Indoor/outdoor Caterpillar Raising in Summer

by Susan
(Austin, Texas)

Hello, All summer I have been "saving" caterpillars found on our parsley and dill from the various predators that seem to be eating them up. I have them in a butterfly house with a couple of parsley plants and dill clippings. Seven have successfully made it to the chrysalis stage. Three swallowtails made their chrysalis on a stick, so they are brown wood-like. The four left were/are green. Only the green ones have emerged. The last butterfly to emerge made his chrysalis probably 5 days after the brown ones. Does the color of the chrysalis have anything to do with the duration of the pupa stage?

Also, I have been keeping the little guys outside as much as possible. When it reaches over 100 degrees I bring them in or if there is a rain storm. Am I confusing them by taking them in and out of a cold environment?

Karen says:
This is an interesting question of which I am not sure. I have had both the green and brown chrysalis, but not noticed a difference in duration of the pupa stage. Did the brown and green chrysalis form at the same time?

If the butterfly house is not in the direct sun (so there is some shade when it is very hot) and if there is some way they can have protection in heavy rain, I would think they could stay outside. That said, I don't think it will hurt them to be inside as long as it isn't really cold.

I am glad you are "saving" caterpillars :)

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MONARCHS N SWALLOWTAILS IN FLORIDA
by: CHRISTOPHER

ITS THE SUMMER OF 2010. I HAVE BEEN RAISING THESE BEAUTIES FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS. LAST WEEK ALONE I RELEASED OVER 200 MONARCHS. I COLLECT THEM AS CATS AND BRING THEM INTO MY LANAI ,WHICH IS ENCLOSED BY SCREENING. I LET THEM EAT MILKWEEDS PLANTS TILL THEY GET SO FAT THEY GO INTO A CHRYSALIS. THEY WILL EAT THE PLANTS DOWN TO THE STEMS AND THEN I CUT THE STEMS IN 10 INCH SEGMENTS AND PUT THOSE INTO A HALF CUP OF WATER AND CHANGE THE WATER EVERY FEW DAYS. YOU WONT EVER HAVE TO BUY ANYMORE PLANTS. THE STEMS WILL ROOT AND THEN PUT THOSE INTO ROOTING HORMONE AND INTO A MIX OF SOIL AND PEAT AND SOME MANURE AND MIX IT UP AND YOU HAVE NEW PLANTS IN DUE TIME. THE CHRYSALIS I TIE A STRING TO THE BLACK STEM AND HANG THOSE INTO AN ENCLOSED BUTTERFLY HOUSE WITH NETTING ALL AROUND OR MAKE ONE YOURSELF. THEN IN 2 WEEKS OR LESS THEY OPEN AND AS SOON AS THEY OPEN LET THEM ONTO YOUR FINGER AND PUT THEM INTO ANOTHER PLACE TO REST ALL DAY AND AFTER DINNER TIME 5 OR 6 PUT THEM OUTSIDE ON YOUR MILKWEEDS THAT ARE BLOOMING OR PENTAS OR ANY OTHER BUTTERFLY PLANTS THAT HAVE FLOWERS ON IT. THEY WILL EAT AND FLY AWAY AND THEY WILL COME BACK THE NEXT DAY OR SO TO EAT AGAIN AND TO MATE AND THEN LAY THER EGGS ON YOUR PLANTS AND THEN THE CATS EAT AND YOU GET THOSE AND BRING THEM INTO YOUR AREA AND THE CYCLE CONTINUES OVER AGAIN. GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS.

THESE LITTLE BEAUTIES NEED OUR HELP!

Brown Chrysalis vs. Green Chrysalis
by: Susan

Sorry....The last comment was from me.
Brown Chrysalis vs. Green Chrysalis
by: Anonymous

Today one of the butterflies emerged from one of the brown chrysalis. It had formed the chrysalis at least a week after the first brown one, that has not hatched yet. The first brown chrysalis is the largest of all of them.
Do larger butterflies take longer to emerge than smaller ones?

Do some butterflies not make it through the pupa stage?

Thank you so much for your encouragement! I have really enjoyed my experience.

Karen says:
Susan, you have brought up some interesting questions. I have not noticed whether differences in sizes of chrysalis make a difference in time to emerge. Please keep us informed on your findings. And, those visitors out there that have information to share....please do so.

Yes, some butterflies don't make it through the pupa stage for various reasons.

I am so glad you are enjoying the wonderful hobby of raising butterflies :)

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