MY PROPS TO HELP MONARCHS
I use a few 'props' to help the monarchs through their various stages.
They are simple, yet effective.
They are simple, yet effective.
- Hatching Container
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My hatching container is a square plastic container with shallow sides and a well-fitting lid.
The lid has a large section cut out in the centre of it, with net stretched over the hole, to keep the caterpillrs contained and allow air into the container.
I glued the net on, from the outside, with a chemical-free PVA Craft Glue.
Place the glue to the outside of the lid, not the inside, so the caterpillars won't touch it should they climb on the lid.
In this instance I am using my container to hatch Monarch eggs. I place a paper towel in the bottom of the container, make it thoroughly damp (not wet wet, just heavily damp) and lay milkweed leaves with eggs on the paper. The dampness stops the leaves drying out before the tiny caterpillar has emerged. Keep the paper damp throughout the process.
A squirter bottle that will spray a fine mist over eggs, caterpillars or chrysalis, is an important prop to use in hot weather. You need to get one that allows for a very fine spray. The nozzle of my bottle will turn one way to finely spray, or turn back for a greater spray intensity. You want a very fine mist.
In hot temperatures the outer skins of butterfly eggs, caterpillars or chrysalis's can dry out, which may then hold back the natural progression from one life stage to the next. I have seen butterflies unable to break out from the very dry skin of their chrysalis and die in the process - or the break out can be difficult, and take too long, so the butterfly's wings will dry prematurely before they have completely filled out, resulting in the butterfly having crinkled wings and be quite unable to fly. |
The 5mm thick base has been cut to a size that will fit into the caterpillar castle (see below) and glued on with a non-toxic glue. In this instance the block has been set towards the centre back of the base, which allows space to also place a milkweed plant into the caterpillar castle. |
The florists block on the base goes into the caterpillar castle. I lay a foam sheet 10mm thick on top of the base, that has a cut-out section to allow for where the block sits, then I lay a sheet of bubble wrap with the same size cut-out section, on the top of the foam sheet with the bubble side down. I do this in case a caterpillar or butterfly falls, so they are at least falling onto a soft layer. The bubble wrap is easy to wipe clean. |
I find toothpicks to be a valuable prop for many uses in my Monarch raising assistance. In particular I use toothpicks that have a sharp end and a blunt end (not two sharp ends). In this case I have used one to hold up a caterpillar 'J' that I found balanced in a precarious location on a leaf. At the time I found it, another caterpillar was eating the same leaf from the opposite end! I cut off a portion of leaf, being careful not to disturb the 'J' leaving just enough leaf on either side of its button, to catch onto the toothpick. I then used ordinary sellotape to attach it to the blunt end of the toothpick, placing a piece closely up to each side of the button and pulling it firmly up over the top of the toothpick. |
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I have made up a number of small cubes of foam, approximately 12 x 12 x 8 mm, and poked them right through with a toothpick. I use toothpicks with a sharp end and a blunt end and push the toothpick right through the foam and set it against the blunt end. I poke the sharp end of the toothpick into the florists block and this gives a newly emerged butterfly something a little more stable to cling onto while drying its wings and preparing for flight. |
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Have you noticed how Monarch Caterpillars seem to like travelling upwards to form their 'J' and then their chrysalis? My answer to this is to give them a smooth pole to climb up to the roof of the caterpillar castle. I'm using bamboo, because it is clean and smooth. I cut it so it is the base to roof length of the caterpillar castle. (If you look at the rood of the caterpillar castle in my picture, you'll see a chrysalis). |
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Caterpillar Castles are a must for anyone working with butterflies. They are extremely strong and light in weight, and come in several sizes. They either stand up tall, or sideways, lengthways. They fold back in, onto themselves, to be stored flat.
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