Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening: Feeding Monarch/Queen Caterpillars, 1 by Sheila_FW

Sheila_FW wrote:
burg... The Monarchs will definately do a lot of traveling and climbing to get where they want to be; as do a lot of caterpillars. Since you know where he is decided on, you can see it emerge in 10 days from the day you saw it! Their timing is pretty reliable as to when they emerge.
As to the green cat....not sure what it may be. Could be just an army worm, or moth. Here is a website that list butterfly host plants alphabetically under types and butterfly names too. Click the butterfly gardening link on the left at their home page. http://www.dallasbutterflies.com/

penne..... Most chrysalis that have formed and allowed to dry would be fine; but if it was wet, it may have had damage. Either way, I would take a piece of dental floss or twine and tie it to the black tip at the top of the chrysalis, then hot glue or pin it to something you can suspend in a cage. Not that they might not be ok coming out of the chrysalis in the bottom of a cage, but it is difficult for it to pump out it's wings and dry without being suspended. The picture is an old one where I was tying them to a dowel stick. Good luck with the one that fell.
nanny.... I use the Glad containers that are at least 6" square and about 4 " deep. Then I have some I purchased lately that are about 8" x 6" x 4"deep. I stand them on the end because I can clean out the cage and wipe out frass etc., and never disturb the cats. They usually climb up the sides of the container or on a stem to change instars.
Hope this all helps...anything you folks learn that others can benefit from please post it.

This message was edited Jun 10, 2009 10:21 PM