If you have a hankering to raise your own Monarch Butterflies, it can be one of the most rewarding experiences you'll ever have. Monarchs are beautiful butterflies - regal and brilliant - and they make a perfect addition to butterfly gardens.
Unlike many other species of butterfly, which can only be raised with a kit, you can actually venture out into the field for your own Monarch Butterfly eggs. So long as you know what you are looking for - and have a bit of luck - you can do the whole process from start to finish in your own home.
Female Monarchs most often lay their eggs beneath the petals of Milkweed plants. They look like tiny little pearls almost. In the wild, they will spread their eggs from plant to plant, in an effort to ensure that many of them will make it to maturity.
Take the whole plant if you can. Milkweed is fairly easy to remove from the ground. Place the stem in water and keep the whole thing in an enclosed container. You want to be sure there is plenty of moisture available, so keep a damp cloth inside as well.
Once the eggs hatch, the pupae emerge - the caterpillars - and you'll notice that they are quite hungry. These are essentially eating machines. Be sure that they have fresh milkweed leaves available - either from the original plant or others that you supplement.
Soon, the caterpillar will ascend to the top of the cage, attach it self with a thread of silk, and disappear into a cocoon. Take a moment to appreciate the lovely jade color! And then just sit back and wait. The butterflies are not likely to emerge for at least ten days and perhaps as many as fourteen.
Once they do come out, be sure that you give them plenty of time to inflate their wings. Allow at least eight hours and as many as twenty-four. The new butterfly is actually okay without food for this period, but after that it will need to eat.
You can handle the young Monarchs. Let them crawl over your hand. Carry them outside to your garden and let them leave your hand for a nice butterfly bush. Once the sun fully warms them, they will take to the air. But you can count on them as regular visitors, so long as you have a garden with plenty of colorful flowers.
Want to learn more about Raising Monarch Butterflies? Visit A Live Butterfly Garden for more of Jasper Bailey's butterfly articles.
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