First cats getting big, questions?

18 years ago

I collected my first batch of 13 monarch eggs a couple of weeks ago, the last of them hatched around 7/27. All 13 appear to be in the 5th instar stage now although some are bigger than others. I have them in 3 large containers sort of grouped by their size. I can't believe how much they eat and poop. I was outside at midnight with a flashlight one night, and today in the pouring rain just to get more milkweed because they had eaten way more than I expected :) I may have to go to the park and snatch some milkweed soon too. Once they get to the 5th instar stage, how long is it before they form the chrysalis?

Also is it necessary to put them in separate containers to form the chrysalis? Will the remaining cats bother the one that is changing? The containers are large tupperware type things that I have put a few small sticks into for them to climb up. The largest container is probably 3 gallons and has 6 large cats in it now.

Thanks for any advice. I am a little overwhelmed. I didn't expect all the eggs to hatch and make it this far. I am cleaning out poop and adding more milkweed 3 or 4 times a day now. Plus, I am finding more eggs on the milkweed I bring in. There have been almost no monarchs laying the eggs, but the ones that do lay ALOT. I see no evidence of any of them surviving on their own outside since I collected these. I just see the little pinhole in the leaves, but no evidence of further munching or cats outside.

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Comments (9)

tresor19
18 years ago
I'm also interested in the replies you get. I just found my first Monarch eggs on Sunday and the should be hatching in a few days.

Kathy
molanic
Original Author
18 years ago
Well, today was the day they decided they were ready to pupate! They ate a lot last night but this morning were very sluggish and not eating much. This afternoon most of them decided to go up to the lid, then this evening I found 11 of the 13 already hanging in the "J" shape. Hopefully they will form and harden up soon because I want to clean all the old milkweed and poop out of there. Only one of them decided to use the sticks I put in there, the rest are on the plastic lid...hopefully they stick well. Can't get a picture of them hanging now because the container isn't clear enough. But here is one of them from 7/27 and another from 8/5.
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tdogmom
18 years ago
Hooray! I think your containers are fine. Just be sure there is good air flow as moisture build-up is NOT good for Monarchs as they tend to be prone to all sorts of infections. :)

I made a 'blog' of sorts for Monarch info. I have a lot of info that will probably answer your questions if you take the time to read the various posts on it.

You may find that the big guys pupate on the lid of your container. Just be aware that this may happen! You may want to place a large sheet (or two) of Bounty paper towel across the top so if any want to pupate on the lid, they end up pupating on the paper towel instead, making it much easier for you to transfer the pupa to a different rearing container. Just a thought...

Here is a link that might be useful: tdogmom's Monarch blog
tiffy_z5_6_can
18 years ago
Molanic,

Congratulations!

Last year was my first year doing this and my Monarchs did well on the plastic lid of the containers. I also used branches, but they prefered the lids. :O)
tresor19
18 years ago
tdogmom's - when the cats pupate on the paper towel, do you just cut the area out and tape to a surface that they can hang from? I have only raised BTS's and they like to pupate on a stick/twig. Do the Monarchs need something to cling to as their wings dry? I have one of the large mesh BF castles and I would like to transfer the pupas there at the proper time. Thanks so much for all of your help to us newbies.

Kathy
molanic
Original Author
18 years ago
tdogmom, I have been to your blog and actually have had it set as my homepage for the last couple of weeks:) It is wonderfully done. I was afraid to try raising the cats until I went to your site. I wanted to do the paper towel thing for them to hang on, but by they time I remembered it they were already on the lids.

This morning all but one cat had formed their chrysalis, and the one left looks very ready. There are heads all over the place :) Unfortunately one decided to hang on the underside of a loose leaf that was propped against the container so I will have to move it when it hardens up a bit. Another did not form properly and fell probably 5" from the lid of the container. Its head is still on the lid but the chrysalis is at the bottom with nothing to hang from (I think they call that cremaster??) I have read of people using a dot of glue to attach it to a paper towel, but I wonder if it is a lost cause because it fell so far. I haven't touched any of them yet because they are still soft, but I did very carefully clean out the old milkweed,frass, and paper towels. Should I try to reattach the one that fell or is it too probably too badly injured?
susanlynne48
18 years ago
Kathy - that's what I do....just cut out a small square or circle and tape it to the outside of the house on my window.

Susan
MissMyGardens
18 years ago
Tdogmom, I put in sticks and paper towel on top of container and 2 STILL insist on forming their chrysalides on top indentation of plastic container. They're in process since last night.

Once third cat in that container makes chrysalis I'm going to have to attempt "cremaster detachment and glue attachment" method to get thim into mesh hamper so they have place to climb once they eclose.

First 2 are in tight indentation on plastic container and will not be easy for this digitally challenged nervous nellie to detach ever so gently so as not to harm chrysalides.

I was just waiting til today to move them to mesh hamper to pupate since they were still eating like little piggies.

No sooner did I get a load of fresh milkweed in there then they climbed up sides of container and did the "don't move me I'm getting ready for the big leap into chrysalis" frozen routine. That's the thanks I get for going outside with a flashlight to get them a load of milkweed since they were going through it like water and wanted to be sure they had enough til morning.

Guess that's last time I use those containers but suppose this isn't first time raised cats have hung from inconvenient location...LOL.
terrene
18 years ago
Oh I'm glad this thread was bumped. First year Monarch raiser here. I have 3 chyrsalides with another couple cats that will be pupating today or tomorrow. I lined the top of the container with paper towel and the pupae are hanging from the paper towel. The two oldest will probably be eclosing the end of this week.

But I am a bit confused as what to do next...

Susanlynne - re: this taping to the window thing. Do you tape the piece of paper towel with the chrysalis to the glass? Or a screen? Does the butterfly hang from the paper towel to dry its wings? What about if it rains? Doesn't the paper towel get wet? Do you watch the butterfly eclose from inside the window?

Sorry about all the Q's - I appreciate any advice!