Lots of cats on my milkweeds, don't know if there will be enough milkweed to go around, as it really hasn't been long since they started coming up here in zone 6, they are still small.
Anyway, I decided to bring 2 in and see how it goes. Have never done this before.
This is a gallon plastic container, I cut the center out of the lid and covered it with a double layer of tulle.
Closeup of one of the guys inside
Good going Mary!
Monarchs are some of the easiest to raise. Just remember to keep their cage clean and provide fresh food. They'll grow quickly. You be so thrilled to see them eclose as well as release them back into your yard to continue the cycle.
~ Cat
Both of my cats have stopped eating, I left about 9 am this morning and just returned home and they haven't eaten anything in the whole time I was gone. Do they take breaks that long??
Yup, they may be about to molt. When cats get ready to molt they'll stop eating, pooping, and they'll stay in the same place until they're done molting. Swallowtails take about 24 hours, Monarchs seem to do it a little faster. The important thing is not to try and move them. I learned this the hard way when I started. You see, they kind of anchor themselves to a surface. That way, when they start to slide out of the skin there is something to provide resistance. I think of it as wearing really tight boots and needing someone to grab them while you pull your leg out of them. If you move them, they won't reattach themselves to anything and will be unable to molt, then die. FYI, after they molt they turn around and eat their skin.
Melanie
Thanks, Melanie. I feel better now.
It worried me at first, too. I thought they were non-stop eating machines. But I guess every now and then they have to stop and molt - so they can eat more and grow even bigger!
Well, they are still in the exact same spot this morning. They haven't moved at all. Do they stay so completely still when they are molting?
I am editing this to say that since I posted that, they have started moving again. Yippee!
This message was edited May 21, 2008 10:52 AM
Good! But yes, they will stay in the exact same spot until they molt. Even if you nudge them a little or breathe on them, the most they can do is swing their head from side to side or maybe rear up a little. But they can't disconnect from where they've silked themselves.
