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I wanted to share this video my husband made with you all. It was filmed in our house of a monarch caterpillar transforming into a chrysalis. We have about 15 larvae and this was the only time we actually saw the event take place. Amazing! The first part is speed up 2x than after the skin falls, it's 8x's normal. Total real time 50 mins.
Very cool videos, thanks for sharing! Amazing how large the butterfly's abdomen is when it emerges and how quickly it uses the abdomen to pump up the size of the wings. When the wings are finished the abdomen is the small one we are used to seeing on butterflies!
Do you raise butterflies in your home or is this in your outdoor garden?
I love butterflies and have just (last year and this year) begun planting things specifically for butterflies. In my area, Eastern Black Swallowtails, Painted Ladies, and Monarchs are the butterflies I see most often. I am hoping to have more in my yard now that I am planting caterpillar favorites as well as nectar plants.
I usually start with the milkweed outside then move them inside when the larvae are big enough to see. The wasps here are bad and they will kill the larvae or lay eggs in the chrysalis. I had to learn that the hard way. They will stay on the milkweed until they are ready to form the chrysalis so I keep a close eye on them. When they start to wander off, I move them to a ficus tree I have inside by a window. They will form the chrysalis there. When they emerge, I let them dry for a little while then I take them outside on my finger! They don't seem scared or timid. Outside I have plants for the butterfly. It's always funny when my kids have friends over to visit. It's normal for us but the other kids are confused!
Thanks so much, Jane, for the wonderful videos and sage advice. We had some caterpillars here that, I'm afraid, most fell prey to wasps. We will bring them inside the next time. Thanks, again!
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They will stay on the milkweed until they are ready to form the chrysalis so I keep a close eye on them. When they start to wander off, I move them to a ficus tree I have inside by a window. They will form the chrysalis there. When they emerge, I let them dry for a little while then I take them outside on my finger! They don't seem scared or timid. Outside I have plants for the butterfly. It's always funny when my kids have friends over to visit. It's normal for us but the other kids are confused!
