I put a little wire fence in the cage for large cats only. They laughed at it and went straight to the top. The cage is only a clothes hamper with tulle laid over the top. One pupated on the tulle, six pupated around the top edge of the hamper. One got out and I found him pupated on the bottom rim of my table. GRRR
Now what? I know I read a post of Debnes about moving Monarch crystalis but naturally I can't find it. I tried moving the one that was on the tulle so I could reattach it something in the release cage that's under my porch. But I must have done something wrong, because green liquid oozed out. I know I probably killed him. :(
Any suggestions on what to do with the one dangling from my table and the six hanging from the top edge of the clothes hamper?
Monarchs pupating everywhere!
If you pull gently on the top of the cremaster, the black thing that the chrysalis hangs from, some silk will come with it. Try to not touch the chrysalis. You can tie a piece of dental floss to the black cremaster then tie that to a stick or wire. You chould be able to do it all without touching the chrysalis.
Yeah, that's not good if green stuff came out...that's their blood...it's green.
I was afraid of that! Thank you Fly. I tried to tie a twist tie around the cremaster which caused it to fall down. The fall, my picking it up, plus the fact that it was still somewhat soft contributed to the break. Course, if I'd just left it alone he would have been better for it. Will the Monarch chrysalis harden any at all? I noticed this one had a soft spot on the side. I'l do what ever is needed not to touch anymore of them.
The chrysalis will harden some. Maybe something was wrong with it anyway if it had a soft spot.
After it hardens, you should be able to pull the cremaster off of whatever it is stuck to and a piece of silk will come with it. It's easier then to tie the floss to. Does that make sense?
I know, it's kind of scary the first few times.
Yep Deb, Rox told ya right, the floss oughta work. just catch all of it and tie tight. Leave at least 6" on each end of the floss, so you can tie it around anything else ya choose. They do have to harden a couple days, and they can't withstand a hard fall even after that. (No pressure there.)
Awesome you're getting all of them to maturity! You will definatly have some flying out of there soon.
:-Deb
I'll wait a few more days. Thanks Rox and Deb.
This is Off topic, but who cares. Has anyone seen or have this comtraption from this website? It's a butterfly feeder. I never knew there was such a thing other than a homemade bowl of brew. http://www.logees.com/prodinfo.asp?number=K7344
I've seen those around, and I think they would attract more bees and stuff rather than flocks of butterflies. I rather use that much $$ to buy a good cage at live monarch. All of us have good flowers, and that's what butterflies need/want. I think they are all gimick. If I had no flowers, I'd rather they find them elsewhere than to depend on a feeder.
:-D
Well Said, Deb!!!