Monarch Watch
This page has pictures and information of the monarchs from my room as they grew and transform and the surprise additions both good and bad.
In the beginning I had ten caterpillars in my classroom. I brought in fresh leaves regularly as they have a large appetite. Caterpillars are fascinating insects and have been fun to watch grow. Insects have their skeletons on the outside, called exoskeleton. As they grow insects grow new exoskeletons under their old one. Then they shed or molt their old exoskeleton, emerging with a larger exoskeleton. A caterpillar will molt four times before forming its chrysalis. Below is a picture of a caterpillar just after it finished molting. It's filaments (they look like antenna) are still against the body.
The monarch population has been terribly impacted with the loss of habitat, pesticide use, and disappearance of their food. Most people dislike the look of milkweed, but without it, the monarch can't survive. I have been growing milkweed for several years and collect its seeds.
The monarchs migration is an amazing journey as they travel hundreds of miles to find shelter to overwinter. In the spring they begin to fly north from Mexico, Florida, and parts of California. It takes several generations before they reach Illinois. Some will continue north to Canada in mid summer. Those that are emerging now make the long trek to Mexico to start the cycle over again. The monarchs that I will soon be releasing will be one of those fling south to Mexico.
The monarch population has been terribly impacted with the loss of habitat, pesticide use, and disappearance of their food. Most people dislike the look of milkweed, but without it, the monarch can't survive. I have been growing milkweed for several years and collect its seeds.
The monarchs migration is an amazing journey as they travel hundreds of miles to find shelter to overwinter. In the spring they begin to fly north from Mexico, Florida, and parts of California. It takes several generations before they reach Illinois. Some will continue north to Canada in mid summer. Those that are emerging now make the long trek to Mexico to start the cycle over again. The monarchs that I will soon be releasing will be one of those fling south to Mexico.
My first chrysalis formed the chrysalis Monday, August 20, 2018. It will take about two weeks before it will emerge as a butterfly.
Sunday, August 26, 2018 three more caterpillars chrysalised up. One of these does not look healthy and I believe it has a parasite.
We have a baby! September14: One of my leaves had an egg and I was surprised to find a caterpillar. It chrysalised up on September 18, 2018.
Tuesday, August 28, 2018: There are seven chrysalis.
Wednesday, August 29, 2018: Two chrysalis have died. There are strings like attachments on the chrysalis that are the way the parasites exit the chrysalis. They are a tachinid fly. (See the pictures below)
Sunday, September 2, 2018: Our first monarch emerged from it's chrysalis (see the two pictures below). It was a male. If you look on its wing you can see a black dot on the hind wing, and the webbing (black lines) within the wing is thinner than that of a female.
Sunday, September 9, 2018: Our second monarch came out of its chrysalis. It was another male.
Monday, September 10, 2018: Two females made their appearance during both lunch hours. They were released in the courtyard.
Monday, September 10, 2018: Two females made their appearance during both lunch hours. They were released in the courtyard.
Monarch Trying to Survive
As I had explained the monarchs are struggling to survive with the loss of habitat, pesticide use, and disappearance of their food. People are becoming aware of thier population decline and are trying to help. So how can you help? People are begining to plan milkweed to give a place for the caterpillars to live. Others plant flowers to give the adult monarch food as they migrate. Another thing people can do is not use pesticides.
There are other natural factors that affect the monach population. As I had explained above on Wednesday, August 29, 2018, two chrysalis had died. The tachinid fly lays its egg on the caterpillar. Their larva live inside the caterpillar. Shortly after the monarch forms its chrysalis, the tachinid fly larva lower themselves from the host monarch, killing it in the process. The tachinid fly itself is not considered a bad insect because it controls the population of "pest" caterpillars that destroy crops. For a person who cares for monarchs like me, it is always hard to see.
There are other natural factors that affect the monach population. As I had explained above on Wednesday, August 29, 2018, two chrysalis had died. The tachinid fly lays its egg on the caterpillar. Their larva live inside the caterpillar. Shortly after the monarch forms its chrysalis, the tachinid fly larva lower themselves from the host monarch, killing it in the process. The tachinid fly itself is not considered a bad insect because it controls the population of "pest" caterpillars that destroy crops. For a person who cares for monarchs like me, it is always hard to see.
You can learn more about monarchs by clicking on the two tabs below.
