General, Non-Daffodil

Monarch Butterfly Larvae.

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Thank you Larry for the beautiful butterfly photos, also interesting to see the one of the larvae adjacent to the flower, fascinating to see that the formation of the two is similar. Attached is a photo of the Monarch butterfly larvae. I too have a fascination for butterflies and enjoy liberating them.
 
 Each year after the eggs are attached to the plant, Ascelepias tuberosa and before the larvae are large enough for the predators to prey, I trim the plant with larvae attached and bring indoors for the rest of the cycle.
 
 Looking at the right side of photo where the larvae is perpendicular, there is an egg (white dot), that is attached to the underside of a leaf. On the leaf under the egg, that is slightly to the right on the middle leaf vein there is a day old larvae.
 
Regards,
 
Sandra Muckle.
 
 

5 comments for “Monarch Butterfly Larvae.”

  1. Thank you Larry for the beautiful butterflyphotos, also interesting to see the oneof the larvae adjacent to the flower,fascinating to see that the formation of the two issimilar. Attached is a photo of the Monarch butterfly larvae. Itoo have a fascination for butterflies and enjoy liberatingthem.
     
     Each year after the eggs are attachedto the plant, Ascelepias tuberosa and before the larvae are largeenough for the predators to prey, I trim the plant with larvae attachedand bring indoors for the rest of the cycle.
     
     Looking at the right side of photo wherethe larvae is perpendicular, there is an egg (white dot), that is attached tothe underside of a leaf. On the leaf under the egg, that is slightlyto the right on the middle leaf vein there is a day oldlarvae.
     
    Regards,
     
    Sandra Muckle.
     
     

  2. Sandra,

     

    So the larva always stay on the plant?  How do you get the butterflies to go outside?  Do they ever get lost in the house?

     

    Colleen

     

     


  3. Thank you Larry for the beautiful butterfly photos, also interesting to see the one of the larvae adjacent to the flower, fascinating to see that the formation of the two is similar. Attached is a photo of the Monarch butterfly larvae. I too have a fascination for butterflies and enjoy liberating them.
     
     Each year after the eggs are attached to the plant, Ascelepias tuberosa and before the larvae are large enough for the predators to prey, I trim the plant with larvae attached and bring indoors for the rest of the cycle.
     
     Looking at the right side of photo where the larvae is perpendicular, there is an egg (white dot), that is attached to the underside of a leaf. On the leaf under the egg, that is slightly to the right on the middle leaf vein there is a day old larvae.
     
    Regards,
     
    Sandra Muckle.
     
     

  4. That makes me wonder if you would take larvae from each country and exchange them if they would try to do as they did in their native land.  The ones from here would try to find Mexico and the ones from there would try to find Christchurch.  Or if they would go with the other ones.
    Donna


  5. Hi Colleen,
     
    In some instances they tend to wander that’s mainly when their food supply is short. When I bring the Larvae inside I count them, so that, if any do wander I can look for them. In some instances when they are due to form in chrysalis, they become aggressive and fight, in the process the loser can fall off the food source, that is when I intervene and carefully place them back. 
     
    I found a couple of runaways a few years back that had attached their chrysalis to my laundry blind, they hatched and were liberated. Your question, how do you get the butterflies to go outside, I keep the chrysalis in the laundry and open the doors and windows at noon, most find their way out themselves, some I catch, place on the palm of my hand and they soon flutter away.
     
    Sandra.

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