Rearing a late summer batch of cats

[monarchlady]

I received 17 cats on 8-26. I keep each in its own container. On the 3rd day, I lost one - (wish I knew why to prevent next time-but nature takes care of its own). This is the first time I kept the milkweed in a ziplock bag in frig. My garden milkweed was pretty 'ripe' so I drove about 10 minutes away to a beautiful field (that I have been checking all summer for eggs) where there an abundant supply of milkweed. I pulled the entire plant from the ground and kept in bag in frig. Milkweed has stayed pretty fresh. All cats doing fine and one has chrysylized. As of last night, three have 'buttoned'. I feel a really important factor is cleanliness. I definitely clean out each container once a day in the beginning and now twice a day now that they are bigger!! This is the latest I have raised a batch (and the most at one time). Cross your fingers that I can get these guys to release stage. I am thinking of driving them out to Seneca, IL to give them a head start on their journey.

[Virginia Monarchs]

We have four Monarch cats at various ages in our yard on Milkweed. It is late in the season. Is there anything I should do to help them along? I've got three chrysalis on my screened porch in containers that should be coming out in two to three days. I will let them go justs as soon as their wings dry. We still have lots of nectar plants for them in the yard. We have six Chrysalis(s)(sp?) in the back yard that we know of that have died because of a cold spell we had about 12 days ago and two Chrysalis that still look nice and green but should be doing something by now. If I bring in the cats and let them do their thing in containers on my porch is there anything I can do to help them survive? I was thinking I could bring the containers in the house if we have a cold snap and if they come out just give them Juicy Juice until we have a warm spell. Does anyone have any suggestions? We are kind of new to Monarch raising. We did about a dozen the past two summers and we have done almost three dozen this summer but we've never had any this late in the season.

[monarchlady]

I believe in the natural thing - but for the cats, I "raise" them in a controlled environment - I really want to give them the best chance I can. I keep them under a grow light about ten hours per day. Same with the chrsyallis stage. I tagged for the first time this year !!!!! and released them (during this past week) at a nature preserve on some late sedum about 10:00 a.m. The sun was warm enough and they would have a good full day to acclimate to their environment. I'd bring them in - give them all the help we can. Good luck. Let us know how they faired.