Date: 04/06/2013

Number: 1

I found 31 catarpillars and they hatched out in the last week or so. I have Monarch Waystation #4551 and I have buiult an 8' x 8' x 8' butterfly house in the back yard. I have eleven mated pairs so far and they are laying hundreds of eggs on the tropical milkweed. I brought 50 eggs into the house last night to raise by hand. I am also raising Gulff Fritillaries and their eggs are hatching at 100% in the house. The egg to larvae for them is four days. I won't know for a few days what the time for the Monarchs to go from egg to larvae is. I am so extatically happy with their success. Having the larger butterfly house has been the difference in them mating and not mating for me in captivity. Once they lay eggs I release them into my garden to live their free life and love them enough to let them face the predators and dangers that come from them being free. That's the tough part. If you love it set it free.

Rialto, CA

Latitude: 34.1 Longitude: -117.4

Observed by: Barbara
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