Category Archives: Chrysalis

Monarch Butterfly Wing Repair

Before the freezing temperatures occurred (around Christmas), we brought 15 Monarch Chrysalises indoors.  All but 3 of those Chrysalises were hatched and released.
Because of the extreme cold, I didn’t feel it was warm enough to release the last 3 hatchlings.  The cold weather allowed us to master the art of hand feeding Butterflies.  The technique...

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Monarch Butterflies Hatch On Space Station!

Now this is exciting news!  I posted a couple of weeks back on how Painted Lady and Monarch Butterfly Caterpillars were sent aboard the space shuttle.  The Painted Lady Butterflies hatched from their Chrysalises a couple of weeks ago, and now it’s been reported that a Monarch emerged from its Chrysalises as well.  According to...

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Queen Butterfly Chrysalis

We’re not sure why this particular Queen caterpillar decided to move on to the Chrysalis stage so early.  This was a very small caterpillar when it stopped eating and formed a Chrysalis.
You may notice that the Queen Chrysalis looks almost identical to the Monarch Chrysalis

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A Star Is Born

To recap, Timothia laid a ton of eggs.  Alvin was her first born.  Then came Brutus.  Next, we have Betty Sue and Bobbie Jo.  Here is Betty Sue (I don’t name them, my significant other does) just moments from birth.  Notice the small crack appearing at the top of the Chrysalis.

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Success Is Measured In Stages

I mentioned before that we have about 50 Monarch caterpillars.  Well, now we only have around 5 caterpillars.  The remaining have all turned into seemingly healthy Chrysalis.  Besides their birth, Monarchs have significant developmental challenges at their other stages of development.  Going from an egg to a caterpillar, then caterpillar to Chrysalis, then Chrysalis to...

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