The latest update on our Monarch butterfly event is that we have “many” caterpillars. I’ve lost count. I take the tiny half-inch long caterpillars on their chosen leaf, pinch off the leaf, and put it in the butterfly cage where there are several robust milkweed plants. There is plenty of food for the little buggers. We’ve had three fully mature caterpillars that have reach the stage of forming chrysalises. One actually attached itself to the inside top of the butterfly cage. I jerry-rigged a dead branch in the cage with the idea that the caterpillars would find it attractive to attach to but none have seen the beauty in what I have provided for them. One fat caterpillar actually used the branch to escape the cage. It meandered across the top of the cage, arched up on its many feet looking around at the possibilities, precariously leaned over the far edge, maneuver under the ledge, and inch its way to a more glorious place to do it’s magic trick of becoming a beautiful butterfly. I have searched the surrounding area for a lime-green, bullet shaped chrysalis but to no avail. Tricky little guy. Yesterday, there were two other caterpillars that were ready to go through the change of life. This morning they were nowhere to be found as well. Guess you can provide a lovely safe environment for the tiny creatures, but you can’t guarantee that they will stay or find it worthy of the magic that is soon to happen.
It takes the chrysalis 8 to 14 days to form a beautiful butterfly. I can’t wait to see the next stage. We experienced this in Clearwater, Florida when we lived there, but truly, it never ceases to be amazing.
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