...training
That certainly describes this Monarch Journey I've been on. Seems I wasn't quite prepared for the arrival of these critters & all the details needed to raise them. But, I'm committed to their survival so I read and researched and now I feel like I'm sort of an unofficial official on raising Monarchs!
Right before a butterfly emerges they go from that beautiful jade green, to black, to clear. At this point if you want to watch a butterfly emerge, you can not take your eyes off of it for one minute...you'd miss it all...it happens that fast!
The newly emerged butterfly hangs onto the chrysalis for dear life for at least an hour. Their wings will unfurl and fill with fluid. After that hour they slowly start to crawl up anything that's near. When they are ready to go...you just know. At the same token, when they're not ready to go they just hang out!
Theres' actually one on my head too.
The difference between the male and the female are the two dark spots on the males lower wings.
Female
I'm happy to announce that so far 11 males and 12 females have emerged & have been set free to continue on their own journey. There are 8 chrysalis left and a few of those will be emerging in a day or so. I have one caterpillar left who just did it's "J" hang and will be emerging hopefully in about 2 weeks. The temps are cooler now and that has a lot to do with how fast they emerge. Life is quickly returning to B.B. (Before Butterflies!) Today, I realized just how much time and energy I've put into this venture. The rewards are priceless and outweigh every penny spent and every lost moment of sleep and worry. I've been able to hold every butterfly and say my goodbyes as they go free.
My heart is full knowing that in some small way, and with a little luck, I've helped kept this amazing going.
Happy (butterfly) Snapping
xo
Kelly
That's just so crazy cool. They really do think you're their momma!
ReplyDeleteFascinating and gorgeous. I am thinking that one has to have a keen eye in that species to make sure they hit on the proper gender (provided they want to mate).
ReplyDeleteJust. So. Cool!! I'm wondering if you tagged them before they went about the rest of their journey? I have found quite a few that have been tagged, which is kindof cool! A year ago this past Spring as I was racking, I found a pupae in the soil and it was moving oh so slightly and I was so excited! I brought it inside and put it on a paper towel and went upstairs to research how long it might take for it to emerge. Well, I'm sure you know where this is going...my daughter yells up at me, What's wrong with this thing, it's in 2 pieces? I ran downstairs frantically to find that it had already emerged in the 15 minutes I was on the computer and found it about 10 inches away hanging on to a very brightly colored floral ribbon, haha. I kept it safe overnight and took it out the next morning to let it go. It was a sphinx moth and it didn't seem to want to fly away. I held it in my hand and after a little while I started to feel a fibration and then the wings started to beat (very rapidly I might add) and it took off like a helicopter. They are also referred to as hummingbird or hawk moths...they hover just like the hummers to get nectar! It was so amazing...I can only imagine what it was like to have so many butterflies! Thanks so much for sharing...xo
ReplyDeleteWow Kim!!! That's a fantastic story. Thanks for Sharon. It Would be cool to tag them-but I don't know the first thing about that aspect!
Deleteyou are just so amazing. I love that you are doing this and your images are so expressive and gorgeous. Miss you little sister! xoxo
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing! So cool that you can do this...I also think its so symbolic for you too. You are emerging..just like these gorgeous butterflies! Xo
ReplyDeleteI think it's so neat how they just hang out with you... uh, on you! They really seem to know you as their mama. Okay, so the chrysalis.... Does it just form? How long does it take from the time they form their 'j?' How long do they hang in their 'j' position?
ReplyDeleteCurious minds want to know. Curious minds could do their own research, but you are the monarch encyclopedia itself, so I'm sending all of my questions to you!
Lmao/ I have to laugh Roban because watching "it" happen was TOO much nature! The caterpillar will J hang for 1-3 days. Then....(here's the too much nature part!) the caterpillar literally turns itself inside out and he loses his face. I'm SO not kidding. It IS one more miraculous element to these beauties!! Thanx for asking!!!
DeleteOh my goodness Kelly...that portrait of you and the butterfly is downright BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteMwah!!
DeleteOh! How lovely!!! What a gorgeous portrait! Kathy is right, soo BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete