Download Monarchs Without Borders Montréal Insectarium

Montréal Insectarium
Monarchs Without Borders
MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT REARING MONARCH BUTTERFLIES
1- There aren't any milkweed leaves left on the plant I received. What should I do?
It is always possible that you could run out of leaves for your caterpillars. If that happens, try to find
milkweed growing somewhere near your home or school. Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) grows on vacant
lots, along railway lines and sometimes even in schoolyards! But don't look for a plant that resembles the
one we gave you with your kit, which is a tropical species (Asclepias curassavica).
Asclepias curassavica
The milkweed that grows in Quebec is nothing like it (see the photo in your kit). Look for a plant with wide,
thick leaves with soft undersides and pale pink, highly fragrant flowers that turn into long green fruit in
August. These fruit turn brown in September. Once you find a plant, pick a few soft leaves and place them in
a plastic bag in the refrigerator. It is best to pick just a few leaves at a time, to keep them fresh. Before giving
them to your caterpillars, wash the leaves under the tap to remove any traces of pesticide. Be sure to dry the
leaves thoroughly before giving them to your caterpillars.
In the meantime, you can also give your caterpillars some of the fruit and flowers of the tropical milkweed
that came with your kit. They love them!
2- My caterpillar has stopped eating. Is that normal?
A caterpillar may stop eating for two reasons: either it is about to moult (to turn into a larger caterpillar or a
chrysalis) or it is not doing well. Don't worry if one of your caterpillars stops eating for a few hours.
Unfortunately, though, if your caterpillar doesn't start eating again, it is probably sick and will likely die –
there is nothing you can do to save it.
3- My caterpillar isn't growing. What's happening?
Caterpillars usually grow very quickly. If your caterpillar is the same size after a few weeks, it's a bad sign. A
number of factors, mainly temperature, can influence how quickly a caterpillar grows – it will do so faster if it
is warm than if it is cold.
As long as your caterpillar is still eating, anything is possible! Make sure that the leaves you give it are fresh,
soft and good and dry.
4- Should I be giving the caterpillars water?
No, never give your caterpillars any water! They get all the water they need from the leaves they eat. If you
pick any milkweed leaves outdoors and have to wash them before giving them to your caterpillars, be sure
to dry them thoroughly firs t. Just a drop of water on a leaf can make your caterpillars sick. If that happens,
they will turn darker and soft looking.
Montréal Insectarium – Monarchs Without Borders
During the chrysalis stage, it is important to add some moisture, because the chrysalis doesn't eat. At that
point, it is best to put a piece of paper towel in the bottom of the container and moisten it with a few drops of
water – but no more! If any condensation forms inside the container, remove the lid and let the excess
moisture evaporate.
5- How does a chrysalis form?
As soon as the caterpillar hangs upside down in a "J" shape, the chrysalis starts forming under its skin. The
caterpillar will contract over the next few hours before moulting. Its skin will crack, starting at the head, and
the chrysalis will appear. The newly formed chrysalis will twist and turn to shed its old caterpillar skin. After
about an hour, it will be fully formed, and a jade green colour.
Chrysalis or cocoon?
The chrysalis (or pupa) stage is when the tissues and organs are reorganized so that the adult butterfly can
take shape: the front legs get longer, the false legs are resorbed, the mouth parts form, the wings develop,
etc. A cocoon is an envelope that may form around a chrysalis. It is usually made of silk, but depending on
the species, may be made of other materials, like leaves and twigs. A number of moth chrysalises have
cocoons. Butterflies like monarchs have bare chrysalises.
The chrysalises of each species are unique and easy to identify – a monarch chrysalis is always green with
gold spots.
6- My chrysalis fell. What should I do?
To make it easy for the butterfly to emerge, it is important for the chrysalis to be hanging up at that point. If
the chrysalis is jolted and falls because the container is dropped or for any other reason, you will need to
reattach it. It's important to do so quickly and very carefully.
First check to see whether there is still a tiny patch of silk attached to the cremaster. If so, stick a needle
through the silk and then tape the needle to the underside of the lid of the container. If the silk is missing, the
only option is to use sticky tack to glue the top of the chrysalis to the underside of the lid. This is a very
delicate operation, but it could just save your butterfly! You'll know you've succeeded if after a few days the
chrysalis is still the same colour and texture.
7- My butterfly is probably going to emerge over the weekend. What should I do?
If your chrysalis turns bluish toward the end of the week, the butterfly will likely emerge over the weekend. In
that case, it's best to be cautious. A butterfly that spends too long in a container (over 24 hours) will end up
trying to fly and that will damage its wings. So we suggest that you build a mini-tent. Once your tent is ready,
tape the lid with the chrysalis under the lid of the box. That way, when the butterfly emerges it will be able to
move around without damaging its wings. Before leaving for the weekend, place your mini-tent in a cool spot
and add a piece of cotton batting soaked in water (don't add any sugar to the water, because the sugar
crystals that might form could block the butterfly's tongue and prevent it from feeding). If you like, you can
also add a plant that it can perch on. After the weekend, release your butterfly!
8- Is it too cold to release my butterflies?
No, not at all! Butterflies in the wild have to face all kinds of bad weather, from cold to strong winds, rain and
more. They are adapted to surviving all these conditions. So releasing your butterflies on a cool October day
won't endanger their survival in the least. Choose a day when it's not raining. Once you do release them,
your butterflies may not fly off right away: insects have cold blood and need an external heat source to store
the energy they need in order to fly. Put your butterfly on a branch or flower in the sun and keep an eye on it.
Once the sun's rays have warmed it up enough, it will set off on its migration!
Montréal Insectarium – Monarchs Without Borders
9- What success rate can I expect?
There is no guaranteed success rate. Caterpillars may be tiny, fragile creatures, but they are still fairly sturdy
and various factors can affect their growth – temperature, moisture levels, how much and how they are
handled, genetics, a virus, etc.
When they are reared in captivity, some of these parameters can be controlled and the success rate is much
higher than in the wild, where it is estimated to be about 2%!
10- How long will it take my butterflies to reach Mexico?
It takes monarchs about two and a half months to migrate to Mexico. They cover 80 to 120 km a day, at an
average speed of 32 km/h.
If you have any other questions, just get in touch with us:
Friends of the Montréal Insectarium
4581, rue Sherbrooke Est
Montréal, Quebec, H1X 2B2
E-mail: [email protected]
Montréal Insectarium – Monarchs Without Borders