Hi there,
About two weeks ago we started getting freezes, months before we normally do in mid Florida. I knew that a Monarch had laid eggs on my milkweed and I collected the caterpillars and milkweed. I hoped that they would turn into a chrysalis and wait until February or March before they emerged. Unfortunately, I still have caterpillars eating and yesterday and this morning, I had four butterflies emerge. Because of the freezes all our flowering plants are dead.
Is there any type of a sugar water formula I could make for them to have a departing breakfast and leave it outside for them if they make it back this way. I have them on my screened porch in the sun, pumping wings and zipping their proboscis. I plan to release them tomorrow morning once they are toasty and warm and able to fly. I have one house plant with flowers with them outside on the porch.
Thank you. Tanja.
Substitute Food for Monarch Butterflies?
Do a search for "butterfly bait" on this forum, you should get several matches/recipes.
You might also try a clear sports drink (like Gatorade) - I guess butterflies don't need as much sugar as a hummingbird, but some of them need a bit of mineral salt(s).
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I have never heard of "butterfly bait". I did read the sticky before I posted, but I didn't know what I was looking for. I have found some flowers blooming outside, and so I hope my little herd will too. I released 3 yesterday, but a fourth had a difficult time emerging. She is very small and falls off the plant I have her on. She fell during emerging, but I caught her a few seconds later, and so she managed to get her wings pumped up and they are straight. She had problems zipping her proboscis, but got that sorted too. I will need to hand feed her I believe. The others seem to be doing fine.
I am not sure about Monarchs but some butterflies love rotting ctrus/fruit. I'd start with ornages & lemons.