| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
jenny
Senior Moderator
Joined: 29 Aug 2005
Posts: 5264
|
 Post subject: Monarch Caterpillar update |
 |
|
Bard kindly gave me four caterpillars last Sunday and they have munched away happily at the many plants that I have on my terrace. I put one into a large (previously cut open) water bottle as it started to wander off. Another one went into the bottle of its' own accord. They weaved the silk (or whatever the proper name is) and hung themselves upside down. I wondered what was wrong as I thought they would cover themselves in the thread but they haven't. However this morning I had a surprise as the first one is now enclosed in a green casing (like in your photo Bard). How did that happen?
I have tried taking photos of them but our camera does not take very good close ups and if I take them further away you cannot see much!
_________________
Who am I? Find out more here: http://www.myspacetenerife.com/index.php?page=view_profile&id=17
I will make this day a happy one for I alone can determine what kind of day it will be. |
|
Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:18 am
 |
|
 |
Chris_and_Leanne
Supreme Reefer
Joined: 08 Aug 2007
Posts: 1961
|
|
|
Thu Jan 17, 2008 7:08 pm
|
|
|
bardofely
Supreme Reefer
Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Posts: 3140
Location: Playa San Marcos, Tenerife
|
| Post subject: |
|
|
Excellent news, Jenny!  They split the skin open and then shake it off to unveil the green bottle of butterfly potion inside. In a week or two you will be able to see the wings colouring up inside. Don't leave them in full sun in case they boil! They can take a bit but not too much and are best in the shade.
I have 28 inside in a water container and 4 outside on what's left of my plants, gave about 20 to my friend Stefania today and more are going to Graham in Chirche tomorrow and then I can rest a while! lol
PS I hope they left you some plants!  |
|
|
Thu Jan 17, 2008 7:17 pm
|
|
|
jenny
Senior Moderator
Joined: 29 Aug 2005
Posts: 5264
|
| Post subject: |
|
|
They have only eaten about half of the plants 
Unfortunately one of the green things came loose from the bottle and fell to the bottom. I have left it but it looks like it will not survive. Another is still a hanging caterpillar on the plant and one has got lost somewhere - can't seem to find it 
_________________
Who am I? Find out more here: http://www.myspacetenerife.com/index.php?page=view_profile&id=17
I will make this day a happy one for I alone can determine what kind of day it will be. |
|
|
Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:56 am
|
|
|
bardofely
Supreme Reefer
Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Posts: 3140
Location: Playa San Marcos, Tenerife
|
| Post subject: |
|
|
| jenny wrote: | They have only eaten about half of the plants
Unfortunately one of the green things came loose from the bottle and fell to the bottom. I have left it but it looks like it will not survive. Another is still a hanging caterpillar on the plant and one has got lost somewhere - can't seem to find it |
Well I could have done with some more plants today because I was forced to sentence about ten to death by starvation and just put them on my friend Graham's flower border in Chirche where there were no plants they can eat. I took 14 there but the milkweed plants he had, although with seed pods after flowering, were in no way able to feed all the caterpillars and it will be a push for the others. He was in favour of putting them all on and letting nature sort it out but I had to point out that in nature every one would be sure to die because they would all make short work on the plants and then none of them would have anything to eat and even the biggest and strongest would have to starve! In the wild there are sufficient plants and the butterflies only lay one or two per plant but this is impossible here!
With yours if the one that fell off was hardened it may survive but if it got in any way dented or broken it will die or be a cripple! A great shame it fell! 
This leaves one to go that should be OK, one doing fine hung up and the missing one has probably found a suitable place to spin some silk and change too. Three out of four is better than Mother Nature expects! I have 30 and two possible failures (one fell and the other didn't get out of its old skin properly and by the time it had it had stretched part of it and it leaked a bit). I have had fallen ones that have been OK before so am hopeful on that one.
The good news for your butterfly conservation project is the plants that are left have now got a chance to grow back or keep growing. Looks like I judged the amount the four would need correctly! I am becoming an expert on this! lol |
|
|
Fri Jan 18, 2008 4:52 pm
|
|
|
jenny
Senior Moderator
Joined: 29 Aug 2005
Posts: 5264
|
| Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks Bard. Yes, you are the expert on this!! Your timing was perfect too!
Found the missing caterpillar, hung on the back of the chair!!!! He has not yet turned green.
Also Xoaquin remembered that one of his Little Einstein films had a caterpillar that changes into a butterfly on it. So we watched that this afternoon and it is a Monarch too!!!!
_________________
Who am I? Find out more here: http://www.myspacetenerife.com/index.php?page=view_profile&id=17
I will make this day a happy one for I alone can determine what kind of day it will be. |
|
|
Fri Jan 18, 2008 6:42 pm
|
|
|
bardofely
Supreme Reefer
Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Posts: 3140
Location: Playa San Marcos, Tenerife
|
| Post subject: |
|
|
| jenny wrote: | Thanks Bard. Yes, you are the expert on this!! Your timing was perfect too!
Found the missing caterpillar, hung on the back of the chair!!!! He has not yet turned green.
Also Xoaquin remembered that one of his Little Einstein films had a caterpillar that changes into a butterfly on it. So we watched that this afternoon and it is a Monarch too!!!! |
Great news and my advice if you haven't already is put the wandering caterpillar in the container so you will know where he is. Put a few leaves as well just in case he still need food but it doesn't sound like it. Once they start crawling away from the plants and spinning silk in quantity they are getting ready.
I have been learning about animals and plants since I was a little kid and it's my main passion in life so I ought to know a bit! It's a shame there aren't many paid opportunities with this sort of knowledge about!
Where are the jobs such as: Butterfly and moth breeder required full time. Must have good general knowledge of food plants and ensuring that a maximum number of insects complete their metamorphosis. Experience of dealing with foreign species an advantage. The successful applicant must be able to show initiative at the care and handling of both endemic and exotic species. Good understanding of horticulture in relation to insect farming required. 
PS If by "hung" you mean he was hanging head down from some silk you'd better leave him. Once they pass a certain point they cannot be moved because they are unable to crawl or spin again.
Hopefully you and Xoaquin will be able to watch one hatch out. You will know when its due to because the wings will be clearly seen red and black through the wing case sections. They usually hatch early in the morning. |
|
|
Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:04 pm
|
|
|
jenny
Senior Moderator
Joined: 29 Aug 2005
Posts: 5264
|
| Post subject: |
|
|
| bardofely wrote: | | Hopefully you and Xoaquin will be able to watch one hatch out. You will know when its due to because the wings will be clearly seen red and black through the wing case sections. They usually hatch early in the morning. |
When we're at work/school How long does it normally take from hanging to hatching?
_________________
Who am I? Find out more here: http://www.myspacetenerife.com/index.php?page=view_profile&id=17
I will make this day a happy one for I alone can determine what kind of day it will be. |
|
|
Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:04 am
|
|
|
Dianne
Pro Reefer
Joined: 07 Aug 2007
Posts: 656
Location: Bonnie Scotland
|
| Post subject: |
|
|
oh Jenny this sounds so interesting, I bet your little one will love watching the way nature works, so educational for them to see things develope in a natural environment. keep us posted
_________________
im back in Tenerife soon........ yepeeeeeeeee |
|
|
Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:55 am
|
|
|
bardofely
Supreme Reefer
Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Posts: 3140
Location: Playa San Marcos, Tenerife
|
| Post subject: |
|
|
| jenny wrote: | | bardofely wrote: | | Hopefully you and Xoaquin will be able to watch one hatch out. You will know when its due to because the wings will be clearly seen red and black through the wing case sections. They usually hatch early in the morning. |
When we're at work/school How long does it normally take from hanging to hatching? |
Once they are in the green chrysalis stage they take about two weeks to hatch out. You will see the red and black veins in the wings get clearer and clearer and then they hatch and it can be early morning so you might be lucky. The butterfly then takes and hour or more to dry out and expand its wings before its first flight. |
|
|
Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:40 pm
|
|
|
margaretbl
Supreme Reefer
Joined: 01 Mar 2007
Posts: 3681
Location: south tyneside
|
| Post subject: |
|
|
Bard you are a wealth of knowledge
_________________
Failures don't plan to fail, they fail to plan
(Harvey Mackay) |
|
|
Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:22 pm
|
|
|
bardofely
Supreme Reefer
Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Posts: 3140
Location: Playa San Marcos, Tenerife
|
| Post subject: |
|
|
| margaretbl wrote: | | Bard you are a wealth of knowledge |
Thank you for saying so, Margaret! |
|
|
Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:17 pm
|
|
|
jenny
Senior Moderator
Joined: 29 Aug 2005
Posts: 5264
|
| Post subject: |
|
|
New update: over this weekend the other 4 butterflies have hatched and flown the nest!! The plants that have been eaten have mostly regrown so Bard, if you need homes for any more hungry caterpillars, then we have space and food!
_________________
Who am I? Find out more here: http://www.myspacetenerife.com/index.php?page=view_profile&id=17
I will make this day a happy one for I alone can determine what kind of day it will be. |
|
|
Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:18 pm
|
|
|
bardofely
Supreme Reefer
Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Posts: 3140
Location: Playa San Marcos, Tenerife
|
| Post subject: |
|
|
| jenny wrote: | | New update: over this weekend the other 4 butterflies have hatched and flown the nest!! The plants that have been eaten have mostly regrown so Bard, if you need homes for any more hungry caterpillars, then we have space and food! |
Wonderful news, not only because you have been able to see it all happen, but because I have reached a terrible situation here where not only had Tiggy caught four butterflies last week and only two were rescued and they were very battered, but my plants are in a pitiful condition and have been reduced to moving them inside and to killing eggs and baby caterpillars so the plants can grow back a bit.
I cannot explain to Tiggy that the butterflies are not toys and I cannot explain to the trusting insects that my cat will hurt and kill them! The warning colours and horrible taste and poison story is, I conclude, a story because it has no effect on Tiggy!
Amazingly the plants in pots out on the wall went through the gale force wind and the caterpillars did not blow away. My friend Stefania is out of leaves too so it appears you are the sole hope that I know about for any caterpillars being born at present.
I will see how far I can get with the ones I have and will give you a shout as soon as it all fails here!
_________________
Find out more about me here: http://www.myspacetenerife.com/index.php?page=view_profile&id=10 |
|
|
Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:58 pm
|
|
|
jenny
Senior Moderator
Joined: 29 Aug 2005
Posts: 5264
|
|
|
Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:32 am
|
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Album
Log in
