Posts Tagged: chrysalids

Monarch Butterflies: Eight Is Not Nearly Enough

Back in March of 1977, ABC launched a TV comedy-drama series titled "Eight Is Enough." It was about a Sacramento, Calif., family with eight children. The journalist/father, Tom Bradford, wrote a column for the fictitious Sacramento Register. "Eight Is...

A monarch ecloses on Tuesday, Dec. 27 in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch ecloses on Tuesday, Dec. 27 in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Three mighty monarchs, with five expected soon. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Three mighty monarchs, with five expected soon. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarchs mingling. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarchs mingling. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch feeding in its indoor habitat. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A monarch feeding in its indoor habitat. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Well, Hello There, Tiny Monarch Caterpillar!

Talk about not getting the memo. We walked into our little pollinator garden in Vacaville, Calif., this afternoon to cut a few tropical milkweed stems to feed the indoor caterpillars, and there, hidden beneath a leaf, was a tiny caterpillar. Well,...

Newest monarch caterpillar retrieved today (Nov. 29) from tropical milkweed in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Newest monarch caterpillar retrieved today (Nov. 29) from tropical milkweed in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The setup: zippered mesh butterfly habitat and a tequila bottle filled with water and milkweed stems. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The setup: zippered mesh butterfly habitat and a tequila bottle filled with water and milkweed stems. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Counting Chickens, Counting Chrysalids

Counting butterflies before they eclose from their chrysalids is sort of like counting chickens before they hatch. We've done both: raised chickens and reared butterflies. Fact is, you never know if a butterfly will eclose. The old adage of "Don't...

This monarch chrysalis, hanging outdoors in a hamper, is apparently not viable. It turned from jade green to back on Nov. 15. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This monarch chrysalis, hanging outdoors in a hamper, is apparently not viable. It turned from jade green to back on Nov. 15. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

An earlier success in monarch rearing. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

An earlier success in monarch rearing. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A newly released monarch on a milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A newly released monarch on a milkweed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarchs on the Move

The Monarchs are on the move. In the late summer and early fall, the Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) head for the California coastline or central Mexico to overwinter. "Monarchs west of the Rocky Mountains travel to small groves of trees along the...

A Monarch nectaring on a butterfly bush. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Monarch nectaring on a butterfly bush. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Monarch soars, spreading its wings. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Monarch soars, spreading its wings. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Monarch showing its brilliant colors. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Monarch showing its brilliant colors. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Monarch, outlined against a blue sky, sips nectar from a butterfly bush. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Monarch, outlined against a blue sky, sips nectar from a butterfly bush. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Read more