karenbishop's Identifications

Nov. 15, 2020 in amazement, I watched a wild Monarch butterfly lay her eggs on pesticide-free healthy flowering Milkweed plant in perimeter of my garden.

When the hungry caterpillars were large, exploring and traveling to other outside non-milkweed plants-- to protect the caterpillars from predators (lizards, birds, bugs) a couple weeks before they transformed into chrysalides, I moved them into a new large butterfly mesh tent 2'x2'x3', continually adding more healthy milkweed plants. Winter was NOT the best season to be laying eggs, etc. The Monarch mother butterfly missed her migration, and Monarchs are now badly headed toward extinction.

I protected the caterpillars during the 5 'instars' (when they shed their skins) so they could better build their magical chrysalides, and magically metamorphose into beautiful golden winged butterflies.

When they e-closed, birthed from their chrysalises as butterflies, I waited a day and released the two sister butterflies to fly freely after feeding them colorful lantana flowers. (I had also prepared other nectar goodies for them.)

(I was a very emotional 'doula' and 'mariposista' for my first Monarch foster-mothering.)

Dec. 17th, a day apart, the month-old, 2-inch Monarch caterpillars went upside down into 'J' hang form; one on the underside of milkweed plant's dying narrow long leaf, and one on the underside of the tent's mesh roof.

Dec. 18th, caterpillars magically transformed into chrysalides.

Jan. 8th and 9th, 2021- three weeks later, an hour after sunrise, they e-closed and were born as female Monarch butterflies.

Enjoy 10 photos here. (I shot hundreds.) © Joy Krauthammer

The usual one-month process for combined stages took double the amount of time because it was winter, and cold outside night temperature lowered to 37* in north San Fernando Valley, LA, CA.

Each night for about a month, I carefully and heavily covered the mesh tent at dusk, and uncovered tent at dawn when the sun came out in the morning. To give a warm boost, daily I also set up sun reflectors. To play, I gave the caterpillars tall wide dowel ladders (made for house plants) where they could romp. (I created cushioned catch-nets in case they fell.)

I had 100% success saving Monarchs!

I fell totally in love with my two growing crawling ravenous yellow, black and white striped bugs with the cutest little white spotted feet and animated antennae. Yes, I even sang to them.

• Joy Krauthammer