Monarch Hatching

This is my second butterfly "raised" and released, DP-2.  Like clockwork, it hatched on the 10th day of pupation. When the larva (caterpillar) pupates, it spins a cocoon-like shell around itself hanging from the bottom of a milkweed leaf or the top of the jar in my case.  The chrysalis (cocoon) is green as I …

DP-1 Lift Off

I started this little science project with a Monarch larva (caterpillar) on August 11th, when  DP-1 was less than 1/4" long.   It grew to over 1 1/2" long before it pupated on August 29th. After ten days in the pupa stage, a magnificent female Monarch butterfly hatched around noon on September 8th.  When we opened the …

Pupa

My current pet project is the butterfly larva I adopted a few weeks ago, named DP-1 (click here).  A couple days ago, after growing to approx. 1 1/2" long, it climbed to the top of it's new home, gallon jar, and wrapped itself in a protective green shell. It is now in its final stage, …