For the last few years, we have tried to help the Monarch Butterflies. We have encouraged Milkweed to flourish in several areas of the two acre yard as well as plant things that attract butterflies. Monarchs require Milkweed to feed, lay eggs on and grow. A couple of years ago, we had many caterpillars that we raised to Monarchs a d then release. The past two tears, we have not found any caterpillars.
We had a hit summer until a week ago, when it cooled off with days in the upper 60's and lower 70's. AND, suddenly we were finding many Monarch Caterpillars. We are up to 16 now.
Some my wonder why we are removing them from nature. The survival rate for caterpillars left in nature is maybe10%. When we bring them inside and feed them it is greater than 95%.
They are voracious eaters and are hungry, hungry caterpillars. We are kept busy bring in milkweed for them.
When they are ready, they climb to the top of the cage and attach themselves with silk and hang in a "J" shape and within a day transform to a green chrysalis.
I detach them and tie with a thread to a stick and then we wait for 10-14 days.
It is interesting.. The Monarchs from my area east of the Rockies fly all the way to Mexico to winter. West of the Rockies they fly down near the Pacific coast.
