Just released my first Monarch. She was so beautiful. I must have had the right temps in the house. She became a chrysalis on Aug 13 and Eclosed today Aug 23. I have 6 that are due tomorrow if they follow suit and one more the next day. I also have 6 more forming chrysalis. So exciting. I felt like a kid when my husband sent me a picture of her hanging.

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Butterflies tend to bring out the kid in us. We wondered then. We can wonder now.

I’m new to this, and have been studying everything I can find. I’m totally IN to help the Monarchs!!

Hi Rich. Florida season is winding down. Lost 8 out of 96. All came out with deformed wings when born. So it goes. Still bothers me when I loose one.I tried something new so as not to waste Milkweed leaves that fall off in collection that are carrying eggs .. I bought florist foam at Walmart. Instead of water I made up a plant food solution like you get from the florist and soaked the bricks in that as a means to feed and preserve the Milkweed leaves. Poked a hole in the foam and inserted the leaf stem in hole. Solution kept Milkweed healthy and eggs hatched and never had to be bothered again. Easier than wrapping stems in paper and no chance of mold forming. Happy hunting. J Costello

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Hey John. Yes, those forest foam blocks are definitely a modification to my process that can be useful. I always try to show in the videos the rock bottom cheapest way to get results, so as to always make this seen as affordable on a budget. If it's seen to cost little or no money, I think more are apt to feel equipped enough to take it on. So, definitely, if someone's willing to spend a few dollars more, that innovation would make some things easier. What I like about my small plate with eggs on it, though, is it takes up less space. At one point this year, I had 33 eggs. If I had them all on the leaves still, be they in the foam or otherwise, that'd be a lot of space to take up. So, certainly, modifications do exist that some might take on cause it works for them, others might not. That's what I love about this community is that we get to learn so much from each other! Keep up the good fight and the efforts! You're definitely a valuable resource in all of this!

Mr. Lund, thank you SO MUCH for these videos! I began by bringing some milkweed to school and planting it outside of our classroom window for my students to tend so we could participate in the monarch "thing". We figured we would do the "watch them in nature thing." We saw DOZENS and DOZENS of caterpillars, but only saw a few chyrsalides. The schools closed down in March and I brought the milkweed home to my condominium. I found a place for my three big ceramic pots outside of my door and continued to see monarch caterpillars in my pot of milkweed, saw a few chrysalides, but then wondered what happened to them. Very few successful outcomes. Note: my condo is on a little hill covered in flowering plants: lots of lavender and hibiscus blossoms. My adult daughter came to visit from Arizona, and she and I dedicated ourselves to getting this right. We watched your videos and others, bought some net enclosures, and started taking the eggs we found into the house (we just put them into a pyrex baking dish w saran wrap on top and crossed our fingers. It worked well. One week we had 60 eggs in there all at once). We fed the babies until they were big enough to tolerate the beautiful California summer weather outside and brought them out to "net enclosure 1". We put three net enclosures in a full shade area and crossed our fingers that the caterpillars wouldn't die from lack of sun and began our learning curve and endless shopping forays to buy more milkweed plants (didn't know about the pesticide thing at that time). End process: Big babies go from glass pyrex dish in the house into net enclosure 1 outside. Feed. Wait several days. Medium sized caterpillars are moved into enclosure 2 (new babies go into enclosure 1, new eggs we found go into pyrex dish). Wait several days. Big fatties move into enclosure 3: the BIG net house (rotate all: new eggs to pyrex, big babies to net enclosure 1, med. caterpillars go to enclosure 2, big fatties go to the big house). We encountered the lack of supply issue. We started rotating in little milkweed plants into their enclosures, then rotating out eaten plants to regrow/new plants into enclosures for the caterpillars to feed on ... here in California they have TINY LEAVES.) We were running out of food. We did research and found that the caterpillars can successfully feed on butternut squash (supplemented with milkweed) after their fifth instar without experiencing defects as butterflies. We found that this works quite well and they LOVE the butternut squash. You have to peel the squash for them of course and rotate out the dry butternut squash for fresh butternut squash. We put ours on little plastic plates. The caterpillars in the big house stay there until they are ready to transform, climb to the net roof, form chrysalides, and each day we watch for butterflies and release them. We have done this for the entire summer. We have become more successful at this with time and practice. At this time we have ... 70? caterpillars and 45 chrysalides. I was so glad that you said that we would still have losses, because I was really blue about the losses we had. I estimate we lost 10% on good weeks, and 25% on bad weeks. Heart breaking! We still have losses. Some weeks have been worse than others, but I feel that we have perfected our process. Group caterpillars by size, replace the paper towels on the enclosure floor daily. Clean enclosures thoroughly. (They have SO MUCH POOP). Each day I remove all occupants, setting them on the fresh leaves, clean the enclosure, and set the occupants back in with their new food. The process takes about an hour now that we have so many of them, but it feels really satisfying. My daughter has returned to Casa Grande Arizona where she has planted 1500 milkweed seeds in front of their apartment building (it was previously all gravel), and she waters them in the 117 degree heat EVERY DAY three times a day as the bugs bite her!!! She is a super star! She hopes that the monarchs will find her little place. Thank you again. Sorry this comment was sooooo long but thought that you would like to hear that in San Diego California in a little condominium complex, we are looking out for the monarchs and helping them all we can. Wendy Nelson in San Diego "GO MONARCHS!!!"

@lindasalerharrison4958

Жыл бұрын

Good job!!!!

Funny you should say... my first encounter/discovery with monarch larvae, I found over 40 caterpillars on my four milkweed plants (two of which were TINY), and I was able to successfully feed them all from the two large I had.. while it was precarious, and I immediately bought more milkweed, I was really surprised that they made it before the others came in the mail. Two little guys I took in had tachinid larvae and one npv, but the rest were healthy for as far as I could see. While we miss the fallen brethren dearly, we’ve successfully released 26 and have more waiting to emerge.. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without your channel. This has changed my life, and I intend to expand my operation and raise awareness in my town, and assist those who are trying to get a butterfly garden started on their property. PS my kids LOVE your channel. Thank you for everything you do!!!

@MrLundScience

4 жыл бұрын

Welcome aboard! Glad I could help, and super awesome that you've gotten your kids involved. It really can make for a valuable learning experience about ecology and our place (and responsibility) in/with it.

Saw a couple of monarchs flying around today- first I've seen here this season. Couldn't see if they were male or female, but one was flying around our milkweed a lot. Checked one of our plants today, and not only saw a small caterpillar, but also an egg! Will have to check the other plants. The milkweed bugs have come around, so hopefully they will not disturb the monarchs.

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Sorry that it's been a slow season for you, but, at least it's not entirely empty! While I don't know how true it is, some have said they are sure they've seen the same female lay eggs on their plants over multiple days, so I'd check each day to see if she comes back! Good luck in the hunt!

@AAEMH

5 жыл бұрын

Well, I am in NC, and here for only 6 yrs now and this was only the second time I have seen any monarchs here. The GREAT news is, I just checked our milkweed, and I just saw at least 7 caterpillars!

Amazing video!! Sorta off topic but while I was watching this video, one of my monarchs hatched out of there chrysalis!

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Very cool! Good luck to the gal or fella!

Perfect video. Thank you. 🦋

I really appreciate you taking the time to help educate us 🦋🥰🙏🏻

Was collecting milkweed cuttings for food and found a strange cat. Closely resembled Monarch but had another set of spikes in middle of its back. Found it on web. Queen butterfly. Collecting for years and this was my first encounter. Hopefully their range is increasing due to population growth. J Costello

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

I'm rather jealous! I don't know if I'll ever get to encounter one in my area of Michigan. Possible, but if so, it'd be quite the rare find.

Yeah, unless you are transplanting a seedling, it can be really hard because they have one large taproot that goes really deep. You can start them in pots very easily and plant those out at a couple inches high and they do very well that way, or you can direct sow the seeds in the ground. Plants grow pretty fast from seed, are easy to germinate. If I recall correctly, they take two years to bloom, but they can easily reach a foot tall in a few months and once they get big...they get REALLY big..speciosa can reach 6 feet and send out runners. We cut some of ours back in June or July and they sent out side shoots that bloomed again. So if some of them are getting too tall, just cut them back and check them for eggs before putting them in the compost.

Hey Mr Lund i work at a butterfly farm and raise and breed butterflies for a living. I enjoy your videos because we also try to bring awareness. Keep doing the good work my friend!

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Greetings! It's excellent that you raise awareness too. I'm curious if you've ever had issues with OE or NPV. What do you do in such cases? Any tips in sanitizing?

@OpentheLightAUA92

5 жыл бұрын

MrLundScience Hey thanks for replying and greetings! We basically use the same method that you use, we treat the leaves with a light bleach solution only when needed because are monarchs rarely get OE. I live on a small island south of the Caribbean called Aruba. Are monarchs here are generally isolated and non migratory because it's practically summer here the whole year round. We're lucky that here are monarchs are generally if not most of the time OE free. We get to breed them the whole year round and on good weeks we get to raise between 100 to 300 caterpillars! We luckily have a type of milkweed (Calotropis procera) that grows wild all over the island so there's plentiful food. But because we have so much caterpillars the chance of them getting NPV is high. That's why we use several cages to raise them (allowing between 30 to 50 in one big cage) to keep things sanitary. We have so much milkweed trees that we use a method called "stacking". This is where we cut a whole branch and we pot the branches with cotton to keep the milkweed moist and alive and every cage gets one potted milkweed. We release about 25 to sometimes even 75 monarchs into the wild every breeding cycle. I work at The Butterfly Farm Aruba, we raise about 35 species of butterflies here but we specialize in local species like the Danaus Plexippus (monarch) and Dryas Uilia (Julia Heliconius). We also have the pleasure to breed and raise the Caligo memnon (Owl butterfly) different types of swallowtails and the beautiful iridescent Blue Morpho Paleides (blue morpho butterfly) and many much more. We get a lot of US visitors so we also try to bring awareness about the North American monarchs. You can find more info about are farm at www.thebutterflyfarm.com and would love to see you here one day! Best regards, Joshua J.

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

I firmly love your reply. Okay...gotta admit...when someone tells me that they breed Monarchs, my yellow flashers go on. Your reply contains exactly what I'd hope to hear though! Sounds very much like you are doing things quite responsibly, and not only with sanitation, but you even mentioned that you're releasing only during the breeding cycles. That part's not only important, but overlooked by many. So cool to hear that you're doing this. And, being on the island of Aruba, you have your own population that doesn't necessarily affect those migrating east of the Rockies, and so there's less concern. (Unless I'm totally wrong...do the Aruba Monarchs migrate? Do the migrate to Mexico? I don't think they do, but I honestly know little about that population.) I've asked breeders who have contacted me before, what types of OE or NPV situations they've encountered, and when I've gotten answers like "What's OE?" in reply, I cringe a bit. Your system sounds quite legit. And with public outreach and awareness going on, that's even better. Certainly if I was ever in Aruba in the future, I'd be looking forward to a visit and a handshake. Must be a pretty cool place to be a part of!

@OpentheLightAUA92

5 жыл бұрын

MrLundScience Yes it's a very cool place to work at especially if you're into helping butterflies! To me it's more of a hobby than a job, I sincerely love it. There's a couple theories as to how they reached here in Aruba. Most believe they flew from North America passing through Central America and from South America they found their way here. They branched off and became a subspecies called Danaus Plexippus Megalippe. They're twice as small as North American monarchs. Are male monarchs tend to have an 'aggressive' nature especially towards the female monarchs when it comes to mating, the male monarch will chase aggressively after the female and clinch on to the female's wings and forcefully bring her down and bombard her with pheromones, ones she's subdued he will clasp himself on to her abdomen (I don't know if this is common behavior when it comes to all monarch species). Also sometimes but rarely they male monarch will pupal mate if he's desperate enough. Do North American monarchs exhibited this behavior also?

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Seems our males are less aggressive, but they will pursue females. I don't think that they pin them to the ground, though, and I'm pretty sure pupal mating doesn't happen with our Monarchs. However, there could be enough variance in the species to have some that try that out. (I know our Easter Black Swallowtails are some famous pupal maters.) I'm glad you started communicating. I didn't know that Aruba had a subspecies. Thanks for the education!

I practiced your methods and suggestions this season. I planted Milkweed in our backyard flower beds last October and ended up with 18 plants and 5 seed pods. I will be planting more this year. I harvested eggs twice. One group of 12 and one group of 8. All of the eggs black tipped and hatched. In total only 3 survived to Chrysalides. I had two successful eclose events. One Monarch seemed to get “stuck” and wasn’t able to fully emerge and had to be euthanized in the freezer. One fully emerged and was released successfully. One was released successfully only to fall victim to a predator and I found only the wings on my patio. All of this said, IM NOT GIVING UP!!! Your videos are outstanding and your recommendations are extremely helpful. This was my first attempt and I did not sanitize anything so the NP virus may have played a part. Hopefully we will be more successful next year.

Thank you Rich for all the videos.. I've started taking in eggs and raising Monarchs.. it is such a fun experience but like you say, there are some not so good parts of it too... I think one thing to point out is how sensitive the larva is to a lot of chemicals we don't event think about in our controlled environments... i.e., flea & tick treatments we use on our animals, sprays, hand soap, etc. Never hurts to be extra cautious when around them!! Cheers to raising Monarchs! I've seen so many this year, it makes me so happy to see!

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Yep. For some household chemicals, I wouldn't doubt that concentrations on the order of parts per million or even parts per billion could cause damage or death to caterpillars, especially the young ones. They are so fragile, and some molecules can be devastating things. Glad to hear you're seeing many this year! That's some good news for sure!

Thank you for this informational video! I actually have realized more and more how much I enjoy seeing butterflies and moths. I hope I can raise some in my family's garden!

Your awesome too! Always appreciate your videos. I’ve really learned a lot from you and have been quite successful (knock on wood). Being this is my 2nd year, I’ve been concentrating on milkweed more. During my escapes on the search for milkweed, it’s been quite apparent that monarchs prefer to lay their eggs on fresh milkweed leaves over sun stressed milkweed leaves. Being it grows back rather quickly, I now cut the milkweed in a way to promote regrowth. Even better is when I find one of my “spots” have been mowed over, (bright side to follow) usually the day after I wipe the plants cleans of all eggs and cats “saving their lives” as my son puts it, after a week or so it starts to grows again and usually hit the Monarch egg jackpot! Still loving this passion of mine. Thanks again. Sincerely, the lady you might see on the side of all roads and highways searching through milkweed plants almost everyday this summer.

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Good to see you again, Vally Val. Great to hear that you're having success, and that your son is interested in this too. If I see you by the side of the road, I'll honk. Actually, more realistically, I'd probably pull over and help out.

Thank you Rich for all your fantastic Monarch videos! My husband and I have been binge watching all of them. We starting raising them on July 4th. Yesterday, we released our first one. We have 16 more chrysalises that we're waiting to eclose, and we have 12 eggs that just hatched this morning.

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Whoa! ...I didn't know I was binge-watch-worthy! Huh. Weird to see different hair styles and editing techniques emerge? Cool that the two of you have taken all this on together. Sounds like things are going well.

I planted four milkweed plants this year in my pollinators garden. I already had a monarch visitor and I have four chrysalis. Thank you for all your info, I found your channel when I was trying to figure out how I could keep my caterpillars safe. Thank you!!!

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

And thank *you* for having a pollinators garden. That definitely helps towards not just helping these Monarchs, but the very in need of help honey bees. Kudos to you!

I took in 16 caterpillars this year and it was extremely stressful not knowing whether or not I'd have enough to feed them.They had already torn up one milkweed plant where they stated growing up, and the other was infested with aphids. I bought two more but didn't want to strip them bare. I fed them massive amounts of milkweed twice a day and when they were big enough I switched them to butternut squash. Now all 16 Chrysalides are hanging and I'm a few days away from them turning into butterflies. All sixteen made it into their chrysalides and I hope now they all turn into butterflies.

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

That's some definite commitment! I hope it's rewarded with a 16 for 16 as far as successful emergence! You were an awesome caretaker to make sure all 16 made it this far. Bravo!

You're awesome! Thanks for the info. This helped me realize I can raise the plants and that's it for now. And that's something. Thanks to all of you taking it further and raising the caterpillars!

Totally addicted to your videos!! I start every day with Rich on video! Thank you so much for giving me a new passion, saving the Monarchs. Subscriber from Panama City FL

Rich, can’t thank you enough for your videos. I have used them as my tutorials and last year was my first year.......with 12 raised. I hope that I can raise more this year. I have lots of plants, so food will not be an issue. Now, if we only had some Monarchs. I have had only two fly through so far. For some reason the Hudson Valley in NYS always has a delay in Monarchs arriving.....usually in August. I have written to Monarch Watch and they have noted this too and don’t know why. Keep up the great service.

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Hey, at least you know it's not just you if Monarch Watch has noted this. While it might be frustrating to have a shorter season, it is pretty cool to know that there's something not yet understood, and someday could be. I find places where we don't know something exciting. It's the forefront of our knowledge, and that means there's always a frontier to explore into. Good luck when they start showing up in greater numbers (which should be soon, right?).

I’m way up here in BC on the extreme edge of their range. I’ll be happy if I just see one monarch butterfly in my lifetime

Thanks for this information.

I have an extra 5 gallon aquarium that I'm not using and have been wondering what to put in it. Monarchs are native to my state and I have fond memories of raising them in elementary school. I love that you are so passionate about this! And I love that this is a pet that helps the environment :) Doing my research now so when spring comes I can give it a try

Great video! We have crown flower plants here in Hawaii, that the Monarch's go for. They lay their eggs on those plants. The plant that you have in your video, doesn't look like the kind that Monarch's depend on here. I just started raising catepillar's recently. I have a crown flower plant that is only a couple of months old, but it produces lots of leaves quickly. I bring my catepillar's in the house because we have a bird {red-vented bulbul} that will eat the caterpillar's. When I was very young, the red-vented bulbul, was not in great numbers like it is now. As a young man, I would see Monarch Butterflies, in great numbers. Usually who ever had a crown flower plant, Monarch Butterflies, would be at that person's house. The crown flower, is a very easy plant to grow. Just stick a cutting in the ground, and watch it grow. I plan on planting more crown flower plants in the backyard, so I can attract more Monarch's. My backyard, is only so big, so I will plant crown flower plants on the adjacent state land. The state land, is only filled with bushes, so I might as well make use of it. I need to figure out how to build a container for the caterpillar's that is easy to clean.

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

So cool to hear from you in Hawaii! Sounds like it was a rough start of the season. I doubt Monarchs like flowing lava too much. Though I'm kinda just meeting you through these comments, I hope you are alright, and hopefully didn't see too harsh of effects in your area. How are things now?

Good advice !!!! I am planting more milkweeds and nectars plants just because of your awsome videos.

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Brigitte! Again, good luck!

My monarch just j hooked on the towel at the bottom of the tank, because it was folded up so it had space. Looks healthy, I will move the crysallis when it comes out and dries (the crysallis) I will move it to the top of the enclosure with the crysallis. I think I will tape it up, like I did with an unusually small crysallis that j hooked on a leaf. (It was healthy) my nursery just got two waves of infection, killing nearly forty! I was devastated, but I have released around 60 or 70. It's my first full year raising, and SO many monarchs lay eggs in my yard, I take in most and leave some. Last year I started September, so got 5 monarchs I found as catterpillars of varying sizes. One was infected with tachnid flies when it attempted to pupate, they fell out. It was so gross!

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Those set backs happen, but we learn from them. I take sanitation pretty seriously these days after having gone through an outbreak. Since bleach treating my leaves, I've had a few losses that did look like an infection, but no outbreaks, and absolutely no OE (so far).

Thanks to your videos I recently raised and released my first Monarch. I think they come back through my part of Texas in September. Then I will definitely collect more eggs off my milkweed and do my best to add to the Monarch population.

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Cool stuff. Texas is vitally important. That's where so many of the returning Monarchs lay the first generation for the season. Milkweed in those areas is so very important! Glad to have you aboard! Good luck with future attempts!

Thank you, great resource.

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

You're welcome, for sure. Thanks for checking it out!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!! you have helped me so much with these videos, much love!

@leedlebean9992

5 жыл бұрын

I just had my first 3 chrysalis today in south fl :)

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

I'm very happy to provide the help! Good luck with your endeavors!

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Awesome news! A pretty thrilling feeling the first time (and all future times, actually)! They'll soon be emerging, and that can be so rewarding. Thank you for helping them out!

Thank you for this and all of your videos on helping the Monarchs! My 6-year-old son loves bugs and all creatures to the point where if he sees one on the sidewalk, he'll move it to the grass so it doesn't get stepped on. We currently have 3 caterpillars, a 3rd, 4th, and 5th instar, and 1 egg. We live in a medium-size city in southern Wisconsin, but are on the edge of town and have 20+ milkweed plants within walking distance of our home.

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Your 6-year old sounds adorable! How cool to show such compassion already. That is some quality parenting! Glad that these videos could help! And thank you for having an active interest in all of this. Good luck with your rearing!

@thebuggslife8494

5 жыл бұрын

As a follow up, yesterday my son and I went out to pick milkweed leaves to feed our caterpillars. When we got to the location near a pond where we had recently found a 5th instar, we were horrified to discover that someone had cut down all of the milkweed! I don't know if the pond is city or private property. Thankfully we brought that 5th instar home or he'd be dead now. Instead, he's doing well and went into the J-hang last night! This location made up 50% of our source of milkweed, so we are looking for more in case someone removes the milkweed behind our neighborhood fire station. I guess this is a lesson - never assume the milkweed in your neighborhood will always be there. It's good to keep an eye out for other sources.

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

When I started out, it was important for me to find multiple sources of nearby milkweed, and I was able to. But even then, they weren't that close enough. So, my first year, I sprinkled seeds in places I was confident that milkweed that grew there wouldn't be mowed down. Did this in a few spots. The second year, they were up, and by the third year, they were adult plants providing me much food for the kids. Once I started doing this, I knew I was in it for the long haul, so I was trying to think ahead on how to make things easier. It doesn't help you this year, but if you can find similar areas where a patch of milkweed could spring up undisturbed, I recommend collecting seeds in the fall, and then planting some in the spring in those locations. Not sure if you're a homeowner or apartment style, but if you have the ability to devote a small area of your backyard to them, it really helps.

Well I’m hooked. I live in SW Michigan and Your video series has helped me plant more milkweed, gather eggs and release monarchs. I’m blowing up my FB page with my efforts. I’m writing down the sexes, I did a check for OE on a deformed butterfly and I feel I’ve lost my damn mind. I took in a few more eggs today and have all instars right now as well as about 20 chrysalis. Keep em coming. What else can I do?

@MrLundScience

4 жыл бұрын

What else can you do? I think you're doing it, Jody! As with any cause, there's always the question of, what else can I do? If someone does do all of this and still feels they have extra time, I'd point it towards the milkweed. This fall, I'm collecting my milkweed pods, getting the seeds from them, and then will be making little baggies with information pamphlets, and then dispersing them for free to any interested students. If you had a way to spread seeds with awareness info to people, that goes a long way. People like free stuff, and a percentage of them will be into the idea, especially as just planting seeds can be pretty low commitment. And some who do will take it further and become more interested. Good luck!

Excellent information Thankyou very much

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

You're absolutely welcome. Thanks for checking it out. Much appreciated!

Mr. Lund. What great videos! I’m inspired and want to start raising them. I have Swamp Milkweed and Butterfly Weed in my garden, so I’ve had cats before, just not sure if they made it. Wanted to get your recommendation on a container. I checked the pet store to see what they have. From your video, I’m thinking you’re using a “Kritter Keeper” container. I can’t find one with vents on the sides, just slits/vents on the lid. I would get a large one, so they have to climb up the plastic sides. Sound good?

We have two small plants and didn’t realize these few monarchs would LOAD UP every leaf in eggs

Excellent video again, Rich! We seem to be having a late season here in TX. Just started off my first batch of 14. Last year I lost nearly all my stock to Tachinid Flies.

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks! To avoid the tachinid flies, will you be taking the eggs into containers?

@-joltrast

5 жыл бұрын

MrLundScience I don't always catch them at egg stage. They're nearly always 1st or 2nd instar. I also occasionally pick up "extras" when picking leaves to feed to the hungry horde. Last year they were mostly 3rd and 4th instar, so had been exposed to the outside for much longer.

@wildrebel-love5771

5 жыл бұрын

Joltrast 14! Wow you’re lucky. The population here in “upstate” NY is still slowly recovering. About ten years ago we had a problem with all the milkweed plants and then for all of that year and the next we had no monarchs. For eight years now I’ve seen a low increase but my success rate has unfortunately dropped. This year I don’t have access to as much land as I did before meaning less milkweed but I still have my record high of seven since ten years ago when their were no caterpillars. I’m taking this as a good sign and wish you luck with your raising!!!

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

That's interesting to hear how different it is for you and I. I rarely find a caterpillar compared to the number of eggs I find. If I go out and collect 20 eggs, I might find 1 caterpillar...maybe.

Rich, just found a great article in the National Geographic 12.2018 about how butterflies are programmed to change. Great graphics and info. Thought your followers would like to know.

@MrLundScience

4 жыл бұрын

Very cool. Thanks for sharing!

Keep planting seeds!

Gimme a second I gotta binge

I live in Pasadena Tx and noticed the lizards in the backyard were eating the caterpillars! I have saved a few caterpillars, trying my best with what I have. Thank you for all your information. I am going to step up my game and plant more milk weed. I have a few now and if we have a mild winter the butterflies stay around awhile. It upsets me to see the lizards hunting on the milkweed at dusk! Any advice?

love your videos ❤️

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Hey, thanks!

If I have a milkweed plant with two caterpillars on it & they leave to make their chrysalis. Is it ok to put another caterpillar on the same plant? The reason I ask is because someone mentioned to me that monarch caterpillars can poison each other. I haven’t been able to find any information regarding this question. Hoping you can help, I would appreciate any info. thank you I had three plants in a habitat, and one plant only had two caterpillar’s, it seemed like most of the Caterpillar‘s all migrated to the same plant. I wanted to space them out a little. Thank you so much, I love all your videos!! you’re so awesome to help everyone with information we need 😀

I'm in that lovely position where I started off with 3 milkweed plants and quickly got to 20 caterpillars, which turned my plants into stemswith. I'm burning a hole in my wallet buying new plants every other day. (I'm going to take in less next time but I gotta get these guys out now, ya know) But will the milkweeds I'm buying at least grow back ? They're ravaged to the stems all of the ones that got eaten, but if I plant them will they grow back so they will at least help me in the future ? (I am doing the 3 step rinse w bleach solution on all the plants at least :/ I wish I planted my own seeds and waited but I didn't know then, and here we are)

Thank You for making this video! There is sadness when a cat drowns and I could've saved it. I find that bringing in the cat to put on a Swamp Milkweed, SW leaf was risky. I have one I saved and call him nearly drowned:-( He does not eat nearly as much. One that crawled on my bed i put back onto the SM plant and he continued to be energy charged, like pregnant woman getting ready to deliver, and I found him drowned:-( Another fatal time for my cat was when I put it into a netted laundry basket and put the basket out onto the back deck covered with Agribon. It made it's attachment onto the Agribon, which was great! I went to play the lottery and came back and the wind had blown:-( Since it was so newly attached it fell w/o its's cremaster, then it started oozing green and black fluid:-(, But then there are all those that did make it. I have learned and your videos have been VERY helpful. There was another that was dented and it did not make it. I was in a hurry to return the plant to my garden after the leaves were all eaten and i pulled that leaf, like others that have been successful. I wonder if the hot glue gun got it? I'll never know, but i will know to be more careful! I am always still raising the cats and I am thinking about how to achieve 100% delivery to the air.

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Sounds like you've had many experiences, and with these bad ones from time to time, as you say, there have been so many that have made it. Thank you for putting in so much effort, and not being deterred by these harsh times that occur. It's a numbers game, and few are able to defeat statistics. If you are raising many, hard situations will occur. It's important that people getting into this hobby understand that going in, and perhaps it helps if they know that we all go through it from time to time.

I have a creek that was just “renaturalized” behind my house (they ripped out the concrete creek, including the 150 foot willows because “they aren’t native” 🙄 it was a horrifying day when they just started cutting down all of the trees I grew up with behind my house). They planted some things like trees and native flora but basically I believe they just leave it alone. Would this be a good place to release monarchs, or should I specifically look for a section with milkweed?

I need some help right away-and thought maybe you could help and guide me. I live in Southern California-its Dec 16, and I have stumbled on upon 8 caterpillars on a non native milkweed that was never cut down...grrrr. Anyway, I pulled out the butterfly cage, put inside my kitchen and have been feeding them slowly cutting this plant(with o permission). Question for you-its a bit cold outside(65ish day 50 ish nite If I get em to pupa then what.? We are going to Pismo beach (where they hibernate in ca) in a few weeks. What do u think about leaving the crystallis there, outside. Will they hatch and go with the other monarchs to hibernate? Should I just turn em loose in my yard w limited but some flowering plants around and hope for the best? Do they remain in crystallis longer when it's cold? (Around 40 at night, 50-60 day) Just need some guidance if you can offer any. .I tell everyone, this is why you need to cut down non natives! Anyway, I would appreciate any help u may be able to offer. Was also going to call a local botanical garden to see if they can help with warm aviary.(?), but would rather they be free if possible. Sorry so long, really sorry, but know how much you love the monarchs and would help if u could. Thank you!

MrLundScience. I could use a bit of advice. My name is Destiny, I thought I would introduce myself as we have talked a bit through the comments of your other videos. I am seventeen years old and for all seventeen years I have been around the process of raising monarchs and this is my eighth year now of raising the monarchs on my own, from the intake of the caterpillars to the release of the butterflies. I usually have four intake days a year that are a few days apart where I take caterpillars in at around the third instar or above. This year I had to take in caterpillars that were in the first instar... as well as some who were further along. I knew that I’d only have a day or two before we were supposed to get nasty weather including heavy nonstop rain. Originally the forecast only called for two weeks of rain (which was no big deal as the bad weather should be out by the time the monarchs completely matured) but now it’s saying we could be in for an additional three weeks of rain and I have pupae that will be hatching before the rains are suppose to move on if that is indeed the case. If the rains ARE still here I won’t be able to release the butterflies after their booster feeding like I normally do. I want to be prepared just in case I can’t release the butterflies for a week or so. Any advice of what to do?

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Hey Destiny. Your concern for the Monarchs is commendable. There are two options, as I'm sure you're aware of: Continue keeping them until weather improves, or, releasing. Let's talk about the first. From reading what else you've stated in other comments, you've done this for years, so I know you know the deal with feeding them. Cool. Feeding them daily is an option, and, they could be good to weather out the storm with you. However, there's two concerns with this. The first is wing damage in captivity. Monarchs tend to want to get out and take flight. In an enclosure, they will usually have bursts of "I need out of here" and flutter around to the sides and tops of their enclosures. This will eventually cause wing damage. It's less of and "if" and more of a "when". I will keep Monarchs overnight at times when weather is bad, but I know I wouldn't trust myself doing it for more than three days, and for me, I feel that's pushing it. There have been a couple of times where I kept some Monarchs in my screened in porch for three days due to weather, and by the third day when things were nice, they were already showing minor wear to their wings. So, I know I wouldn't trust myself keeping them longer than that. They might do better dealing with the weather than dealing with me keeping them longer. The other concern would be their migratory habits. If it is a generation that would otherwise be laying eggs for the next generation to get started, I wouldn't want to keep them off from that for too many days. This can have a real impact to the migration of their offspring (and offspring's offspring). The science isn't fully done on understanding the migration. Still, if it's instinctual due to seasonal changes (which many think it is) and a generation cycle has been delayed a few weeks, this could lead to some late Monarchs that have to migrate much later in the season than they normally would. And when they do migrate, they may have to deal with much cooler temperatures, and way fewer nectar producing flowers. Looking at the big picture, we wouldn't want to put too much of a delay on that due to our actions. Certainly, storms such as the ones you are describing are natural events that also may cause delays. But, that would be nature causing it, and not us, which is better. As for the second option, and releasing them during storms, I would first say that I wouldn't release them if winds are high, and if it's thunder and lightning. But, if it's only rain, and not a flash downpour, as this is something the Monarchs deal with naturally anyway, we can put trust in them to know what to do instinctively. They've done it for millions of years. Placing them on a mostly covered tree branch during the rain is not too much of a problem for them, and while it's not ideal, again, it might be less of a risk for them than keeping them captive where harming their wings is a possibility. These are only things to consider in making your choice. In the end, it is up to you, and I trust that you'll weigh the ideas here and decide what is better for them. It seems like they are in capable hands. Good luck, and thank you for what you've been doing for so many years!

@wildrebel-love5771

5 жыл бұрын

MrLundScience Thank you for the information. I have yet to have bad weather before a release since I have started so as it is a new obstacle to me I am glad that you have had a bit of experience with this before. I definitely don’t want to keep them any longer than necessary. I just hope there’ll be a break in the storms when I have to release. Also I am happy to say that when the rain let up yesterday I went out to see if I had to remove some aphids from the milkweed (I also had to get leaves for the caterpillars in my care) while doing so I found about eight eggs and seven more small caterpillars that had recently hatched despite the heavy rain. (I ended up having to figure something out for the twelve milkweed plants that were knocked down because of the rain). So I took in five more eggs which is under my limit which brought my total to twelve caterpillars... sadly this morning I lost two that I was keeping together both infected with some parasite.. it almost looked like a round work but thinner. To end on a positive note I went to the dentist this morning and came back to another caterpillar in its chrysalis (the third one). I just hope that I won’t lose too many more. Have you ever experienced a caterpillar with something like a round worm???

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Definitely milkweed being knocked down shows that you have been having quite the storms! However, take note that during this time, you also found eggs that had been laid. This would show that even in the stormy weather you've been having, Monarchs in your area have still found times when they have been able to mate and travel to the milkweed to lay eggs. I would take this as evidence that they will be able to do what they need to do in this stormy weather to still stay safe and get their job done. In other comments you were not sure if you should hang on to the adults you have or release them. I think that finding eggs being laid would tip me over to the idea of releasing them. As for a round worm, nope, I've not seen such a thing in a caterpillar (or come out of a caterpillar), but sometimes the larvae (maggots) of tachinid flies emerge from caterpillars. Do you know about tachinid flies? They lay eggs by injecting them into caterpillars, and usually when the caterpillar has gone into chrysalis, the maggots pop out of them. Sometimes, they develop soon enough to come out of the caterpillars. Either way, they leave stringy strands from where they exit. Did you have something similar to this occur? Look up images on tachinid flies and what they do to caterpillars, and see if that may be your culprit.

@wildrebel-love5771

5 жыл бұрын

MrLundScience Yes I know about the tachinid fly but that doesn’t look like what this was... 1) there was no maggot/larva 2) the strings left by the larva tachinid fly is white, off-white, yellow. This was black or dark purple and definitely alive, squirming after it came out, it was kind of curled but could uncurl itself to move.

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

That's crazy! No, I've never heard of such a thing! Like, it's not cool at all that this happened to one of your Monarchs, but it's sorta cool to find out something new, always. Wild. I'll see what I can find out!

You"re awesome! I've got 15 chrysalis, lost 3. It has been 11 days, It's getting closer!

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Losses happen, but hey, sounds still quite successful! Did they emerge yet? My best to them. Hope everything turned out healthy!

@marypalmer2088

5 жыл бұрын

First one today, she just flew away a couple of minutes ago. 14 more to go and 3 are getting ready to emerge! Love all your tips, they are so helpful. Thanks, Mary

2022 is a rough year. I don’t see many monarchs flying in Holland Michigan

Thank you so much for your informative videos,, I am learning so much very quickly! I planted 2 milkweeds in my garden last year and just noticed about a week ago 5 caterpillars on them in different stages of growth. Since have been doing research and your videos are the best by far. I have watched them outside and yesterday and this morning saw 2 dead with a stink bug attached to each one. So I just went out and collected the remaining 4 caterpillars into a box. I'm headed out to find a better container and am wondering what you would suggest to get me started? I also harvested a bunch of seeds and will attempt to grow more plants, and just called a nursery which has milkweed in stock so I plan to go pick up some this weekend and get them started. As you can tell, I am hooked (J-Hooked) ... thanks again!

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Welcome aboard, Deb! For raising caterpillars, you can see from some of my videos what I use, but honestly, I barely remember where I got that container with the green lid from. I had two. One I bought (I think) and the other was a gift from my mother. Those containers work very well, but also, they are quite expensive. They're available at most pet stores, but they are priced usually around $25 or more. That's insane! If/when I need a new one, I'll be just using food storage plastic containers, and ventilating it by poking holes in the lid (probably with a candle flame heated nail). For containers, as long as it can be a clean and somewhat ventilated environment, many options do the job well, so I'd go with the affordable ones.

@Mud92856

5 жыл бұрын

@@MrLundScience thanks for your help! My first container was a shoebox which they started escaping from. I went to plastic with a well ventilated lid but was too small. I ordered one kritter keeper from Amazon but found a very fine wire mesh container shaped like an apple with a tight fitting lid at a yard sale It now has 2 Crysalis and one forming. I put the others in the Kritter Keeper and one is ready to hang now. 3 more are eating like crazy. 3 eggs hatched yesterday and so I bought more milkweed. On those I found two tiny cats and 2 more eggs. I am really loving this! Thanks for your reply! And videos. I am going to watch more now 😊

@matthewkucharski3659

5 жыл бұрын

Deb Bain I found pretty much the exact same terrarium that mrlund uses at meijer for $12. If you live in the midwest where Meijer stores are found I would check it out!

@gcxred4kat9

5 жыл бұрын

Careful about buying milkweed from a nursery. Nurseries know full well that people buy milkweed for monarchs, but one nursery I bought one from had sprayed thier milkweed for aphids unbeknownst to me and made one of my cats sick. Found it all out when I took it back. Try finding a wild patch.

I really need to know what type, specifically, of containers you use. I love your system, but am not sure where you found the small white containers with clear lids.It appears you use a "Critter Cage" for final stage. What size is it? Small, medium, large? Thanks!

@MrLundScience

4 жыл бұрын

The small white containers you refer to come from a local Chinese cuisine restaurant near by. They sell them to me four for a dollar. But, any plastic food storage container can work for this. As for the plastic terrariums, most pet stores that sell small animals (hamsters, lizards, hermit crabs) will carry them, but an online search of "plastic terrarium" will produce many results. Those things are usually WAY over priced for the $2 or less worth of plastic they are made from, so look for deals when you can find them! A recent episode shows in more detail the variety of these that I use, which will help answer the size question, as I show the measurements in that video, found here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/anyCttNwgKjeaag.html

Thank you Rich for all you do for all of us. I have a question. I use a plastic terrium just like the one you showed. I was going to do a cleaning and give fresh leaves but I have had two on the top since last night. One just shed to 5th instar and I believe the other is too. Should I wait to take the top off to clean until they are done and off the top? I don't want to hurt or disturb them. Thank you so much.

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

If they are 5th instar and at the top, yep, assume that they are getting ready to J-hang. And, if they aren't 5th instar and at the top (or the sides) I assume always that they are about to molt. Either way, they shouldn't be disturbed. Clean what you can, but the sanitation should be secondary to not disturbing them during these delicate moments. And you're most definitely welcome for the videos. Thank YOU for taking a true interest in this and helping the population!

@kimberlyfaircloth2234

5 жыл бұрын

MrLundScience Thanks so much for your reply and advice it is appreciated.

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Absolutely. Happy to help.

My mom just started raising monarchs a month ago. She has 6 caterpillars and 4 of them are now in their chrysalis. The other two should be by this time tomorrow. My moms success rate is likely because she’s better at literally everything than most people. Particularly anything that has to do with plants.

My daughter fished a Monarch butterfly from our pool a week ago. He was tired and couldn't fly well, and his wings look damaged. We've been feeding him and he seems stronger but still cannot fly. Any ideas where we can safely release him? We live in Marin county in northern CA.

Hi Rich, my son is loving your videos and he is now the family butterfly expert! Or lepidopterist as I now know ;). He has a question as this has occurred to one of our caterpillars recently. What happens if a caterpillar that is J hanging falls? We are lucky to be in south florida and still have monarchs around. Thanks in advance !

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Greetings Peter, and say hello to your son for me! So cool that he's getting interested in this slice of nature around him. Awe, wonder, and interest at a young age is so awesome to witness. I have never had a J-hanging caterpillar fall from the hang. I've had some that certainly could have, but each time, they've made it to the chrysalis, OR, have fallen once the skin is off and it was still drying. In the case of them falling while still drying, I haven't been there to witness it, and found instead a chrysalis that had dried on its side, with flatness to one end. When that's happened, sometimes the butterfly has emerged just fine, but often that flatness leads to slightly or greatly deformed wings. The butterfly can't fly, or can't fly straight or for long periods of time or both. In other cases where the chrysalis formed just fine, but I could see that the hang job wasn't well done, once it has dried I've removed it from the hang and either glued it to a piece of paper towel that I then hang, or, allow it to develop on its side in its own separate container. Here's how I glue those that are missing their silk to paper towel: kzread.info/dash/bejne/n39605elicq6ZbQ.html However, I made that before I knew that they didn't need to hang to develop properly. They can be on their side the whole time. So, I made another video that shows if you have one that develops on its side, here's how to allow it to come out on its side, and still be able to crawl up something to allow the wings to unfold and dry: kzread.info/dash/bejne/nax33NRxaabRY6g.html Now, what if it falls and it hasn't made the chrysalis yet? Though I've never experienced it, I had someone leave me a comment about how her caterpillar fell when it was starting to shed the final skin on the way to chrysalis. She was able to cup it in her hands while it struggled and wiggled out of the skin. She would rotate her hand while it was cupped to "help" it wiggle off the skin (not fully sure about the specifics of that and if I'm picturing in my mind what she really did) and it was able to shed the skin. She then held it from the stem so it could hang and dry naturally. I'm guessing the hand would get sore for that period of time, but she did it, and said that the chrysalis dried and looked normal. This is something that I want to try out should the situation present itself to me. I certainly wouldn't want to intentionally try it and experiment with a caterpillar that otherwise would be doing it normally, but if I have one in the future that is in this situation, I plan to try it and video the results. I hope all of that helped in some way!

Your awesome!

Love it

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Why thank you. ;-)

Just watched your Raising Monarchs videos today after I found another large monarch caterpillar on my milkweed as well as lots of eggs. My question is, should I keep the containers in my 72-76 degree house or find a shady spot in the yard for them? If they are outside and it rains (which it has been doing a lot in N.C. lately) the container will get really wet inside. Ideas? Love your videos!

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Provided that rambunctious kids, excited dogs, or mischievous cats aren't likely to knock it over, inside is probably better. If it is well ventilated, that's still a place for tachinid flies to inject their eggs into caterpillars. Not sure if you are aware of tachinid flies, but many who leave their caterpillars outdoors, be it in containers or on their plants, have issues with tachinid flies. Laying eggs in caterpillars is necessary for their life cycle. The eggs hatch inside, and become maggots that pop out of the butterflies usually in the chrysalis stage, and it's fatal. Plus, tachinid flies are virtually on every continent, save Antarctica, so they're in your area for sure. I didn't even know that they existed until others starting asking about them in these comments, as I never have had a tachinid fly issue, and it's because I keep my caterpillars in containers within the house. (I suppose a tachinid fly could always get into my house, but, so far so good.) Good luck with your caterpillar!

Also, im having trouble with a wasp called Trichogramma Wasps, which lay their eggs in monarch eggs, have you had any trouble with that?

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

I think I did have a few eggs that were victims of this wasp, but early on in doing this before I knew of the wasp. I haven't had many instances, though. Still, if you found the egg in nature and took it in, there wasn't much you could have done to prevent these guys from injecting eggs into the Monarch egg. Stinks that they are plentiful enough in your area to cause multiple problems.

Mr. Lund, I watched your video about the study and wanted to find out if my shed with open windows and usually open doors (it has a regular door and 2 big doors on the opposite side) is an okay place to raise monarchs. I have 5 new chrysalis that I could move outside if needed. ( I would need more netted tents) I just wanted to get your thoughts.

@MrLundScience

4 жыл бұрын

Greetings Jes, The first thing I'd say is that the current Monarchs that are in caterpillar stages or chrysalis already, they aren't likely at all to be part of the migration. So, what is being raised right now, we don't have to worry too much about rearing outdoors. Currently, an episode on some options for outdoor rearing is in the works. What I can say, though, is that since we don't exactly know what the environmental cues are, how many there are, and how much of it needs to be received, it's really difficult to advise on how much "outdoors" is enough. I don't know that anybody knows right now. More research would be needed. It'd be very cool to have an instrument like what they used in the study, and try to have several groups of Monarchs reared in various degrees of "outdoors" to pin down how much of the cues are necessary, but that's beyond my resources. I certainly hope that future studies do try such research and are able to pin down what the environmental cues are. It's some ripe ground for study. The best I can say is that it's not so much a black and white, yes and no situation, as far as we know it. Instead, we can say that the more outdoors they receive, the more likely they are to be able to migrate. For example, in the study, the wild outdoor reared Monarchs showed migratory behavior, and while they were raised outdoors, it was still inside of pop-up mesh tents. So, that was "outdoors" enough. Now, what if I raise some in similar mesh tents, but in my screened in porch? Is that outdoors enough? The temp and amount of daylight would be the same. Same humidity. It's probably a safe option. But, still, we don't know. Assuming my screened in porch *is* outdoors enough. What if one side of it wasn't a screen, but a wall? Small difference, but is it significant enough? What if the walls weren't screen, but regular walls with very large screened windows. That's almost the same conditions. But is it outdoors enough? And next, what about a shed that has windows and doors open? You can see that not only do we not know where the line is in the sand, so to speak, even if we tried to make the call, we'd just be guessing. And whatever situation is halfway between outdoors enough, and not outdoors at all, in that situation it probably isn't a case where they all do migrate, or they all don't, but instead, a 50% chance of migrating. The best we can do is, within reason, give them as much outdoors experience as possible. If the best you can do within reason is your mostly outdoors shed, that's what at least one of the authors of the study recommends. I hope that helps in some way!

@Jes320n

4 жыл бұрын

MrLundScience thank you! That was how I was feeling to, but wanted to run it by someone doing this longer than I am. I appreciate your time in answering the question.

We found a monarch caterpillar about a week ago on our walk to the school bus. Everyone is excited as it's the first one we've found. We are located in western Colorado and the cat is J-hanging as we speak - October 19. What do I do with it? We've already had freezing temps, most plants outside have died as a result of early freeze earlier this week. Can I still release it when it emerges as a butterfly? Do we need to find a way to keep it indoors since it is so late in the season? We appreciate any help!

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Hey Lucee! Late in the season, the females still just have the instinct to lay eggs. They aren't aware that the ones laid later have much less of a chance of making the migration. They just lay lay lay. If they were consciously trying to pass on their genes, one could say, they're just playing the odds, and the more they lay, the more of a chance some might make it, if even a very small number. So, if you found one that made it this far, it's a fighter! (Or it's lucky...whichever way you wish to look at it.) If you can protect it from freezing temps, yes, definitely do that. Once it emerges, though, you need to release and give it that chance. If not released, obviously it's chances of making it to Mexico has become zero, and the reason to take them in is to help their chances of becoming successful adults that have the chance to add to the population. Once it's emerged, I'd release as soon as possible. Thanks for taking the time and consideration to give this one some protection!

Today is the day!! We get to meet our Tom Tom the crunchy munchy caterpillar (well butterfly now;)!! I have like 15 more in all different stages and am looking forward to experiencing this stage!!!

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Great to hear! Hope Tom Tom gave you a grand "hello" on the way out! Thanks for doing what you can to help out these amazing entomological friends!

I would like to get the OE infection off of the butterfly's abdomen using athin brush, do you think it is a good idea?

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

It's a commendable idea...but no, I don't think that will go well. While certainly some of the spores would be removed, not all would, and I don't even know that most would, without causing adverse affects to the Monarch. The butterfly itself would need to sit through a lot of brushing away of its abdomen scales, which would only harm/damage the butterfly eventually. They also require those scales for thermal regulation, from what I understand. And after removing, lets say, even the majority of scales...there would still be OE spores on that Monarch, and it is still capable of passing on the parasite. In other words, while progress would be made, I don't know that with a Monarch that's infested, one would ever cross the finish line in doing this and be able to say, it is now OE free and won't spread the parasite. Those spores are tiny, and are all throughout the abdomen. I haven't heard too much of this, but I believe they are on the wings too. Again, I fully admit, I haven't heard anyone state this outright, but have alluded to it and it makes sense. The spores develop when in chrysalis, and while concentrated at the abdomen, they may also be on the wings, which in chrysalis, are right up next to the abdomen. People talk more of the abdomen, as that's the easiest place to test for them, and also, the place where the majority of the spread of the parasite happens, as that's the body part that touches during mating, and touches the leaves during egg laying.

What type of milkweed is in your yard. It's got such broad leaves! All I see in southern California are skinny small leafed milkweed. What is the name of your broad leaf milkweed?

@MrLundScience

4 жыл бұрын

In all of the videos, I'm using Aslepias syriaca, aka, "Common Milkweed", and do so specifically for the leaf size. It's also (fortunately) the most widespread milkweed species, and thus, covers most ranges in North America. I don't presume to tell people what to and what not to plant in their gardens. I think that'd be overstepping a bit. But for me personally, I wish to only plant things in my yard that are native to my region. (My wife, however, does not hold to this, and hey, half this homestead is hers. So, you might still see some non-Michigan plant life in my yard in the background of some videos.)

Can they survive by eating the stems ? I’ve gone through $60+ in plants so far.

Hey Rich, I got two monarchs on the top of container getting ready to spin their silk buttons but I got four more on the sides of the container and I think they are starting to spin theirs on the sides, what should I do? Is that safe for them?

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

I haven't had this happen too often, but when it has, I've done the following: 1) I remove the lid of my container so that any that are about to J-hang or are J-hanging can still do so, as they were. I support the edges of that lid on stacks of books or the like. Once J-hanging or getting ready to, they won't crawl away anywhere. 2) Using something like aluminum foil, I make a new "lid" for that container, and keep it in place with rubber bands and tape. 3) I then tilt the container so that the caterpillar that has connected to the side of it will hang freely, and when the chrysalis is made, it will not be touching any sides of the container. They chrysalis then forms naturally, and is shaped normally. 4) Once dried and ready to be moved, I locate this chrysalis onto my normal hanging cord of yarn, and then put the normal lid back on the container. This has worked for me in the past. I hope this can help you! I'd make a video on it, but since doing it this way, I haven't had any try to hang from the sides again. So, no video footage has been able to be collected. Someday...

@Jacks_n

5 жыл бұрын

Well after a day they moved up to the top, they were going to spin that on the side but they moved up, I couldn’t told because two were on other sides. That also happened to me before but I had two in a jar (I didn’t have a bigger container) and one was already on the top so the other had to do it on the side, I just tilted the jar. I’ve been raising monarchs for more the four years so I know how they act when they are getting ready to pupate. I don’t know why they stuck to the sides of the container tho

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Yeah, it's been confusing to me too when it's happened. It could be, I've speculated, that if enough silk has built up on the sides from other caterpillars climbing, the caterpillar might feel like that's a secure place to attach more silk and J-hang, without having any knowledge that there's even better places just a few caterpillar steps up to the top of the container. Tough to say.

@Jacks_n

5 жыл бұрын

Also I’ve had a few caterpillars make the silk pad and lose it or can’t find it, I just kind of moved them to it so they can attach (not picking them up usually) but what do you do if that happens or a J hanging caterpillar falls

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

If a caterpillar makes a silk pad area, but then moves on, I don't assume he/she lost it, but that something cause him/her to reject it and seek out a better place. It could be that it lost it, but it could also be that it chose otherwise, and I have to assume it's the latter for benefit of the caterpillar (freedom of choice...USA!). As for a caterpillar that is J-hanging, and during the J-hang, it falls from where it attached, I currently have no solution for this. It is, however, on my R&D list. So, I'm actively this year trying to observe actively what parts could be used in a reattachment attempt, without harming the caterpillar and allowing it to form the chrysalis. It's a work in progress, though, and not an easy one to solve...so far.

Just a quick question, I have 2 caterpillars in a container, and from this morning till this evening, they havent eat any of their leaves and are just staying very still (a live). They are in 5 in star, but I'm confused as to why no KrAzY eating like the last many days? Could you pls get back to me asap and maybe give me an answer or help me out as to what I should do? Pls I'm begging you or someone.

@MrLundScience

4 жыл бұрын

Sometimes, the caterpillars are just fine, and they're doing not what we expect. No problem with them, often, just our expectations not fully lining up with their behaviors. Now, yes, sometimes things do go wrong, but if there's no writhing or squirming, or vomiting, the caterpillar is probably fine. In other words, taking a break, even a long one, isn't cause for alarm just yet. Three days without eating, then my eyebrows would start to raise.

I had my first egg of the season and I was going to try the leave it to do it's thing method but the next day it disappeared and there are some spiders and wasps around and I think the egg did not make it but I have spotted a couple days later a monarch egg. Edit: I forgot to say I took the egg in because there was a very low chance it would make it.

Rich liked the video Question I have is because the Butterflies I have from caged breeding program results in 50 - 100 brothers & sisters , how far do I have get them apart to stop imbreeding

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

To breed, they must connect the ends of their abdomens, so I'd say at least a centimeter away from each other at all times should do it. Okay...that was my attempt at humor. To seriously answer your question, I'd have to say, I don't really know. People have told me that they have noticed Monarchs that they released come back to their yard the next day, and the next. I don't wish to insult anyone, but I remain skeptical of that. It might be happening, but it also may be different Monarchs that are visiting. Unless there is a tag on the butterfly, or specific and unique wing damage that would allow someone to know for sure it was the same Monarch, I don't know that we can conclude that yet. Still, it's *reasonable* to suspect that some Monarchs, when not in the times of migration, may very well remain in the same local region, and thus, inbreeding could occur. With that said, what I say next is really important: I DON'T disagree with what you are doing! I'm just quite neutral on breeding. There are some who breed Monarchs, and there's a variety of reasons that they do it, and a variety of ways of being ethical and unethical about it, and a variety of ways of being responsible and irresponsible about it. I'm sure you're aware of this. And I think that the majority of people out there doing it are in the non-commercial, ethical, responsible category. Still, with breeding, there are so many issues it can cause even with good intentions. Some current science being done (and thus, not all that conclusive yet) is the studying of how the lowered number of Monarchs is leading to less genetic diversity within populations. If the population becomes too small, and then, even if it rebounds, it rebounds only with the genetic mix that the lowest population had at that time. This can cause a "bottleneck" effect to the gene diversity. Scientists are studying this right now, and don't know how much the breeding of Monarch stock might affect this. Truth be told, it *could* be that even 100 or so Monarchs in a given area from the same two parents that successfully breed with non-relatives might still cause an overabundance of certain genes in that progeny. Now, it's maybe not a likelihood, but it is a possibility. It's right now, an unknown. So, with that said, I don't know what type of answer really is the best one. I would say that making an effort to separate progeny from the same parents is the best way to go, but how far away they should be separated, I just don't have an informed answer for that. If I were in your shoes and I had a population of 100 or so Monarchs from the same parents, I suppose I might consider a few options: 1) Release them in batches over the course of a few days, not all at once. If, say, 20 go the first day, females within that 20 are likely to find mates that day or the next. 20 released a day or two later are then more likely to find different mates. 2) On the heels of #1, I'd release females first. If they are all female that are released, say, 20 of your 100, then they definitely won't interbreed (save any unforeseen Jurassic Park type stuff!) and will likely find mates in the wild over a day or two. It doesn't take butterflies long to be mated. 3) Release males after all females are released, and have had a day or two away from the day you release the males. This would help ensure that even if brothers encounter sisters, the sister is likely already fertilized. 4) Any amount of geographic separation you can do to help this out would only add to keeping things genetically better for the population in your region. So, to break that down, let's say you have 100 Monarchs, and 50 are male, 50 are female. Let's say Day 1 is the day that they eclose from chrysalis... Day 3, they have definitely reached sexual maturity, and I'd release, say, 25 females at home, and 25 females in some other area. How many miles apart depends upon how much you're willing to drive and transport them. It's up to you. But I suppose I'd be willing to go 20 miles away for a nice drive. That part is up to you, though. I'd then wait until Day 5 to release the males. Really, this could be done all at home, but again, it's *better* if it's done in a different location than the other two releases. But by Day 5, it would be reasonable to expect that the majority of your female releases have already found mates, and in fact, are already laying eggs. This could already decrease the chance for inbreeding greatly, and while maybe one brother and sister do meet up and mate, it's way less of a likelihood. I just want to say one more time, I don't disagree with breeding. I just don't endorse it either in my videos. I'm fully willing to trust that you are doing it quite responsibly. But if I ever made videos on how to do it, I *must* assume that some would use that information to do it in unethical, commercial, and irresponsible ways. There's other videos out there showing how to do it, and I just don't want to be a part of that. And that's why I've never shown it or talked about it in my videos. It's something that if misused, could cause the populations a lot of problems. I stay completely Switzerland on this! I hope you understand, and I hope it's clear (but I'll say it again just to make sure it is) that I don't at all disagree with what you're doing! Thank you for doing what you can to help out this beautiful animal!

I saw an old video where you mention about making a future video regarding buying monarch caterpillars- was this ever made?

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Heh... Kinda funny... You asked this question just a couple of days ago in the "Channel Comments" section. I typed a pretty lengthy reply...only to find it is asked again. (I find this humorous.) No worries if you forgot where that was. Here's the reply to your original asking of this: Greetings AAEMH, As I read your comment, nothing triggered in my mind about purchasing caterpillars from a past video. I am pretty sure, though, that I mention in a video a desire to try out artificial milkweed food and see how that goes. Is it possible that this is what you are remembering too? Either way, I haven't tried the artificial food idea yet. At home, I have a semi-long list of ideas of topics that I would like to cover in future episodes. Not just any ol' idea makes it on there, because I think it's important to not waste the viewer's time with just "fluff", so I try to keep the topics something that is worth taking a look at. I think that artificial milkweed diet is definitely pertinent enough, hence why it's on the list. But, that list is also prioritized. Something that can make a topic on the list more of a priority can be things that deal with the overall health of the Monarchs people are caring for. If there's information I can get out there that helps people currently caring for them take better care, or avoid infections/outbreaks, that moves up in priority. Another thing that can cause a video to get done sooner, though, is opportunity. For example, I have a Monarch with a broken wing right now, and thus, the opportunity to try a wing repair, and thus, make a video showing that, has risen pretty high on the list. One more thing that can cause a topic to get more attention from me, though, is what comments are talking about and asking about. If people are asking often about a specific topic, I know it's something they want to know more about, and if I know things about it, I think it's worth it to move on that video idea sooner than later. The "Pests and Predators" video was the result of this. Last summer, there were so many comments asking about these other insects and what to do about them, I felt it was an issue that needed high attention. I think that the year, going off of memory, that I said I wanted to try out artificial diets was also the year I was finding out a lot more about OE. And because it can have major impacts on the health of the Monarchs, it became the number one priority. I don't think I mentioned in a video ordering caterpillars. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure I didn't mention that because it is a topic I'm aware of, but don't really want to touch too much for mixed reasons. Ordering Monarch caterpillars in this way is a tenuous subject for me. There's both ups and downs that come with it. Companies that provide Monarch caterpillars are variable in how much care they give to them and their raising process. Some, I trust, are awesome and very responsible. And in the long run, they are possibly just Science kit suppliers - companies that provide Science learning tools for education. Of course I'm a huge fan of that. But, in other cases, I have heard of companies not taking care to sanitize their "stock", and that people have experienced receiving Monarchs that turned out to all be infected with OE, and in some cases, even had tachinid flies emerge from them. While companies may have good intentions, when you have several orders to fill and realize that you have and OE break out, do you do the right thing and refund those orders and start fresh with new stock, or do you turn a blind eye and still send out infected stock? We would hope companies would do the right thing, but they don't always do so. And so, ordering caterpillars from a company would put me in a touchy spot. Say I order caterpillars from "The Amazing Caterpillar Co." (That's a name I just made up.) Let's even say that the caterpillars arrive nice and safe, and all goes well. If I then post a video about that experience, I've done two things: First, it could be argued that I've done a product endorsement. KZread is very picky about product endorsements. If a person making a video brings up and promotes a product (and just having it in the video could be argued as promotion) then KZread might expect money out of you. They have no way of knowing if you received a check from The Amazing Caterpillar Co., unless you disclose that you did. And so, even if you didn't receive money from the caterpillar company, KZread will treat you as if you did, and take money from you. They want their cut, no matter what. And since I obviously would not have received anything from whatever company I ordered from, other than the caterpillars, this could cause a headache for me. (If I ever am able to get around to an artificial food video where I test it out, I will absolutely not be mentioning what company provided it for me, and hide any names on the packaging, so as to avoid this altogether.) The other thing that would happen if I made such a video with The Amazing Caterpillar Co.'s product, is I now have associated my name with theirs. So, what if, down the road a year or two later, someone uses that company because it's the one I used, and they get caterpillars that are all infected? Everything went fine with my experience, but they have a very bad one. Now, I'm associated in there with that, and I don't want to be. Or, what if it isn't even the company's fault, but in shipping of the caterpillars, they are, say, kept in a very warm condition, or the box is thrown around without care in the mail system? The caterpillars show up dead in the mailbox. Again, it would seem that I'm not associated with that in some people's views, and that could make them pretty angry. I'm not saying that's the most rational way to look at it, but it's still something I wish to avoid. I wish to be neutral on many subjects that are covered, not promoting, or seeming to promote any specific product. My only goal is to provide what I hope is quality information that helps others help the Monarchs. It's simple, but it's also a fine line to walk at times. What I would recommend, though, is that you check out some Facebook Monarch Groups. I'm not part of FB, and don't wish to be. But, that's an arena where many people have tried many different things and they share their knowledge and experiences with each other. It is probably a place where you could easily find out some things about ordering caterpillars and what that has been like for many people, and with many different companies. Sorry for the long winded response, but I hope it's a thorough answer to your question. Good luck with the Monarchs!

@AAEMH

5 жыл бұрын

For some reason I never saw a reply on my other post, nor did YT give me a notification of any post. I remember it was a video from 2015 that you had mentioned about buying caterpillars. I know of only one place on the internet that sells them, and I know they are a reputable place. I completely understand where you are coming from though. I will look and see if there are any groups around me. Unfortunately I have not seen any monarchs around here at all, including nothing on our milkweed. We are trying, though.

@AAEMH

5 жыл бұрын

one of the 3 monarchs we released early last month facebook.com/AdrienneTalis/posts/1784074648305361

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Okay...I'm doing it. I'm going to go through my 2015 videos and see if I can find it. I don't remember saying it, but that doesn't mean I didn't. Memory can be funny. But perhaps my present day feeling on the matter is affecting my memory. And I'm not joking either. Cognitive psychologists who study how memory works have plenty of studies showing modern day attitudes and opinions can slightly or greatly shape and change our memories to be more in line with our present dispositions. I'll check and see what I can find.

what about cold snaps in Florida?? 😢

Another great video!!! Thank you so much! After a rough start to the week (4 losses😥) I had the most beautiful experience this morning! 6, count them, SIX chrystalides eclosed between 8 and 9 am. It was monarch madness!!! One right after the other. AND, I got to see and record them all! Normally I watch for hours and the second I turn my back, boom, butterfly. So very thankful for the experience! All were perfectly healthy and released without any issues! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. Don’t think I would have been able to take on what I have had I not found them!!

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

That's great! So glad to hear it! It's quite the experience to see them cross the finish line like that. And...okay...4 losses. I'm sorry to hear that, but, 4 losses but 6 made it, that's 60%, and way better than what would have happened (statistically) out in nature. Bravo!

@qb_designs

5 жыл бұрын

MrLundScience Thank you! That’s how I try to look at it. I hate to lose any, but I’m still making a difference!! I never knew their survival rate was so low until I watched your videos. Even though it’s hard to lose them, sure makes you feel better knowing you have them a fighting chance. Heading back home in the morning. I’ve gotten spoiled having all this time to play with them. We released 10 monarchs here for my aunt to join her others. She loved it! Even taught her a thing or two. She laughed when I showed up with my babies, but now I have her looking everywhere!! 😂 Have one chrysalis and one 2nd instar along with 6 Swallowtails to keep me company. Hoping to find some new cattys when I get home! Will also be setting up to bleach the eggs and leaves and ordering a microscope to test. Every time I’ve had an issue, I immediately think OE. It scares me. So thankful to know how to reduce its occurrence and spread and to know that I’m releasing clean butterflies back into the wild.

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Something that definitely helps this cause is how addicting it is, and infectious in other people when they see you doing it! For that microscope ordering part, handheld ones can work too, as long as they can get to 40x magnification, which is what I'd say is the minimum needed to see the spores. In fact, if my software continues to cooperate with me, a video on that very subject, handheld microscope testing, should be up today.

@qb_designs

5 жыл бұрын

MrLundScience It really is! Even my 85 year old grandma was bragging about me and showing off videos. Before I left today she had tons of questions, mostly to make sure they would still have some when I left. I say this in the most loving way but they are true “country folk” (which I love!!!) but say that because they usually fish with “worms” not raise them. 😂😂😂 It was so cool to see their interest develop while I was there. Just watched your new video. First question - were you endorsing a particular hand held microscope. 😂😂😂 Just kidding! I couldn’t resist. KZread can be so finicky sometimes. I looked at the handheld but was a bit leary. Seeing your video made me less so. But I have found a few larger ones that won’t break the bank and go to 100x. I’m trying to decide between them. I’m not sure I’ll be able to set up everything for this year, which makes me want to take the time and invest in a better microscope. Thankfully, I’m in a position to do so, if that’s what I think is best. It is so prevalent south of me and we have issues here, too, although I haven’t had one yet. 🙏🏻 My concern though is that it could be a minor infestation around here and, as you said in the video, you may not be able to see that at only 40x. Yours was heavily infested and easy to spot, but what if it’s not that bad? I don’t want to make a mistake and euthanize one that shouldn’t be or vice versa. I am of the same school of thought as you, any OE is too much OE. I hate to do it, but I feel confident if I was faced with it, I would euthanize any that tested positive, no matter what the amount. That’s just my two cents. Mostly talking out loud to help myself figure it out. ☺️Again, Thank you for the great video. I share them all the time and can tell you there are many in they butterfly groups I’m in that refer to and share your videos all the time. You, sir, are making a huge difference!!

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Gosh Bridget, that's so cool to hear. All of it. So cool to get your 85 year old grandmother into the idea of what you're doing. I love it. I feel so incredibly fortunate to still have a grandmother. She's 93, and I have shown her my Monarchs as well. She smiles one of the most beautiful smiles I've ever seen when I show them to her. Yeah, it's really cool that microscopes have become some very affordable things. Kinda like when I was in high school, laser pointers were $50 in a catalog... Then, a few years later, $20 in a specialty/novelty store. Now... $3 at the check out line in a grocery store as a "cat toy". It's so cool when things like that go down in price, rather than up like just about everything else. Hey, if you could...I'm not a part of Facebook, and have absolutely no plans to be. So, if you could, please share with your group how much I appreciate what they are doing for the Monarchs. We're all in this together, and we all learn from each other. I know how much work it is, and I wish so wholeheartedly to commend them for it. It's effort, and it doesn't go unnoticed. And when there's hardships, and there will be, that they should remember, we all go through this at times, and again, we're all in this together. They are amazing people. I am straight up humbled that they feel these videos are worth their time. I only wish I could do more. If you can pass that on to them, much appreciated. Feel free to copy and paste that if you wish into a Facebook box or clip or post or however Facebook works. Thanks in advance. (And feel free to decline, if for whatever reason, you prefer not to pass that on. No worries.)

One came out of chrysalis with the wings all krinckled and there staying that way. What to do? Was weak right from the start, fell of the chrysalis.

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Greetings sir, and guitarist extraordinaire. Actually, tomorrow's video that will be out in the morning covers this. There isn't an excellent option, nor really any that are in the "good" category. Still, there are options. The video goes through the logic of each of the three I bring up, and offers much details. But the short version: 1) You could continue to care for the Monarch, which would include housing it and feeding it. 2) You could still release it back into nature. I know...a bit of a death sentence. But, many birds need to learn not to eat Monarchs. It's a learned behavior to avoid them for many, not an inherited instinct. So, a Monarch released in this way is easy prey, and can teach a bird not to eat them, thus, possibly sparing the next Monarch that bird would see. 3) You could euthanize the Monarch, using an envelope or other appropriate container, and placing it in the freezer for several hours. Some say this is the worst option, some say this is the most humane. In the video, I do my best to make it clear, I don't like, nor dislike any of the three. And I'm not advocating one over the other. All three have some logic to them, and thus, I can respect any of the options. The individual must make their own decision based upon what they are most comfortable with. And it's an uncomfortable situation, so, you don't have to actually be comfortable with any of them...just figure out which you are the most comfortable with. Just like there can still be the tallest person in a room full of short people. That person isn't tall, but they can still be the tallest.

I have a question. Could you possibly sell me a developed milkweed plant??? I live in Australia and milkweed doesn’t grow normally here.

So to raise my monarchs I pull the milkweed with the eggs/caterpillars on it then I put it in a water bottle but a lot of the milkweed keeps dying within a couple days. So basically I’m just wondering if you have any way to keep the milkweed alive for longer? Oh also they’re inside so that no pests can get at them :p

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Whenever I have tried to uproot a plant from the wild and either transplant it somewhere else, or, keep it in a pot, it has died. I'm sure it can be done, but not easily, and beyond my skill level of gardening, which I admit, is rudimentary. I subvert this by not keeping plants, but placing the caterpillars on leaves. When I wrap the leaves in moist paper towel, they stay fresh for a good three days. When I do this and refrigerate them, they can stay good in the refrigerator for up to a week sometimes (provided I keep that towel moist). I then can take them from the fridge and use them for feed when I need to. By taking leaves and using them for feed instead of the entire plant, I'm able to both feed the caterpillars, and let the plant still be there and live. I show this wrapping of the leaves in Part 2, which is here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/d5ylwcFvfbS2Y9o.html

@liammurray2140

5 жыл бұрын

MrLundScience I started wrapping them in paper towel and they died within a day, this sounds very stupid but how do you wrap them? Lol

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

I use paper towel that is ripped into strips, approximately 8 inches long and 3/4 to 1 inch wide (depending upon how steady the rip was). I moisten this, and then place the stem of the leaf at one end of the strip of towel. From there, I roll it up like that of a tight cinnamon roll, with the stem of the leaf in the middle. Once fully rolled, I'll dab it in water one more time and let any excess drip off.

If you want recapture a butterfly that has escaped in your house,(forget the ladder) soak a cotton ball in sugar water, stick it on the end of a broom and hold it close to butterfly(s). They will alight to feed.

I have found 2 cats that have a slightly different coloring than the others I have raised. Is this normal or is there an imitation cat?

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

I'd need more details beyond the coloration being slightly different. As there is variation within the species, how "slightly" of a difference matters. Can you describe it further?

@chelseasemonco5219

5 жыл бұрын

@@MrLundScience Sorry, that was VERY vague lol they have more yellow and white than the others.

@chelseasemonco5219

5 жыл бұрын

Would there be more than one species in the same area? All my cats have been collected from the same field.

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

The only other species that looks like the Monarch as a caterpillar would be the Queen butterfly, which is a possibility. They do have territory that overlaps. However, another likelihood is that this is just that there's variation in their patterns to some extent. I've had some with some very wide white stripes. And also, towards the end of the season, they sometimes are a darker color, and have wider black stripes. This is then slightly bizarre if they are Monarchs, as they tend to have wider black this time of a year (if anything is wider) rather than wider white and yellow. Still, my guess (and it is just a guess without photos) is that this has to do with variation in the species.

I saw 3 caterpillars on my milkweed and was so looking forward to the process; however the next day they were gone. What happened?

@skylady64ish93

7 ай бұрын

They may have moved from that milkweed to molt. Or sadly lizards, wasps, or even a bird could have eaten them.

How can I ask you a question

Will 1st instar monarch caterpillars eat their own poop? Or do they know not to?

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

Accidents happen, but for the most part, they will avoid it. More of a concern is if the poo is building up, the bacteria will be over those areas of the leaf, and after the poo is sprinkled/removed off of the leaf, the bacteria is still there and can be eaten with the leaf. This can lead to bacterial infection. Keeping the leaves free of frass is important to do about twice a day. This shall be addressed more in the upcoming sanitation video.

I currently have 50! So far so good! We are short on milkweed here near palm springs area and so I learned butternut squash they love AND THEY DO!!! my caterpillars are now starting to chrysalis.. this is my very first time! I disnt even know I was doing 5his but this was the 3rd batch of hatches that I was NOt going to let the birds and lizards eat!!! And so. Here I am. Fostering monarchs for the first time. I. So excited!

@SueSeeliger

Жыл бұрын

The only thing monarchs should eat is milkweed. Butternut squash can cause unhealthy butterflies and can even lead to death.

What was wrong with the caterpillar at 6:22?

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

To my knowledge, nothing should have been wrong. All eggs/leaves were bleach treated. Others who went into chrysalis around that same time (plus or minus a day, or on the same day) have already emerged healthy and free of OE. Nothing presumably should have been wrong. Still, in the middle of making the chrysalis (you can see the first skin split where the process starts by the back of his head) it just stopped and died. No reason I know of to have caused this. Hence, I thought it was a good example to show that even if you are doing everything correctly to the best of your knowledge, losses still can and do happen.

@redacted__redacted__8146

5 жыл бұрын

MrLundScience interesting! Thanks!

will bring the plant with the caterpillar into screen a in pouch raise the chance.

@MrLundScience

5 жыл бұрын

I would imagine so, as that would prevent some of the possible predators out there from getting at it. If the screen holes are large enough, though, the tachinid flies can still get to them, which would lay their fly eggs in the caterpillars. But yes, it'd reduce the risk of birds, ants, earwigs, etc. "having a go" at them.

I have been told in a pinch you can feed squash leaves. Take this with a grain of salt because I have tried it my self.

I think I'll just plant .milkweed and wait for them to come. My neighbor has 2 plants they attract monarchs. I guess my milkweed can be for all birds and bees lol

@MrLundScience

4 жыл бұрын

Hey, you're absolutely doing your part still! Planting milkweed is the number one way to help them, and truly the only real long term solution. Thanks for being willing to help restore habitat!

Que es el virus OE?

I need help! I live in Houston, Tx. I planted milkweed 2 years ago. This is my first year bringing some inside to a tent. I have 4 chrysalises. On my plants outside, there are 5 caterpillars, 4-5 in star. I’ll try to attach a photo below. My questions: since it is so very late in winter Dec 21, when the butterflies emerge, so I still release them in this cold weather? Idk what else I could do for them. Do you have any idea why these caterpillars are so late in the year before doing their chrysalides? I can send you my email if that would be better to help me.

@methamphetamine_9

3 жыл бұрын

You should release them near mid spring as it is perfect weather for releasing where as in winter there are a lot of winds and that is not good for them

Have you had any experience with anal prolapse in your caterpillars? I had a caterpillar this week that died of anal prolapse and there's little to no info online about it.

I have lost a couple

Help! What I thought was a writhing caterpillar during a change in instant (don’t ask me why) is now on his back, slightly moving and with a green hairy something from his anus. I now have to find out what is killing him, how do I save the other one I have with him and sadly how to euthanize him if there’s no hope. Thanks for any advice you can bestow. I’m desperate. Thanks!

ITS WINTER :(((

3:23 The monarch's wings... :(

Losing babies is the worst. 😓

@MrLundScience

3 жыл бұрын

This is why I don't babysit anymore.

Bro did u know you’re going straight to heaven? I don’t think Jesus even deserved it this much