Tags
butterfly larva, Central Virginia, climate, magnificent monarchs, Monarch butterflies, Monarch migration, Monarch Waystation, nature, photography, science
The mighty, yet oh-so-fragile monarch butterfly has begun its annual migration. This pattern is critical for the survival of this species, and I help where I can. Four years ago I took a course on monarchs and to date raised over one thousand. The Monarch Waystation section of my garden is filled with host plants that attract monarch females where they lay eggs. This garden also supplies essential nectar for their long journey to Mexico.
newly emerged Monarch tasting nectar for the first time
Here on the ground, I collect, feed, protect larvae and release adult butterflies. Since few folks actually observe the transition of the monarch from larva to pupa stage, I thought I would share recent photos. These delicate creatures are fascinating and I glow with pride when a minute egg transitions into the marvelous monarch under my care. These beauties are endangered, as merely 3 to 4 eggs out of one hundred would survive in the wild without help from monitors. Please enjoy!
Remember to slide your mouse over these images for further captions. Click to enlarge any image.
These larvae and pupa are seen attached to the roof of the lettuce container, where they finish their cycle in the safety of indoors.
A hardened chrysalis is hanging on the left of new pupa and in fourteen days it will hatch into a magnificent monarch. So goes the cycle.
Too learn more, please click on this link to see more images from last year’s monarch season: https://dianelasauce.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/the-thing-about-monarchs/
Stella, my curious neighbor learns about the wonders of Monarchs in my gardens
giggles with the flutterbies
Copyright © 2012 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved
Fascinating and beautiful, what a fabulous thing to do, grow your own butterflies and send them on their way!
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Here on the shores of Lake MIchigan there are so many monarchs that fly each year. It is a migratory route and some days the place looks orange as they rest on the milkweed I planted for them. Sometime back I did a posting on them and the feeding station I developed here. You might like that. Glad to have discovered your Blog. Hope to visit soon. Jack
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I have a monarch chrysalis in my garden right now. I know there are more, I just can’t find them. Sneaky little things, they are! 🙂
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Any left outdoors without sleeves are likely to be attacked by preditors. See my blog, “the thing about monarchs” to see how I protect monarchs in the garden with sleeves from the paint store. Just cinch them at the bottom with coated wire. I bring my larvae inside and let them create pupa inside the roof of large lettuce containers (punched with holes). There they can safely emerge then I release them back to the wild. I raise hundreds per year this way!
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Hello Dee!
Thank you for the nice photographs of Stella the butterfly whisperer. She has such a great time with you learning about nature’s beauties. Hope to see you soon!
Lovingly,
Lucia
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Bless you, Diane, and godspeed to all your Monarchs!
Jeanne
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I used to have a butterfly garden in my classroom when I taught grade school. It was one of our favorite things to do.
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