Chrysalis On a Leaf
Yes I have five pupae! I thought I had four, until yesterday I noticed I was missing a caterpillar. It has been so rainy and dark here, so i braved the rain to find food and clean the enclosure in search of this caterpillar. I moved a vase only to see...
I do not like when they do this! as you can see, a larger caterpillar ate around the entire chrysalis and it is hanging on a shred of a leaf. Not to mention this plant needs to be thrown out. Every year I get a few that do this, and it never becomes any less frustrating. So, I move them, which is exactly what I did this morning.
I remove the leaf and stick it firmly to duct tape.
Then attach it to the top of the enclosure.
Doing this removes the fear of the leaf shrivelling up and falling off, killing the chrysalis. It also means I can remove the plant to prevent any diseases from spreading. It gives me peace of mind and keeps the developing butterfly safe from harm.
As for the rest of my caterpillars, they are adorable as always. Most are getting close to chrysalis time, but the one that hatched from an egg recently is still rather small. I love watching them crawl around and eat before I go to bed. Some don't mind interacting and eating next to other caterpillars, and some thrash around to be left alone. They are all unique as caterpillars, and will continue to be as butterflies.
That is all for now! And if you are interested, I now have an instagram dedicated to Monarch Mayhem! So follow me @monarchmayhem on Instagram, and if you like my photography you can check out @sam.jutz too. Until next time :)
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