Monarch/Butterfly Help :)

Ok I just kidnapped (not really) hahah 12 monarch caterpillars from our nursery (where I work) they were on the new milkweed plants that came in ;) There were 12 that I saw anyways so I got all the plants with them (5 plants) plus 5 more to have for feeding them. Here is what I would like to do.. Make my son and neice a little screened in butterfly room/garden. I will plant the milkweed and put out sugar water for them. However, I need help what else do I need to do and are 10 - 1gal size milkweed going to be enough to feed these guys??? we got 50 in so I can get more if I need to but I'm scared we'll sell out. I wlould also like to get some swallowtail eggs or caterpillars for the kids also any suggestions??? I am going to make them I think a 10x10 screened area and plant milkweed, but any other plants for the swallowtail I need??? Where can I get swallowtail eggs/larvae ??? Ok any help is appreciated on set up of this and I also wanted to know how long will it take these guys to make butterflys (the caterpillars are fat and about 2" long right now) THanks sooo much

Katrina

I had swallowtail cats on my parsley last year and seems like I read someplace that they like Queen Anne's Lace, but I might have my butterflies mixed up. I think you will have plenty of food for the monarch cats. You will need something in the screened in area for them to attach themselves to when getting ready to make their change to butterflies. I've never had them attach to the milkweed. This will be great for the kids. Wouldn't mind having a set up like this for myself. :-)

Ok so any suggestions on what to use to put in there for them to attatch themselves to so they can turn into butterflys??? :) Thanks so much for your help :)

Katrina

Milkweed is the larval food. You'll also need plants to provide nector for the adults. They'll need flowers. Zinnias, daisies, sllavia, verbena, coneflowers.... ect. Brugie's right about the swallowtails needing plants in the carrot family to lay eggs on.

I have plenty of nectar plants to feed them from my nursery. My main concern now is what to put in there for them to attach themselves to when they cocoon would regular sticks be sufficient???

Katrina

Great idea! If you really are into this (and it sounds like you are) contact the New York Botanical Garden http://www.nybg.org/ . They have a huge butterfly room / exhibit that they do every year. I have taken my daughter to see it -- it is absolutely awesome!

How big is their butterfly attraction? I was thinking of making mine like 10x10 or something like that not sure how I'll work the door or shelter for them but we'll figure something out. I will post photos once its complete I thinkit would be a great attraction for my nursery too people can leave their little ones in butterfly house to keep them occupied while their shopping and will help me keep my kids occupied too so I can work on things more :) My son is fascinated by butterflies he watched 2 of them drinking from a wet piece of plywood this weekend for over an hour!!! So I know it will work :)

Katrina

It is huge - at least 1000-1500 sq. feet. The butterflies can land on you - but your not supposed to pick them up or grab their wings (I guess this can harm them - especially w/ the amount of people who go through this exibit everyday), they must have at least 50 different species, probably many more.

BTW - I gave you the wrong link! The butterfly exhibit is at the Bronx Zoo http://butterflywebsite.com/zoo/zoo.htm
http://www.bronxzoo.com/bz-about_the_animals/15932517/54452/

(sorry for the mix up the Botanical Gardens and the Bronx Zoo are right by each other)
Good luck!

This message was edited Tuesday, Mar 18th 5:59 PM

I could be wrong but I think that the monarchs cocoon on parsley and the swallowtails use asclepias. I could swear I read this somewhere, I'm off to do a search.

I'm sure if you have potted plants in there with woody stems, they will find a place to attach. Hope they don't crawl out under the tent walls.

Hahah well I got parsley today, I read earlier they like it so I went and bought some. I will have diff types of plants in there. I also got my screen and all to make my room!!! The cats are in rubbermaid container with a pegboard lid with holes until we get it built. As far as the tent and them crawling out I am using 2x4's to build it and will pile top soil along the edges :) Thanks for all advice :) Anymore is welcome

Katrina

Keep a couple containes of mud around for them preferbly clay.
They like to dring from it.

Paul

Yes I was thinking of using a birdbath and ptuting the mud/clay in there. I saw it on HGTV one time :) Kind of a butterfly bath/feeder :)

Katrina

In Niagara Falls, Canada, they have a wonderful butterfly conservatory. http://www.infoniagara.com/d-att-butterfly.html

T.G. -- very cool link! I have been wanting to get up and visit Niagra - now when I do a stop at the "butterfly conservatory" is a must.

My monarchs ate the butterfly weeds--one plant seemed to be OK per caterpillar-the chrysalis was found on the leaf of a lemon lily just beneath- I planted parsley for the swallowtails-they mowed down several plants. We used to have a "Monarch Guy" at the Farmers Market-I may still have the info. and will look for it. He had the chrysalis attached to small wooden crossbars-will look for info this week-end

Wow so he actually sold the monarchs on wooden bars? I was thinking of making up the netting baskets and selling them inside of decorated baskets :)

Katrina

Katrina, here's another site and closer to you--I remember that the sticks with cocoons where put into a seperate cage for us to watch.http://www.callawaygardens.com/tosee/dbc/dbc.htm

Also, they had some other tropical birds living in there (peahens?). Love that place!

He showed them on the bars, as he could not sell any live creatures-he sold butterfly plants and tucked a caterpillar on the plant!! He did a lot of educating re: butterflies-has not been at the market the last few years-a shame.

I remember a butterfly conservatory on Martinique in the Caribbean! you could walk about very nonchelantly and one, would gently land on your shoulder! The other place I've seen the Monarchs was in Zijhatenejo! They were literally covering the plants and the trees! what a sight! E.

I am still looking for the material, sure hoped I saved it. The one thing that I remember is that the chrysalis turns transparent just before the butterfly is ready to hatch and it Must be left to bust out on its own, so that the material can get started through it's veins, so that the wings stiffen up-they will look all bent at first, but when they dry in the sun they stiffen and flatten out. Any helping out of the "shell" will cripple the butterfly. Will start looking in the other book room.

I found some of the materials on butterflies. If you are interested, just e-mail me your address and I will get it off to you.