The butterfly house is active once again with very hungry monarch catepillars munching on a giant milkweed.
The monarchs have been busy as almost every milkweed in the gardens have caterpillars of every instar enjoying the leaves. What better why to wqtch the life cycle than to invite them into our butterfly house?
There are three sections of a caterpillars body, of course, with the first being the hard head, which includes its mouth on the lower side. The caterpillar has two jaws, which move from side to side, and includes either teeth, or blades, to cut, eat, through the leaves. On quite a few occasions, if you stop and listen closely, you can hear the caterpillars munching on the leaves.
The caterpillars found in the garden today are of various different sizes and species. I am sure there are more that we just did not find.
In order for a caterpillar to grow, it molts, which I read can take a day or two for the entire process to be completed. It’s fascinating to watch, if you ever have the opportunity to do so. The molting process takes place on several occasions, as the caterpillar has to shed its skin, so it can continue to eat and grow to the desired length. When a caterpillar begins to molt, it will create a silk pad, while making sure its prolegs are firmly attached. I find it interesting that the caterpillar will swallow air to enlarge itself, before its cuticle splits along the thorax, so it can wiggle out of the old skin.
A monarch caterpillar making its chrysalis, ending with what my daughter and I like to call the “dance.”
It’s quite fascinating, this stage. Did you know the caterpillar’s hindlegs become fused creating a new structure, which becomes the chrysalis creamster?
According to the book, “Florida Butterfly Gardening,” when the caterpillar is ready to make its chrysalis, it will discharge the remaining food from its gut and then find its spot to transform. The caterpillar will begin to look “lumpy,” and when ready, the caterpillar’s cuticle splits where its weakness lines are, along the thorax. The start of the chrysalis, green in this case, begins and continues, until it does “the dance,” and the remains of the skin falls off.
This monarch caterpillar has entered into another instar, eating the remains of its old skin. I have seen the catepillar going through the molting process, but this is the first time I have seen it eat the remains. Nature sure is remarkable to watch.
Here is my blog that shows a monarch caterpillar molting: https://bit.ly/3NI0lUK
Did you know that the monarch caterpillar can feed on up to 100 different species of milkweed throughout North America? The majority of the milkweed in my garden are scarlet milkweed. We have two two giant milkweed with a few cuttings scattered throughout the garden.
According to author Thomas C. Emmel of “Florida Fabulous Butterflies,” the monarch in southern Florida can go through as many as six broods. These monarchs may remain residents in southern Florida, while the monarch population in the rest of the state and continent migrate to warmer temperatures.
Emmel stated that milkweed butterflies are referred to as “royalty butterflies,” due to it being part of the Danaidae family, which was named after the daughter of Danaus, the ruler of Argos.
The males have scent scales on their wings, as well as on their “hair pencils,” which is located on their abdomen. During courtship the male monarch uses its scent scales and can remain attached to the female for up to an hour long, and as little as 30 minutes, according to Emmel.
