Whew. Today has been a very busy day. I realized that Cleopatra and Anthony were rapidly outgrowing their first Hotel. So I made haste and made a new hotel today for them. This entailed me visiting my local fabric store for some "netting" to keep everyone safely inside when they are guests, and also to go to the grocery store for more "Milkweed" - well, whole stalks at this point.
Needless to say - all the 'pillars are well fed. And the Hotel Catipillia has been made.
I thought that for you who might like to try this all next year, here is the way that I made my "Caterpillar Hotels" for my graduates.
This installment is "How To Notes #2"
Don't forget to use your camera to record your experience!
REQUIRE
- Twigs - lots of varying shapes and preferably with lots of "arms" to them. Max 30" high. Dry. *Tip - I collect sticks with interesting pole/arm configurations, etc. in the spring and fall to dry out and use during my caterpillar season.
- Milkweed - cut at least 3 feet from the top of the plan down.
- Green Gardeners Twine - Roll of. Can get at $ stores.
- Aluminum tart trays = 4" size. Can get at $ stores.
- 2 Glass Vases = must be at least 10" high and at least 3" across the opening
- Paper Towel - Roll of
- Netting from a fabric store. Tulle or similar. White please. Quantity: 8' long, 36" wide (but doubled for 72" total wide is how my bolt came). ** Got to your fabric store and get the one that is open mesh, like would make a crinoline (ask your Mom as she may know OR the the person at the fabric store, will know).
- Twine / Thick Wool
- Green Pipe Cleaners = Can get at $ stores.
- Wire cutters
- Pointed scissors or small pointed knife (if a child, use with parental supervision!)
- Long Neck Tweezers - not critical; is you have great, if not, don't spend the $.
Patience
STEP 1 PREP MILKWEED
When you get home with your milkweed, you MUST prep it.
**Keeping the Milkweed stalk as is:
1. Inspect all of the leaves for Monarch Eggs and any Monarch 'pillars. If you see Monarch eggs, break off the leaves at the stem and begin the incubation process listed in my How To Notes #1 earlier posting. If you see 'pillars, be very careful and take the leaf they are on and put them in a vented container, wet paper towel under the leaf and covering the stem end of leaf.
2. Take off all of the bad and damaged leaves.
3. Wash the milkweed, making sure that you check the underside of each leaf for aphids, and other small bugs that may be there and make sure that they are removed with the water.
4. Store Milkweed in a separate vase with water until you are ready to use it.
STEP 2 - BUILD THE STRUCTURE
1. Gather together 2 or 3 sticks at least 22"-24" high - no more than 30".
2. Use a "good" eyeball to see where you can best match the sticks up to create a pole and arm effect - like a cross.
3. Use the Green Gardeners Twine to liberally and very tightly and securely tie / wrap-tie all of the junctions of where these 2 -3 major sticks meet to make "pole and arms". Use the Wire Cutters to cut the twine. Use the Tweezers to tuck in the ends - you don't want sharp things to hurt the caterpillars. If no Tweezers, try and use wire cutter to cut the excess ends.
It is critical that this is a strong secure structure as your caterpillars may end up spinning off and attaching itself to any one of the arms.
4. To create more arms, use smaller sticks / twigs to create more arms and use same process to attach.
STEP 3 - SET UP VASE
1. Take vase and place a 4" Aluminum Tart Tray over the top. Tighten the edges of the tart tray over the top of the Vase - not to secure yet.
2. Take the tart tray off, and turn over and cut a small X in the middle of the tart tray. Cut with knife or pointed scissors. Turn back over and reattach to the vase and tighten the tart tray around the top of the vase.
3. Place your stick structure through the hole in the tart tray and into the vase.
4. GENTLY - add water through that same hole - into the vase. Either using your tap, or whatever method you find best. You will need enough water to make sure that the Milkweed plant stalk has access.
5. ADD your Milkweed stem(s) making sure that the stalk is in the water. Use the Green pipe cleaners to gently tie the Milkweed to the Stick Structure. Do in a "secure" manner, but not one that is so difficult to remove that you will endanger caterpillars when you need to change it out for a new Stalk.
6. Roll some paper towel up and place around the base of the stalk where it enters the vase, to cover any holes - we don't want anyone to go for a swim!
STEP 4 - ADD CATERPILLARS
In a safe Secure area away from any pets - I find that my bathroom works well. Or my office as I use my office at this phase.
**Keep focused on task at hand as your caterpillars are depending on you.
1. Have Extra Fresh Milkweed leaves to use.
2. Open your first caterpillar container. Find the 'pillar.
3. Check how much of its' current leaf is left - this will give you a visual on how to build it into the Caterpillar Hotel. Put lid back on for now.
I might be over-doing it, but use your gut instinct to make a great transition zone for each caterpillar.
5. Open container again. Take out your caterpillar ON ITS' LEAF - don't touch it please.
Place in your transition zone and watch it to settle in. It may simply not move for some time and that is OK.
Put your next caterpillar into it's transition zone. If moving more than 1 'pillar, look for transition zones in a different leaf for each critter please.
STEP 5 - NETTING
1. Unfold Netting
2. Make sure that the LENGTH you cut corresponds to the height that you made the whole structure in this formula - 2.5 times the total height of the structure.
For example
- if your structure height is 30" high.
30" x 2.5 = 75" long which equals 6.25 feet long of netting needed.
3. Cut the length needed.
4. Open up the netting and make sure it is all open and kinda fluffed out.
5. Find the centre point of the fabric and pinch between fingers of left hand.
6. Hold over top of your structure and begin to slowly let down over it.
*****BE MINDFUL of where your caterpillars are at at all times.
7. When you have managed to cover all sides of your structure, all 'pillars are accounted for, gather around the bottom of the vase.
8. Use the Twine or Thick wool and tie like you would your shoe - around the bottom of the vase.
9. Put the whole unit back to its' safe place. Place a dishtowel beneath the unit as...Frass will happen. And some of the frass can fall onto the towel and be easily disposed of.
STEP 6 - NEXT STEPS
1. You will need to change out the stalk of the Milkweed, esp. if your 'pillars have literally eaten them out. KEEP an eye on this so it is not am emergency to go and get more Milkweed.
A/ Repeat Step 1 from above - Prep Milkweed
B/ Gently open netting and remove off of the structure.
C/ Locate caterpillars and put into a temporary container with vented lid for safety.
D/ Remove old Milkweed stalk (s) by untying the green pipe cleaners.
E/ Pull assembly out of vase and detach the Milkweed stalks (s).
F/ Attach Fresh Milkweed Stalks using the green pipe cleaners.
G/ Change Water in Vase and rinse - there will be Frass - so you want to make clean.
H/ Place whole assembly back into vase - making sure to put the rolled paper towel around the bottom of the stalk.
I/ Add your Caterpillars repeating Step 4.
J/ Place netting back over the unit and tie.
Take Pictures of your friends! You will astonished at how much they grow.
Even tonight, I was fascinated watching Anthony use his front antennae to feel out along leaves to "find" where to eat next. And at one point he rolled himself around a small piece of leave he was just finishing - something I have not seen one do ever! Also tonight, Cleopatra has consumed a 5" long leaf - in just 2 hours! Wow, Milkweed is like "chocolate for caterpillars".
Thank-you for reading and have an awesome weekend.
MNN
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