Pop Up Hamper for Monarch Caterpillars

Hello, butterfly lovers!

Somebody posted the idea of using a pop up hamper and I found one at the Dollar Tree this week. It was just in time, for when I walked in the house and glanced out the window, there was a Monarch caterpillar making its way across the back porch! I grabbed that hamper and popped it up in a hurry and went out to rescue the little creature before he could meet his demise. Once I placed it inside the hamper (which I positioned upside down in the shrub bed rather close to the house for some shade and protection from winds), the little fellow climbed right up to the top and immediately began cementing itself to the ceiling. This was the FIRST cat we've ever known to make it to this stage!

The next morning I went out to check on the situation and found the hamper exactly as it should be. I'd anchored it to the ground with cut off coat hangers and then placed a shredded bedsheet around the bottom and anchored it, too. I stepped away for one minute and then stepped right back in time to see the metamorphosis which only took one minute!! What an amazing transition!

A few minutes later I went to to check on the only other good sized caterpillar in the garden and found it halfway up the brick patio wall! I quickly rescued it and placed it in the cage. After playing dead for a ilttle while, it climbed up and cemented itself right beside the other chrysalis! This morning I was eager to get outside and, blessing upon blessing, was there in time to see this one do the amazing feat (which for him took 8.25 minutes)!

Many thanks to all of you who have shared ideas on this forum, and special thanks to whomever suggested the pop up clothes hamper! What a perfect and inexpensive way to offer some protection to the little creatures!

Congratulation on your success adbjwb. A job well done! May more joy come your way. Please keep those pics. coming.

Great work... Now keep an eye out and you can perhaps video tape when they come out from their shell... it is amazing to watch and will be great if you can record that metamorphosis.

Do they have a preferred time of day for coming out?

I'll keep you posted!!

adbjwb, it's hard to predict of the time the butterflies will eclose. I personally don't know for sure, but maybe those that do will chime in. :)

Good news! The first two butterflies emerged and flew last week. Yesterday, our thrid caterpillar made its crysalis in the laundry hamper! We still have at least seven cats on a Butterfly weed. I do hope they'll get throught the cycle before it's too cold!

Look at that 'purdy' LOL. Congrats, once again. You did so well. Just imagine those will fly South soon. Let's get out some cigars. lol

Sorry just now seeing this.
ADBorJWB....Great that you spotted them and such a treat that you managed to see the transformation! The Monarch is pretty on spot when it comes to emerging. After they form the chrysalis it only takes 10 days for the butterfly to eclose. They turn dark; with the chrysalis being clear you can see the orange wing color (see one in pic) also the morning they will emerge. The wings are very tiny at first. They use the fluids that they took in from the chrysalis to pump out their wings. The wings aren't wet, just limp like a tissue. They then remain in place for an hour or so to allow them to harden. If they are disturbed too soon the wings will not expand and harden properly and they may be unable to fly. Here is a monarch just at the moment it flipped out of the chrysalis. Notice how tiny the wings are and how full the abdomen is.

The set up is a nice set up. Sheila thank you for sharing such wonderful photos with others. I saw a female, then later a male Monarch on my butterfly bush today. But so far, no eggs/cats were found yet.

Sheila, what a great post! Thank you! How late do you all think they can still go through the metamorph and be ready to fly south? I have seven cats on a butterfly weed right now -- all different sizes. Think they might all make it?

Anne

I love DG, answers to burning questions are probably on one forum or another. Recently saw my first cat/monarch transformation - awesome. Caterpillar was small forming chrysalis but monarch that hatched was large. How did that happen? My question was how long does it take to go from cocoon to butterfly. Sheila, is the answer 10 days or am I not understanding jargon? The 2 pillars in my cage currently formed chrysalis Sept. 28 so will they soon eclose? If they do I'm relieved because my fear was that it would be too cold for them to survive. Pic is of first succesful Monarch; even chrysalis is unbelievably beautiful too.

Yes Maithyme,10 days from the time the chrysalis is formed to it turns dark and ready to emerge as a butterfly. God works fast! LOL!
Anne....On the cold and time to emerge and fly south....The Monarchs usually don't start migrating until the temps are around 51 degrees. So since you are in MS, there will be plenty time. I am still finding eggs now in N central TX, so those butterflies will make the trip to Mexico!

This message was edited Oct 10, 2011 6:27 AM

This year the number of Monarchs in our yard was lower than average and hence the cats too. I hope there is still time for them to grow, breed and get ready for the southward journey that they partake every year. The Milkweed plants have a lot of leaves left on them this year and so they should support a healthy crop of cats. Keeping our fingers crossed.

Rain coming probably all day Tuesday and random t-storms Wednesday. I have 1 that eclosed this afternoon around 1:30 p.m.

I wonder if I should hold it till Wednesday or Thursday?

I put vases of flowers inside the pvc netted cage/tent/box if I do.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

Thanks for the encouragement about still having time! I'm continuning on the search to protect any cats looking for a place to metamorph -- but they can seemingly suddenly disappear! Hopefully, they are safe somewhere!

Amanda, I have no experience, but I'd tend to go with nature and let the butterfly out after a couple of hours (once it starts fluttering). It seems it would be stressful to keep it confined when it is ready to fly -- and maybe it really needs to fly in order to become strong. Let us know what happens!!

She crawled out of her little pop up thingee which I'd placed inside a larger pvc mesh cage. When I looked again she was sitting on a celosia 'flamingo feather' flower I'd put 3 vases of cut flowers in there in case I ended up keeping her in. She stayed on it a long time, I'm not sure if she was feeding or not, but it's all zinnias and asters and eupatorium. Couldn't possibly do any better for a butterfly smorgashbord.

If I'm way off base let me know. Weather here is going to be heavy rain from the tropical storm all day tomorrow.

Thanks for the confirmation Sheila. It's been warm for MN but we're due for cold temps soon. I'm a nervous wreck thinking the two "in womb" (sorta anyhow) won't get outta here in time. Why don't small cats produce small monarchs?

A second question please. Does the same 10-day transition also apply to moths? I have a chrysalis that 's been around a long time. Do all have to be attached to something and hanging to be successful?

We were really lucky with tons of butterflies and bees this year.

maithyme......First question is not one I can answer, that's God's work. As to the length of time frame... each caterpillar species is different. The moths take and exceptionally long time to pupate. They are usually out in the elements under leaf litter sometimes for months. One butterfly I raise is the Black Swallowtail which can over-winter in it's chrysalis then will form and emerge in the spring. Monarchs are about the only ones that are timely. If you know the name of the ones you have look them up with google.

adbjwb:

It was dark and rainy and chillly all day that next day. The monarch just sat in one spot on the inside of the mesh flight cage all day and did not seem interested in flowers or fruit. Another chrysalis eclosed so there were 2 to release on the 12th. It was a very stressful experience. When I reached in to bring the 1st butterfly out it flopped down onto the bottom of the cage and flopped around - either could not fly or too weak to fly. I was devastated. It would not sit still on flowers or fruit. I took it out and placed it on a very large aster in bloom. The second butterfly did not move much at all. It lighted on a salvia.

I went back to sit on the porch, shaken. I could not see the butterflies from where I was sitting, but I watched one fly around the porch and up over the roof. I went to check and it was the 1st monarch that had gone. I was very relieved. I hope it revived itself. I didn't stick around to watch the 2nd.

The last monarch of 10 was released this week in between rain showers. I was not going to go thru that (or put it thru that) again. I don't know what I could have done differently given the weather. I have seen monarchs eclose in the rain and they did not make it. If anyone has tips for next year please share!

Amanda, how sad that they struggled! This is my first year to work with them, but it seems to me that the more natural the better -- that perhaps they really need to fly as soon as the wings are dry in order to get the strength they need. It's only a guess. So far, I've been careful to let them go on their own, without my touching them to risk even slight damage to the wings. So far, it is working.

I neglected to cut back several mums in the summer and the lower portions look dead now (while the upper portions are green and filled wtih buds). One caterpillar crossed the patio and made its chrysalis about 6" off the ground on a "dead" mum stem! It eclosed this week and then flew to a Crape Myrtle tree. From there it found the Asclepias and then the 'Pink Delight' Buddleia. They are crazy about that Buddleia! Rain came a couple of hours later but I've had two monarchs flying around the past two days so I think that one made it through the brief storm just fine. I guess they know how to take shelter from the rain.

I have another crystalis in the popup hamper. That one should eclose in a day or two.

The hamper is in the shrub bed and planted within a couple of feet of it is an Asclepia. Late this afternoon a caterpillar left the Asclepias and climbed up the outside of the little hamper! Thankfully, I found it before it cemented and gently placed it inside the hamper. Half an hour later it was upside down at the top. I'm tickled that it recognized a good place -- and I hadn't even painted a sign saying, "Caterpillar House"!!

Oh! Your butterfly bush is very pretty. I think I will have to break down and get one to put in for next season. We've been here at this house for 3 years. I had a yellow variety back at my condo. When I bought it it was supposed to have purple AND yellow blooms on the same plant. Guess that graft thing didn't last long. I've heard people say that butterflies have a preference for white. I'll see what I can come up with!

I agree about trying to keep things "natural" for the critters. I think I got the "worry-wort" gene from my mom. We have a large pecan tree at the back of the yard where I'll release in the rain in the future.

I think you're doing a super job with your pop up hamper. I know you've been very vigilant with yours too. They are so delicate and beautiful.

Mine are gone for the season. I only had 10 and despite the scare they all flew off. Do you have any more cats on your MW? Both my swamp MW and A. tuberosa have turned brown already. I have some butterfly weed in a different flower bed and they are still semi-green. The stems of one of my swamp MW turned dark early on in the season, and someone suggested nematodes in the soil. I will have to amend that bed and look closely at the issue for next season.

Keep up the good work and posting news of the Monarchs in your caterpillar house. :)

Amanda... I don't usually put the newly emerged butterflies out on plants. Mainly because they aren't interest to nectar so soon. The wings have to harden with them hanging upside down, and the whole process of eclosing has drained them. They rest then before dark will seek nectar and shelter.
On a rainy day, I leave them in the netted cage where they will just hang out. Then I release them the following day, since they are not in a hurry to find food.
Great odds on your successful raising!

I don't release until wings are hardened, Sheila. This particular butterfly emerged late one afternoon, and we were to receive heavy rains the next day. I didn't release her until 36 or more hours after eclosure and in the dreary cold weather she was not interested in feeding. I thought I was going to have a really bad outcome when she started flopping on the bottom of the flight cage, but she did ultimately fly away after I placed her on an aster in the yard. I am still on a learning curve. I don't think I'll try that again unless I have a much larger flight cage!

Had a few that didn't make it a few weeks ago. Two eclosed and ended up flopping around after wings were hardened. Never flew very far, never up....so I destroyed them also one that didn't fully get out of the chrysalis. I think they may have had OE, but don't have anything to test with. Figured that or parasites had gotten to them.

Hi, folks!

As of today, we have one chrysalis on a door frame on the back porch. I thnk it may eclose in a couple of days. In the hamper cage are two in chrysalis form and one in J-formation. We still have a few cats on the Asclepias plants. There have been at least two Monarchs flying around the butterfly garden since last week. I like to think they are ours!

I've only witnessed several eclosings. Each butterfly was eager to get out of the cage or, in one case, off the garden mum, just as soon as their wings were dry enough to fly. Each time, they flew to a nearby Crape Myrtle (we have several around the patio) and then went right on to eagerly feast on Asclepias and 'Pink Delight' Buddleia (several plants of each type around the patio area). Each eclosing was midday to mid-afternoon and the weather was clear and warm each time. For those in the hamper, I gently turned it so they could walk or flutter out. I've been careful not to ever touch them, hoping to give them the best chance at having perfect wings and health. So far, here, they've done beautifully.

Yep, usually they are ready as soon as the wings are hardened. Glad you are having great success! Nice picture.

Our two monarch caterpillars hatched over the weeked. It was interesting to note that it took 16 days. I wonder if it's the difference in temps that delays the hatch. We had sustained winds at the lake for 4 days, up to 40 mph - I was washing ad hanging out bedding and the wind almost knocked me over but everything dried in minutes. Not good weather for butterfly release. I kept them overnight in the clothes hamper and then we left for home early so they could be 100 miles further south and they could fly during sunlight. They both paused for about 15 miutes on my potted plants before flying off in the wind just fine. Whew, mission accomplished.

It's nice to know that don't need nectar right away.

Maithyme,

I have a chrysalis that has been darkening over the past three days but has not eclosed. It has been in the hamper since Oct. 2. The weather has moderated here (not so hot) and the past couple of days have been COLD. It certainly seems to slow their movements and then the whole metamorp. process.

Isn't the brand new wing color vibrant?!!! Thanks for the picture!


This message was edited Oct 20, 2011 5:27 PM

Nice work Maithyme. :)

It is a bit chilly to be a butterfly - I know it's the sun that helps the poor critters get up and going in the morning -much like me!!!

Have a great day everyone. This sinus/allergy/cold thing has me moving in slow motion. Can't believe the time so I'd better get away from this machine.

A.

Can you believe it? The little chrysalis has still not eclosed!! It has been slowly turning dark over the past three days. It's been chilly here all day today.

Also, the two cats I found wandering three days ago and placed in the hamper started eating again the past couple of days. They hung upside down temporarily several times but then climbed back down for nourishment and wandered inside the hamper. Maybe they'll be in j-formation by tomorrow.

I have a single sulfur caterpillar in a container. I don't know if they are supposed to overwinter - many of them have come out when I placed their chrysalises in full sun. They'd have been in FS if they were outside, wouldn't they? O well. I have no idea what I'm doing with them. I think your critters will figure it out. :)