      
|
|
All about Monarchs, Metamorphosis and Butterfly FactsPhotos by Michael Moryc Copyright 2008 (Used by permission.)
This is a picture of our first generation of monarch caterpillars in our backyard butterfly habitat that my husband and I created. These hungry fellows are eating the leaves of butterfly weed. Monarchs will lay their eggs on plants in the milkweed family only because it is the only plant the larvae (caterpillars) eat. Plants in the milkweed family are swamp or common milkweed; butterfly weed and blood weed.
Butterflies do not make cocoons! Butterfly caterpillars make a chrysalis (KRIS-ah-lis) not cocoons. Most moth caterpillars, with some exceptions, make a cocoon. (Do not feel bad if you did not know this. Most adults do not know the difference.) Learn about the differences between butterflies and moths (click here).
|
One joyous Sunday morning we ate our breakfast outside and watched for about 3 hours as our butterflies came out. Our butterfly is pushing the chrysalis open. When butterflies come out of the chrysalis, the body is fat and the wings are folded. The butterfly pumps the fluid out of its plump body into the wings.
What do butterflies like to eat? Answer: They sip nectar from flowers. (Yum, yum!) Here is a picture my husband took in our garden of a monarch butterfly on one of our milkweed plants. Do you want to attract monarchs to your backyard or school? If so, follow the directions below.
Monarch butterflies are losing their summer habitats as open spaces in North America
are being developed. As land is developed, milkweed is killed. Milkweed is the only
plant that the monarch caterpillar can eat. Milkweed plants are also vulnerable to
herbicides used by farmers, homeowners, landscapers, and gardeners.
Plant nectar plants for adult butterflies
Abundant sunshine to warm their bodies.
Wet sand or mud puddles in shady nooks.
Monarchs will lay their eggs on plants in the milkweed family only because it is the
only plant the larvae (caterpillars) eat. Plants in the milkweed family are swamp or
common milkweed; and blood weed.
Do not use insecticides
How to attract monarch butterflies to your yard:
Select flowers with vibrant colors and strong fragrances. Suggestions: milkweed
family plants, purple cone flowers, Meadow Blazing Star, zinnias, all varieties of
aster, lavender, bergamont, joe pye weed, black eyed susan, goldenrod. and butterfly
bush.
Furnish your butterfly garden with flat rocks that will warm up in the sun.
Butterflies will use these as basking perches.
Most garden insecticides are lethal to caterpillars. Simply coming into contact with
surfaces tainted by insecticide also can kill adult butterflies.
