Editors note: This is just the way I take care of my caterpillars. For detailed instructions from experts go to:

http://www.monarchwatch.org

The eggs are laid on Milkweed. I took the pieces of the leaf that had the egg on it and laid it on a moist florist wet foam to keep the leaves from drying out. The eggs hatch in about 4 days.

Below shows the egg ready to hatch. The top turns black which is the caterpillars head.

The caterpillar has hatched and will start eating the leaf it was laid on. I then take the leaf and place it on a new fresh leaf. He will eat the old leaf until he wants something better and will crawl onto his new leaf. Don’t try to pick up the caterpillar. Just cut away the leaf around him and place it on a new leaf.

Below: I keep the small caterpillars in a flat container that has air holes in it. In this case I used a bread warmer container from a toaster oven that I never use. I can watch them and it keeps the leaves from drying out so much. A large glass jar works well, too. You can use florist wet foam in a large jar and pick some milkweed and stick in the moist wet foam. This will keep the milkweed fresher longer. Clean the container out at least once a day.

Below: I picked some milkweed out in the country and brought it home. I used a garbage bag with florist wet foam and stuck the stalks into it and filled the bottom with water. I then closed the bag up over it and kept it in the refrigerator. Be sure to rinse off the milkweed and make sure there are no pests on it. Then just pick leaves as you need them. It stays pretty fresh for up to a week at least.

Caterpillars will often crawl to the top of their container when they shed their skins which they do 4 times before turning into a chrysalis. Leave them be. When it gets time for them to make the chrysalis they will start searching for the perfect place. When my caterpillars get good-sized I move them to a large vase with the milkweed leaves and an additional stick with branches for them to make their chrysalis on. I cover the top with a coffee filter or paper and secure it with a rubber band.

These websites have more detailed instructions for raising Monarchs.

http://www.monarchwatch.org/rear/index.htm

http://www.monarchlab.umn.edu/rearing/RearingMonarchs.aspx

Video below: Shows my caterpillars eating their skin after molting and a little clip of their little “fight.”

 

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Below is a very mad caterpillar trying to knock the other one off that came onto his leaf.

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Below: A caterpillars has spun a little mound of silk and then attaches his hind end to it. In a few hours, after wiggling and pushing, he lets go one foot at a time from the stalk and finally hangs in a J form. He may hang like that for several hours to a day before shedding his skin for the last time which forms his chrysalis.

Below: I gave them a fake dogwood branch and some used it to make their chrysalises.Click on the photo below to see all the chrysalises.If all goes well, you’ll end up with a beautiful Monarch butterfly. Watch her spread her wings not long after breaking out of her chrysalis. Click on the picture below.

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