Every year at this time I share my 5 part series on How to Raise a Monarch Butterfly because this is the perfect time of year to go out Monarch egg hunting. On July 21st, 2022 the Monarch butterfly was put on the international endangered list.
(Monarchs have been considered endangered in Canada since 2016)
I've been raising Monarchs inside my house since about 2012 and outside (you can get instructions to build an outdoor Monarch house like mine here) for the past few years. So I consider myself a bit of a Monarch raising expert. Not that raising Monarchs takes much expertise. If you can identify and find milkweed you basically qualify for the Monarch raising Olympics.
But 3 years ago things took a bit of a turn when the trees in our area of Southern Ontario were infested with very destructive Gypsy Moth caterpillars. And then THIS year the exact same thing happened again.
So I have a NEW WARNING for raising monarchs this year.
BTK
BTK is short for Bacillus Thuringiensis Kurstaki. It's a natural bacterium found in soil. It's the #1 choice for organic gardeners wanting to get rid of cabbage moth caterpillars on their brassicas. It has no known toxic effects on people, animals, plants, fish, birds or bees.
Cities use it to aerial spray trees that are being decimated by gypsy moths without worrying that it'll harm other things.
It all sounds lovely and barefoot in the garden while wearing a crown of flowers, doesn't it? BTK is sprayed on plants that get infested with caterpillars, the caterpillars ingest it, then the caterpillars shrivel up and die.
I use BTK all the time on my brassicas for getting rid of cabbage moth caterpillars. It works great.
That means if your area has sprayed for BTK, your milkweed (the butterfly's host plant) might have BTK on it.
This year my area wasn't sprayed but conservation lands far away from me were. Far enough away that you'd never think the BTK would float kilometres away to my milkweed plants.
BUT IT DID
Early this summer I found quite a few swallowtail caterpillars that had died on my dill plants outside. And more random caterpillars on my apple trees. There's no question it was from BTK.
WARNING
IF ANYWHERE AROUND YOUR HOME HAS BEEN SPRAYED WITH BTK REMOVE YOUR MILKWEED PLANTS NOW.
NEW ONES WILL GROW IN THEIR PLACE THAT HAVEN'T BEEN TOUCHED BY BTK.
Now, please enjoy learning about how to grow your own Monarch butterfly.
How to Raise Monarchs
My name's Karen and I have 3 major embarrassments in my life.
1. I have square feet a la Fred Flintstone.
2. Once when I was 13, I laughed so hard at something my friend Debbie said I peed a bit in my Road Runners.
3. I raise Monarch butterflies every summer. Even though I don't have kids.
I must tell you, the Monarchs have elicited the most laughing and finger pointing.
But it doesn't last. Once the butterfly-bully actually sees the miraculous transformation, they get all warm and gooey inside. Like a lava cake.
I once witnessed a hardened criminal (O.K., just some guy who tried to use an expired grocery store coupon) grin with delight after watching part of the Monarch process.
Something just comes over you when you see the amazing, enthralling, captivating sequence that is the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly. Right in your kitchen!
In fact I think if officials were to implement "The Butterfly Program" into high security jails, inmates would immediately become calmer and friendlier. Ditto for rehab centres, war zones and grocery stores that only have 1 cashier working on the Friday of a long weekend.
It takes about a month to grow your own Monarch butterfly. They have 4 distinct stages to their lives:
The Egg (lasts 3-6 days)
To give you some perspective, this is what the egg looks like on a small milkweed leaf.
The caterpillar (lasts 10-14 days, with 5 growth periods which involve shedding its skin like a snake)
The Chrysalis (lasts 10-14 days)
The Butterfly (lives 2-6 weeks, unless born in the fall, in which case it will become a "migrating" Monarch which will fly to Mexico, live there for 6-8 months, breed, and then die)
If you too would like to divert attention away from your other embarrassing traits, and grow your very own Monarch butterfly.
Want more? Learn the next step - how to find the eggs and what you need to house them in Part II.
→Follow me on Instagram where I often make a fool of myself←
Theda
That chrysalis.....natures Bling!!
Pat Otto
I remember doing this as a child and now I want to do this for my granddaughter. Unfortunately, I have an acquaintance who has cornered the market on Monarch caterpillars! I'm not kidding, she has a caterpillar on just about every butterfly milkweed leaf in her garden. Not to mention the gorgeous orange flowers! Am I just being petty? Do your remaining steps give instructions on how to steal caterpillars?
Dawn
http://www.beyondabook.org/
Last year is awesome woman biked the route of the Monarch butterfly.
I thought you might enjoy.
Louann Chalcraft
Your Read On link at the bottom of the page doesn't seem to be working. The link it's trying to go to is:
https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/how-to-raise-a-monarch-butterfly-part-ii-of-v-2/
Karen
Oop, sorry Louann - It's a technical issue because I'm updating and republishing these posts. I'll look into it, but regardless that particular post will be up and published tomorrow for reading. ~ karen!
Jim
Karen - We have had Monarch caterpillars each year for the last 3 years on our Dill plants.
Problem is I did not see them after a couple of days, so I assume the birds got them.
I think I will cover them with something next year as they are in a planter.
Karen
Hi Jim! Those were actually Swallowtail butterflies. Swallowtails feed on dill and parsley. They look similar to a monarch caterpillar. If they ate all the dill they probably just moved on looking for another host plant. Or they could have just moved on to for their chrysalis stage and attached themselves to a nearby fence or tree. (or they were eaten by birds) ~ karen!
Birgit Schmid
Hi Karen,
Your 'READ ON....' link's not working. I'm on holiday in Germany and Spain hence the early-ish reply :)
Biggi
Karen
Hey Birgit! Sorry, it's because this series of posts is being republished this entire week so the links don't work. Hard to explain, but that's the case. I'll remove the link to remove some frustation, lol. ~ karen!
Joel C. Ashbaugh
Hello Karen, my name is Joel.
I am sending this reply out of admiration as to you and your site.
I also have Freddy Flintstone feet, or at least big toes...
What gets me is my balance is for crap... sorry...
I live in SoCal, sorry for any Cal haters, and over the years started noticing the diminishing population of butterflies in general.
I grew up in Indiana in at the time was a small kinda town. You waved at everyone because that's just what you did then. (I still wave and say hello to everyone, just don't get many waves back...) I am thankful for my upbringing. I have always loved the outdoors. Mother Nature just has a way of making one say, "Wow!"
Got side tracked...
But growing up in Indiana, Greenwood to be exact, there was a time of year where the trees in certain areas would be full of beautiful Monarchs. Literally thousands and thousands. I can remember taking a blanket out beneath a tree and being mesmerized by all the floating colors. They would land on you, as if saying hello and then flutter off into the trees.
I miss those times...
I am glad to see a return of butterflies. It would not have happened without people like you.
So, after making a short comment somewhat of a novella...
My hat is off to you.
Never be ashamed of who you are. Be proud to have compassion for the frail and unusual in life. GOD made each and everything on this earth for a reason. We need to make sure that even the tiny, annoying, seemingly useless things continue to survive.
If anyone has a comment as to my manhood, pound it in your ear.
It takes a real man to have the ability to care, cry and show emotion. Just sayin'...
Respectfully,
Joel C. Ashbaugh
Karen
Thanks Joel! ~ karen
Pat Yancey
Monarch larvae (about 10) on milkweed plants facing south, next to my house in San Diego. It is January 21st. Will they get to chrysallis stage even tho nights have been down to 40 degrees ? (70) during the day. Pat Y.
Theda
I read your post for the first time last year. And later in that year, at our local farmers market, I saw a vendor with a sign that read "adopt a Monarch Butterfly." I was in! I proudly brought home the milkweed plants and started 'raising' Monarchs. Natures drama took place and all my beautiful caterpillars were slain by pesky wasps. I ended up bringing my plants onto my screened back porch when the wasps appeared and put them back out hoping to entice more Monarchs to lay eggs. Much more drama happened on the back porch but at one point we had 40 caterpillars! Out of the 40 we had 12 chrysalis hanging in various places. And out of the 12 chrysalis we released 6 Monarchs!! The chrysalis, which I call, "Natures Bling" was just stunning. It was a moving, almost spiritual experience, it touched me in a way that made me so very present to life. So, all of that to say, 'Thank you' for your post. I would have never had this experience had I not read it.
Karen
Thanks for letting me know Theda. I'm really happy to have introduced you to the world of Monarchs. :) ~ karen!
Sharon
I have never "raised" a Monarch myself (yet!), but did find a chrysalis once and kept track of it until the emergence of the beautiful Monarch. What struck me as the most amazing detail of the chrysalis was the very shiny, gold markings, almost as if it was gold-leafed! Just wonderful! Nature is truly splendid.
jainegayer
One of my most memorable experiences as a teacher was the afternoon my 2nd graders and I took the butterflies we had raised to the front of our school and released them. The kids made a circle and held hands. As I stood in the center of their circle and opened the netted cage we had made from embroidery hoops one of my boys started singing the lyrics to "I believe I can fly." The rest of the kids joined in and the moment was just magical as we watched the dozen butterflies fly off. I hope some of them remember that moment.
Barb
A friend gave us a Monarch caterpillar last year for our granddaughter. We got leaves from her and then her plant was done as she only had the one. We had to sneak leaves out of our local arboretum to feed it. Don't judge - There were no plants for sale at that time of year. We called everywhere. Then by sneaking leaves out we brought home more caterpillars by accident (they are tiny!) and the cycle was pretty comical. More leaves=more caterpillars=more leaves! They all survived and this year we got smart and planted milkweed. The plants are doing well, the flowers are pretty and I see seed pods forming. I have seen some butterflies around them but no eggs or caterpillars that I see. I will say it's a wonderful experience to hatch a butterfly and I think how awesome it would be if everyone planted a bit of milkweed in their gardens.
Meg
I worked at a plant nursery one summer, and found a monarch trapped in a spider web in a high window, trying to get outside. I climbed up and got it, and brought it outside in my lightly cupped hands. Its little wings were surprisingly strong for what felt like very large flower petals. And as I opened my hands and it launched its little body upwards, I felt utter joy. It's such a small thing but it was a delight. I have been in love with monarchs ever since!
I have photos of some caterpillars I found on milkweed in the yard once, they're also some of my favorite photos I've taken. Bright greens, vibrant oranges, crisp black lines with tidy white dots...
I love them! I should just find some eggs sometime and grow some dang butterflies!!!
Meg
oops I think I meant to post this not as a reply to your comment, dear Barb person.
Jenifer
I am all over this series. I bought some milk week seed, nurtured it and then planted it in my flower bed. (Not very many of the seeds made it unfortunately but I do have enough to claim success!) I haven't checked for eggs yet...I don't want the disappointment. I might check tonight because now I feel like we might have a fighting chance! :)
THANKS!!
Ron
There is a lot of milkweed growing in my area & I have occasionally looked for eggs without success.
1. Do butterflies lay their eggs at specific times throughout the summer?
2. If so, how will I know to when it's laying time?
3. Does local climate and/or weather affect when eggs are laid?
4. How many generations will be born between arrival in spring and departure in the fall?
Karen
Hi Ron! 1. They lay all summer right into the beginning of fall. 3. Eggs are laid as long as Monarchs are around and it isn't raining out of course. 4. 4 generations are born through a summer. They live about 2-3 weeks. Except the last ones born in August, which are the ones that migrate to Mexico. These monarchs live through their journey to Mexico and then hibernate until next spring when they mate once more to create the spring Monarchs. That's when they finally die after 6-8 months. ~ karen!
Carolyn
I've been doing this every year since I first read your post! I am now known as the crazy butterfly lady in my circle of friends. I've got one caterpillar right now but finding eggs this year has been very difficult...just when a friend wants to try it out with her kids! Have you found any yet?
Karen
I've found a few, but not at my house like I normally do. I've found some at my local community garden. You're right. They're way down this year. Last year and the year before there were tons and I thought oh good ... they're making a comeback. But this year has been a bit frightening. I've only seen one monarch and haven't got any eggs from my yard at all. :/ ~ karen!
Carolyn
It's so sad! At least you've found some. I think it's due to a devastating winter storm that froze a lot of the butterflies right before they left Mexico to head back North. Hopefully they will bounce back! You are really creating awareness through your blog so more people will help. It worked for me!
Karen
Thanks! And I actually went out and looked again yesterday and found a few eggs in my front yard on some of the younger milkweed plants! So all is not lost. :) ~ karen!
Carolyn
Yahooooo! I will keep hunting too :)
Ter'e Crow Lindsay
I have done this before. It was so cool.........
I have a kit, still buried in my unpacked boxes.
Thanks for jogging my memory. And yes, I got all squishy inside.
It's a beautiful thing to do and to watch.
Kat
Once again I am so proud of you! I am also so jealous of you. We in Alberta do not have any native milkweed for sale, even David Suzuki can not find a source to get us any of the proper stuff to grow here (I asked). I miss the monarchs from when I was raised back in Ontario. I will now wait for your posts again this year with a sad, yet happy face as I watch and look on from the outer realm of your monarch heaven!
Sande
I'm a bit over the top when it comes to monarchs & milkweed. Googling monarchs is what led to me to TAODS and I've enjoyed reading Karen's blog for the past 3 years. I've got some ideas on finding showy milkweed seeds - contact me at [email protected]
Kathleen
I will wait for the completion of the series before I pose by ignorant questions. (Or go back and read your previous posts)
Karen
Well you can just ask the question now, lol. :) ~ karen!
Bobbles
I am in my bed, sleepy and comfy, ready to nod off, and suddenly my phone beeps. I have an email! Do I sleep and read it in the morning? Do I look but then ignore it. Well that's the plan. But No! It's a new episode from you! I crack a smile and crack the post. Oh! Monarchs! Ok, I'll reads my smile grows. I finish episode 1, do I continue with #2? My smile gets broader, of course I'll read all five! And now I'm ready for sleep again, still with a big smile, off to dream about butterflies! Thanks!
Mark
I think the monarch caterpillar is very beautiful.