those binder clips. Scotch tape is far more secure, and taping the silk around a long wooden skewer is the most secure way I've found to keep a chrysalis safe until it hatches.

[@BettaFishChannel1]

Out of curiosity do you notice any night time activity from the chrisalides? Or is it mainly daytime activity, or both? I started my butterfly garden today and want to help these critters make it through the growing pains :D

[@MrLundScience]

+Betta Fish To be honest, after the skin is molted and the casing has hardened, I notice no activity, be it day or night, other than blowing a bit in the wind. I suppose I should be more accurate and say, the activity I do see is about 24 hours before it emerges when the casing fades from green to translucent and you can see the orange/black wing patterns through the casing.

[@evelynasher3197]

I love your series and was wondering where I might get those clear/green containers you use to raise the monarchs. Can't find them anywhere. Do tell--please!!

[@dawncarne4437]

I have watched all your videos about caring for and raising the monarch caterpillar and butterfly... Thank you. This has helped me so much during my first year doing this and I love it. So far I have release 6 healthy beautiful butterflies. However I ha e come across a situation that I have not encountered yet... This morning I woke up to a grouping of J hangers and two were touching... They just went into chrysalis and they are literally joined together. One of them went before the other and has dried but still very soft... The other is just starting to harden.. I know I am going to have to transfer this grouping but don't know what to do with the two of the ones stuck together.... I have checked to see where they are stuck and one is leaning against the other by the wing section...I'm very worried that the wings won't form properly. I am also afraid that if I attempt to separate the chrysalis once both are hard ( safe) enough to transfer, that I will damage in or both. Any tips or advice is needed as I am super stressed about this issue. Thank you

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings Dawn! Okay...first...have you seen the new video on "Chrysalis Issues"? (If not, here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXObppeYi5iehbs ) In that video, I show the idea of a chrysalis being flat on one side, which usually is due to falling and being horizontal as it dries. What it sounds like is that you have two chrysalides that may have some flatness on one side. Thing is, it's not the ground, but each other that have caused this. It certainly can lead to deformity of the wings, but, often if the flatness isn't severe, they can still develop their wings just fine, and, sometimes even with some slight deformity, they are still able to fly. I definitely would not try to separate them. You are correct, this could cause them damage, and it's not a necessary risk. There isn't much of a benefit in separating them, as they have already hardened, and whatever shapes they have together, they will also have apart. The one thing that I would still look out for, though, is that since they went into chrysalis at very close times to each other, they will also emerge likely at very close times to each other. As one is emerging, if the other is already out, one could knock the other down during the time when the wings are vulnerable and they may not fill with fluid properly. So, if it's possible for you, watching that this doesn't happen on the day these emerge would be very beneficial. I wish you luck with this issue, and hope you'll keep us posted!

[@dawncarne4437]

Thank you Rich for getting back to me....I have great news!. As I was transferring my other chrysalis from the container lid to my enclosure that I have outside( bf is awesome and made me a huge one) the next day, I left the two that were stuck together last as I was unsure what to do with them. Well in the process of figuring out how and what to do my son bumped the table and the two surprisingly separated with no issues. Yes there is flat parts on either one where they were stuck together, but I really don't think it's going to affect the development at all...the wing sections weren't touched. It was more around the back section of the chysalides (opposite the gold band) and more near the top. I will keep you posted as to how they turn out in about 12 days. Thank you again

[@dawncarne4437]

Oh and yes I have watched the video....I have watched all of them !

[@MrLundScience]

Hey, that's excellent news. A happy accident bump. Good luck to them, and yes, if you can, I'd like to hear how they turn out.

[@chuscaace6321]

Fantastic

[@MrLundScience]

Aren't they?

[@LeticiaMichelle93]

incredible

[@ryhan9980]

I raise a very close relative of the monarch, Danaus Chrysippus or the African monarch or plain tiger.

[@ruby07241]

I only have 2 chrysalises and just missed both of them forming by minutes.

[@KristinaCotten-w4n]

Can a caterpillar be moved once it’s hanging from top with silk? It is attached to the lid that I need to open to clean out the enclosure.

[@raineboots]

Not monarch related but that’s a cool shirt! Mind if you tell me where it’s from?

[@MrLundScience]

So, you might have to pause the video to see it, but that mostly square shape is an ambigram. It says "St. Johns Science Olympiad". Then, if you reverse it 180 degrees, it still says "St. Johns Science Olympiad". This was a shirt for our Science Olympiad Team at the school I teach at, and am the coach for. The team has allowed me to design the shirt each year, as I did with this one. Ambigrams are fun!

[@ljay2411]

Hey there. First I want to thank you for your monarch video series. It has helped me start my own little monarch rearing hobby. Currently I have 2 2nd instars, 2 5th instars and 22 crysalides. I just released my first two adults (Males) June 25th. So thank you for sharing your knowledge, I really appreciate it. Second, I wanted to ask you a question... Well a couple questions regarding the same topic. How do you safely transport fully formed and hardened crysalides in a vehicle for a couple hours? (Can you transport adult butterflies also?) Is this possible or safe? What would you recommend? Or have you already done this with success? Any suggestions would be much appreciated. I also want to point out that transportation is for the purpose of leisure, NOT to sell or something like that Thank you very much. I look forward to hearing back from you! 😊 Laurie

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings Laurie. I appreciate you letting me know that the transportation question is not for a commercial reason. That gets that out of the way and saves me a few lines of type in your answer. Let's start the answer here: Any transportation of caterpillars or chrysalides involves risk. Risk can be minimized, but it's still there. So, what is the purpose of introducing that risk? There are valid reasons, I would say. For example, I have transported chrysalides to my classroom when the school year starts to show the students I have. They know I raise Monarchs, and the caterpillars and chrysalides can act as educational ambassadors to the Monarch and what its plight is that it faces. So, just make sure that the risk is minimized and that it's worth it. That said, the next question to ask is, if it's for leisure, do all that you have need to be transported, or is the same goal accomplished with only a few, or even just one. Again, minimize the risk. If the chrysalis has been hung, as I do with mine, then it's fine to have the chrysalis transported in a padded box, like say, a small jewelry box with cotton balls or paper towel in there to minimize throttles as you drive. If they are still attached to whatever the caterpillar attached to before chrysalis, it's fine to transport whatever container you had them in for doing that. They blow around sometimes a lot in the wind in nature. They can handle a car ride. The largest risk might actually be, if you stop at a gas station for a drink or such, and it's a hot day. The cabin of a car can heat up dramatically in a short amount of time. So, keep the car air conditioned, and keep the stops in and out of a rest area or gas station very quick. If it's going to be more than five minutes, I'd even say relocate them to the trunk where the greenhouse effect that takes place in the cabin won't be happening.

[@jennifercheco2561]

Hi, how do I clean the milkweed leaf so the caterpillar won't get infected with OE bacteria?

[@MrLundScience]

Just so happens, this video here shows how to treat the leaves with a dilute bleach solution, which can effectively destroy OE parasite spores on both eggs and leaves. Hope this helps! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYu8q62ZfM6NiKM

[@EmunahFL]

What if the old caterpillar body doesn't fall off once the chrysalis is formed? Will that create an issue with eclosing?

[@nimuek3107]

Hey! Love these videos! Thank you so much for your careful and thorough attention to detail. I have one question; we are in Maine, and it's mid September, but i just found a monarch caterpillar in our garden and when we took it home, it immediately whent into a J shape. It's about to be very cold here, is it really going to come out in such a breif amount of time? Will it be safe to release? We haven't started heating our house yet, but soon will- Should i be keeping the chrysalis in a natural temperature environment when we do? We have a black swallowtail chrysalis going as well, but we were told they would stay in until at least spring and indeed, ours has been in there for months now. Sorry to bombard you with questions!

[@ambermchugh9381]

I try to help as little as possible but my fifth instar cats are very naughty. They crawl long distances and attach onto the strangest places. My water bottle, my hose, across the yard and driveway and into the garage door and trash barrel. I may have to enclose then this way. I've had spiders get some and some under my patio table just hibernating. Not hatching or turning black and drying out????

[@PrincessBeatrix]

magical!

[@MrLundScience]

It's been said, there is no science that at one point, wasn't considered magic. It's definitely magical, and I think learning about it and understanding the intricacies of it, only adds to the beauty.

[@jubileeflymusic]

Amazing videos, thank u! Any way you could make a short video of the last part to share as a psa?

[@melaniedean3385]

This is our first attempt...I removed the very first Chrysalis from inside the netting & successfully got it hung up. On the very next one I must have gotten the tweezer on the stem instead of the web only because the stem broke in half & it hit the ground. What do you do when that happens? Too make matters worse, my big burly wonderful hubby tried to fix it when I went inside & when I came back he was almost in tears. “I killed it” he said...I asked him if he was kidding or pranking me...”I killed it, I’m so sorry “. It was true, with his big giant beautiful hands he accidentally stabbed it right thru the middle with the tiny tweezers. So now I’m scared to touch them...

[@MrLundScience]

I don't tend to drop the chrysalis these days, as I've had much practice. I'm sorry that this happened, but I hope it doesn't deter you from your efforts. We learn as we go, and with more experience, this will rarely be a problem. It's a good idea in the future, though, to try to remove the chrysalis over a padded, close area. Putting paper towel in your lap can turn a tumbling chrysalis into a non-issue, rather than a tragic oozing one. Don't give up. It gets better!

[@melaniedean3385]

MrLundScience I haven’t dropped another one! AND the first one just eclosed, but it appears one of her little legs is stuck to the pupa. I don’t want to do any damage...can I help her?

[@kimuseni]

Thanks.

[@MrLundScience]

You're welcome! Thanks for being interested in their plight!