I looked and there she was! Here are the early pics of a baby Monarch!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Isis is here!
This is the first time that I have been able to see a Monarch hatch. I have been watching her Chrysalis while using the computer today and all of the sudden I heard a noise like very light tissue paper tearing.
I looked and there she was! Here are the early pics of a baby Monarch!
I looked and there she was! Here are the early pics of a baby Monarch!
bad news!
Oh dear - one of my little ones that went into it's Chrysalis immediately changed to black when this happened.
I looked this up and apparently what may have happened is despite my best efforts, a mite may still have got to the catepillar or something called pseudomonas happened (which is a bacteria that infects the caterpillar). My heart is just sick at this happening to any one of my catepillars, but this is something that does happen, so I have to accept this. I am still going to wait a few days before I put the Chrysalis to rest, just to be certain.
MNN
I looked this up and apparently what may have happened is despite my best efforts, a mite may still have got to the catepillar or something called pseudomonas happened (which is a bacteria that infects the caterpillar). My heart is just sick at this happening to any one of my catepillars, but this is something that does happen, so I have to accept this. I am still going to wait a few days before I put the Chrysalis to rest, just to be certain.
MNN
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Absolom and Peter Parker in one Pic
Here are Peter Parker and Absolom in one pic. Absolom is in J position and Peter Parker is in Chrysalis.
Romeo and Juliette side by side
Romeo and Juliette stopped "tiffing" and giving each other caterpillar bum - they are side by side in their Chrysalis now!
Everyone is snug as bugs in the Hotels Stars and Moon!
Goodness - it seems like the living processes for all of the remaining caterpillars is speeding up.
Everyone in the Hotels Stars and Moon are either in the J Position or in the Chrysalis which is very exciting.
So far - in the J Position are: Absolom, Cosmos and Liatris.
In Chrysalis are: Caviar, Romeo & Juliette, Peter Parker , AlphaOmega.
A few really adorable pics to follow!
MNN
Everyone in the Hotels Stars and Moon are either in the J Position or in the Chrysalis which is very exciting.
So far - in the J Position are: Absolom, Cosmos and Liatris.
In Chrysalis are: Caviar, Romeo & Juliette, Peter Parker , AlphaOmega.
A few really adorable pics to follow!
MNN
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Antonia in all her glory!
As confirmed yesterday - Anthony is now Antonia. And she is gorgeous!
Today - July 27, 2010 - I was able to set her free. When the sun hit the patio out back, I took Antonia down to it and put her outside in the sun. A few test flaps and starts and flaps, she made her way to the end of the basket I had her in. Then, I put in my right hand for her to crawl on and she did and then I slowly moved my hand so that she was outside the basket and immediately she took flight.
A wonderful life is wished to her.
Some pics:
This first one shows a very young butterfly as her wings are not filled out yet - you can see the floppy ends on my hand.
This next pics shows that she is definitely filling her wings out.
Sleeping for the night!
Thank-you for reading this update! Stay tuned for more 'pillar action.
Today - July 27, 2010 - I was able to set her free. When the sun hit the patio out back, I took Antonia down to it and put her outside in the sun. A few test flaps and starts and flaps, she made her way to the end of the basket I had her in. Then, I put in my right hand for her to crawl on and she did and then I slowly moved my hand so that she was outside the basket and immediately she took flight.
A wonderful life is wished to her.
Some pics:
This first one shows a very young butterfly as her wings are not filled out yet - you can see the floppy ends on my hand.
This next pics shows that she is definitely filling her wings out.
Sleeping for the night!
Thank-you for reading this update! Stay tuned for more 'pillar action.
MNN
Monday, July 26, 2010
Anthony is ANTONIA!!!!! Antonia
Hello All!
Anthony aka now Antonia was born today at about 5 p.m. Later in the day than expected as I read somewhere that most butterflies emerge from their Chrysalis earlier in the day.
I watched over her to see how things were progressing and made sure that she had food in her netted area (cut plum, cut banana and a 20% honey solution) and that she could get stronger in her own way.
At about 6 p.m. I took her outside to be in the sunshine and waited until 7 p.m. As she did not come out of her netted area, and even with some persuasion by myself - she simply did not want to leave yet.
So took her inside and she is roosting (aka sleeping) safely tonite inside within her netted area. I just wanted to be 1000% that she would be safe tonight as she was not strong enough yet.
Tomorrow I will get up and put her in the sun and bid adieu to her.
Stay tuned for Antonia's pics later.
p.s. so many of the 'pillars are getting so big and strong now. I am going to be having a lot in chrysalis soon. Stay tuned to see if your 'pillar is in a Chrysalis soon.
MNN
Anthony aka now Antonia was born today at about 5 p.m. Later in the day than expected as I read somewhere that most butterflies emerge from their Chrysalis earlier in the day.
I watched over her to see how things were progressing and made sure that she had food in her netted area (cut plum, cut banana and a 20% honey solution) and that she could get stronger in her own way.
At about 6 p.m. I took her outside to be in the sunshine and waited until 7 p.m. As she did not come out of her netted area, and even with some persuasion by myself - she simply did not want to leave yet.
So took her inside and she is roosting (aka sleeping) safely tonite inside within her netted area. I just wanted to be 1000% that she would be safe tonight as she was not strong enough yet.
Tomorrow I will get up and put her in the sun and bid adieu to her.
Stay tuned for Antonia's pics later.
p.s. so many of the 'pillars are getting so big and strong now. I am going to be having a lot in chrysalis soon. Stay tuned to see if your 'pillar is in a Chrysalis soon.
MNN
Birthday gift for my guy!
Well.....last night we were supposed to go and see "rock of Ages" but a time mix-up meant we got there too late to see the start so we chose not to see the play at this time and will re-book.
However, we DID go and get more Milkweed for the Striped Crew and a surprise happened.
A lone Caterpillar was hanging out! So we took him home to be safe and sound so that he had a great chance of making it to being a full-fledged butterfly. I have him nestled in a bed of Milkweed where he appears to be happily chewing and frassing away. I feel good about this.
As it was my guy that found him, he got naming rights and called him L.D.T. meaning:
Leslie - as we found him at the Leslie St. Spit
Dylan Thomas - well....truly a mix-up here as he "thought" that Dylan Thomas wrote a poem called "Under Milk WEED" but in fact it was a play called "Under Milkwood". Oh well....the name has been given!
Stay tuned, more to come!
MNN
However, we DID go and get more Milkweed for the Striped Crew and a surprise happened.
A lone Caterpillar was hanging out! So we took him home to be safe and sound so that he had a great chance of making it to being a full-fledged butterfly. I have him nestled in a bed of Milkweed where he appears to be happily chewing and frassing away. I feel good about this.
As it was my guy that found him, he got naming rights and called him L.D.T. meaning:
Leslie - as we found him at the Leslie St. Spit
Dylan Thomas - well....truly a mix-up here as he "thought" that Dylan Thomas wrote a poem called "Under Milk WEED" but in fact it was a play called "Under Milkwood". Oh well....the name has been given!
Stay tuned, more to come!
MNN
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Cleopatra - my first baby is gone!
Today I woke up to see Cleopatra had hatched out of her Chrysalis.
I had been waiting for about 4 days for this to happen - very scared that she did not make it as it should not generally take 4 days for the butterfly to emerge from a transparent Chrysalis.
However, she arrived and was glorious. I can confirm that indeed "she" is a Cleopatra as she did not have the extra sacks in her wings (an enlarged area in the lower wings denoting the butterfly to be male).
I had the food prepped for her which consisted of : the 20% honey solution as well as a cut plum, an orange slice and a banana (yuck I don't like bananas so I must really like these Monarchs!). She took a sip of the orange and that pleased me as that confirmed that her proboscis worked (how butterflies eat is by extending their proboscis into the food source and sipping).
I have some beautiful pictures of her including one on my hand. Yes, indeed she crawled across my hand which again was pleasing. Her tiny feet kinda prickle as they walk, but those are the "hairs" that give her grip.
It came the time to let her go when I felt that her wings were stale and dried up enough as she did fly in the mesh basket I had over top of her.
Seeing her go today made me feel exuberate, yet I will admit there is that twinge of sadness seeing a creature go that you raised. I worry about how far she will make it out there.
Here are some pics:
Cleopatra at about 2 hours old - below
I had been waiting for about 4 days for this to happen - very scared that she did not make it as it should not generally take 4 days for the butterfly to emerge from a transparent Chrysalis.
However, she arrived and was glorious. I can confirm that indeed "she" is a Cleopatra as she did not have the extra sacks in her wings (an enlarged area in the lower wings denoting the butterfly to be male).
I had the food prepped for her which consisted of : the 20% honey solution as well as a cut plum, an orange slice and a banana (yuck I don't like bananas so I must really like these Monarchs!). She took a sip of the orange and that pleased me as that confirmed that her proboscis worked (how butterflies eat is by extending their proboscis into the food source and sipping).
I have some beautiful pictures of her including one on my hand. Yes, indeed she crawled across my hand which again was pleasing. Her tiny feet kinda prickle as they walk, but those are the "hairs" that give her grip.
It came the time to let her go when I felt that her wings were stale and dried up enough as she did fly in the mesh basket I had over top of her.
Seeing her go today made me feel exuberate, yet I will admit there is that twinge of sadness seeing a creature go that you raised. I worry about how far she will make it out there.
Here are some pics:
Cleopatra at about 2 hours old - below
Exciting News at MNN!
Well...it is a very exciting day around MNN - lots of new updates!
1. Beezlebub is now in his Chrysalis.
2. Mothra and Godzilla are just on the cusp of going into their Chrysalis - I expect to see that tomorrow when I get up and check on them.
3. Peter Parker, Caviar, Cosmos and Liatris all checked into Catipillia Star tonight. All are happily munching away in their new quarters.
4. Absolom, AlphaOmega, Romeo and Juliette are checked into Catipillia Moon as well this evening. Munching and crunching their collective way thru the Milkweed.
Keep tuned for more MNN news - things are moving pretty fast right now!
MNN
1. Beezlebub is now in his Chrysalis.
2. Mothra and Godzilla are just on the cusp of going into their Chrysalis - I expect to see that tomorrow when I get up and check on them.
3. Peter Parker, Caviar, Cosmos and Liatris all checked into Catipillia Star tonight. All are happily munching away in their new quarters.
4. Absolom, AlphaOmega, Romeo and Juliette are checked into Catipillia Moon as well this evening. Munching and crunching their collective way thru the Milkweed.
Keep tuned for more MNN news - things are moving pretty fast right now!
MNN
TIP!
For anyone who might be interested in Monarch Ranching, I recommend that you start with only 2-3 eggs at the most.
Reason??
Monarch Ranching takes time each day to 2xs clean their area, and to go grocery shopping to ensure that all of the 'pillars have a clean, fresh supply of Milkweed.
Now for me this year, I have 24 'pillars to take care of. And that takes me 2.5-3 hours per day to clean them and feed them.
And when they are a larger size, they can really frass up a mess and eat LOTS!
So, I just want to make sure that your Monarch Ranching experience is the best possible when you start and most of all, manageable time and energy wise.
Cheers, MNN
Reason??
Monarch Ranching takes time each day to 2xs clean their area, and to go grocery shopping to ensure that all of the 'pillars have a clean, fresh supply of Milkweed.
Now for me this year, I have 24 'pillars to take care of. And that takes me 2.5-3 hours per day to clean them and feed them.
And when they are a larger size, they can really frass up a mess and eat LOTS!
So, I just want to make sure that your Monarch Ranching experience is the best possible when you start and most of all, manageable time and energy wise.
Cheers, MNN
Friday, July 23, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
What's Up at Hotel Luxor Catipillia and Hotel Pantheon Catipillia?
You may be asking "what is Up at Hotel Luxor Catipillia tonight?" - and the answer would be -
not much.
Everyone has been working on their silk pads to attach to and are either in position to attach or will be doing so very soon.
BTW - today was a very busy day for me...all 3 of the 'pillars had the "Wanderer" going thru their body as I lost count of how many times I had to pull someone off of the netting and put them back onto the tree. It did not matter how far away I pulled the netting from the branches, somehow the little 'pillars just managed to get on the netting and just go for it! Talk about being in a daycare!
I fully expect that all will be in the J position when I wake-up.
Over at Hotel Pantheon Catipillia - I had to check in another guest tonight. In my evening check and clean of the 'pillars, I found that Beelzebub grew up very quickly in one day. He is now the size of Aphrodite and Adonis and well, I was a little worried so I checked him into the hotel. He began munching right away, completely in the swing of it no problem.
Everyone else is doing very well and growing like crazy!
Good night from the Striped Crew to You!
Thank-you for reading and stay tuned for more to come.
MNN
not much.
Everyone has been working on their silk pads to attach to and are either in position to attach or will be doing so very soon.
BTW - today was a very busy day for me...all 3 of the 'pillars had the "Wanderer" going thru their body as I lost count of how many times I had to pull someone off of the netting and put them back onto the tree. It did not matter how far away I pulled the netting from the branches, somehow the little 'pillars just managed to get on the netting and just go for it! Talk about being in a daycare!
I fully expect that all will be in the J position when I wake-up.
Over at Hotel Pantheon Catipillia - I had to check in another guest tonight. In my evening check and clean of the 'pillars, I found that Beelzebub grew up very quickly in one day. He is now the size of Aphrodite and Adonis and well, I was a little worried so I checked him into the hotel. He began munching right away, completely in the swing of it no problem.
Everyone else is doing very well and growing like crazy!
Good night from the Striped Crew to You!
Thank-you for reading and stay tuned for more to come.
MNN
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Tutankhamen-Orr Action Shots! July 18, 2010
Look at Tut-Orr Streeeeeeeeeeetch it out!
And here he is "Waving it Out" to everyone out there!
See You when I am a Monarch!
There will be more to come!
MNN
And not to be forgotten - Tutankhamen-Orr, Ankenahten, Hapshetsut - July 18, 2010
Today may well be the last day that Tutankhamen-Orr, Ankenahten and Haptshetsut hang out together at the Hotel Luxor Catipillia.
Tut was already exhibiting the "wandering" behaviour which I have noted happens prior to the 'pillar finding a spot, building a silk pad and attaching on to assume the J Position.
As well, all 3 of the 'pillars have been the largest so far. Tut was 5 cm long (2 inches for my US friends) tonight and he is the longest. I attempted to try and measure Tut, but he was simply into his "wandering" and "rearing" up phase. Very focused.
Ankenahten and Haptshetsut continue to eat all of the milkweed they can get their mandibles into and each night when I am in my office, I can hear everyone munching away. It is truly an amazing sound and it is unfortunate that I do not have the equipment to capture that sound. Amazing does not quite cover it off.
Last shot all together as 'pillars, July 18, 2010.
Tut was already exhibiting the "wandering" behaviour which I have noted happens prior to the 'pillar finding a spot, building a silk pad and attaching on to assume the J Position.
As well, all 3 of the 'pillars have been the largest so far. Tut was 5 cm long (2 inches for my US friends) tonight and he is the longest. I attempted to try and measure Tut, but he was simply into his "wandering" and "rearing" up phase. Very focused.
Ankenahten and Haptshetsut continue to eat all of the milkweed they can get their mandibles into and each night when I am in my office, I can hear everyone munching away. It is truly an amazing sound and it is unfortunate that I do not have the equipment to capture that sound. Amazing does not quite cover it off.
Last shot all together as 'pillars, July 18, 2010.
Adonis and Aphrodite - now in the Hotel Pantheon - July 18, 2010
After last weeks' disastrous attempt at trying to have 5 'pillars sharing the same hotel - Adonis and Aphrodite were pulled out and kept to container quarters for awhile.
Today I built for them - Hotel Pantheon Catipillia. And promptly moved them in. Tonight when I checked they seemed to adjusted to the new hotel and were munching away - music to a girl's heart!
Today I built for them - Hotel Pantheon Catipillia. And promptly moved them in. Tonight when I checked they seemed to adjusted to the new hotel and were munching away - music to a girl's heart!
Norman, Norman, Norman......July 18, 2010
Norman Osborne...not so sure he should not be renamed "Stormin' Norman" as he likes to live dangerously and try and get out of his quarters.
Here is today's shot where we have Norman "Living on the Edge" - as Aerosmith would say...
Here is today's shot where we have Norman "Living on the Edge" - as Aerosmith would say...
Cosmos and Liatrus - July 18, 2010
I would like to introduce to you 2 more special 'pillars:
Cosmos and Liatrus.
I was not sure how they were going to do and I have watched them like a hawk. And now, I would think from their size that they are going to be just o.k.
Cosmos and Liatrus.
I was not sure how they were going to do and I have watched them like a hawk. And now, I would think from their size that they are going to be just o.k.
Godzilla and Mothra - July 18, 2010
Interesting thing happened today. Godzilla and Mothra moulted at the same time and I managed to catch a pic of this. Very cool.
Beelzebub - July 18, 2010
Very cool pic of Beelzebub as he just shed his skin. I managed to pick out the former mandible/head cap and catch a pic of it.
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