Date: 09/04/2008

Number: 1

Driving on the 101 highway westbound from Kentville (just past the Coldbrook turnoff) I noticed what I thought might be milkweed growing in the ditch. Sure enough, it was a large patch of Asclepias syriaca growing on the sandy embankment,with large seedpods. The area is windy and exposed with an ATV path running through it and is beside the busy TransCanada highway.

It took me awhile to find any monarch caterpillars but eventually I discovered 4. Since our Butterfly garden at school was unsuccessful in attracting monarchs this year (last year we had an amazing number of the caterpillars on our Swamp Milkweed!) I decided to "borrow" (or maybe "cat"nap is a better word!) 2 of these gorgeous stripers to share with the elementary students I work with.

As expected, the kids were thrilled to see them munching away and we kept them supplied with fresh leaves from our garden. I brought them home for the weekend and one has attached itself to the top of the bug cage and is hanging in the J. I had one chrysalis form at home on the weekend. At first it hung in J shape for a day and some liquid dripped out first. the second caterpillar made silk all day to attach itself to the top of the bug cage. It was very cool to watch! Then it formed the chrysalis at school while the grade primary class watched! We were so excited!

Coldbrook, NS

Latitude: 45.1 Longitude: -64.6

Observed by: Lisa
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