Date: 08/25/2003

Number: 1

My class planted a butterfly garden several years ago, and a patch of milkweed went unvisited until the first of August, when we discovered the plants covered with monarch eggs. We brought 10 into captivity to raise from hatching to larvae, to chrysalis and on to emerged butterfly. We are happy to report that all 10 survived their "transplant" and have been released. Unfortunately the caterpillars we left on the host plant did not fare as well. Most never made it to chrysalis and we would find them after a 3rd or 4th instar hanging, dead. The couple that did successfully make a chrysalis were eaten (in chrysalis) by our state bird, the cardinal. Our class has decided that one of the best ways to populate our area with monarchs is to raise them in captivity.

LaGrange, KY

Latitude: 38.3 Longitude: -85.5

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