Date: 07/05/2017

Number: 1

The Monarch butterfly we released today was originally found on 6/17/2017 as a small caterpillar (designated CAT01) on a swamp milkweed growing outside our house in Spring Township, PA.   It emerged from its chrysalis this morning (7/5/2017) and we later released it from our back deck (at approximately LAT 40.9 and LONG -77.8).

The photograph depicts several shots taken over the course of its development.  Left to right in the top row shows:

1. The caterpillar as originally found on a swamp milkweed on 6/17/2017
2. Brought inside, the caterpillar is slightly less than one centimeter in length on 6/17/2017

3. This is the caterpillar on 6/18/2017, having been transferred to a leaf on a potted swamp milkweed plant that we raised indoors. Left to right in the bottom row shows

4. The caterpillar on a swamp milkweed plant on 6/23/2017

5. The caterpillar appeared on 6/24/2017 to be searching for a place, other than on the swamp milkweed plant, to J-hook

6. The caterpillar emerged from its chrysalis the morning of 7/5/2017. After the caterpillar had found a place to J-hook, and then transform into a chrysalis, we transferred the chrysalis to a playpen “cage” where it was hung on a string.

This was the first caterpillar we had found, captured, and raised protected inside on a potted swamp milkweed plant until released as a Monarch butterfly for 2017.   Over the next three months we collected 76 eggs and caterpillars, 64 of which successfully grew to be released as Monarch butterflies.   I hope to make entries for the others as time permits.  We released our last two butterflies on 9/29/2017.

Bellefonte, PA

Latitude: 40.9 Longitude: -77.8

Observed by: R. Timothy
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