Monarch Watch Forums

by **Rkghc** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 9:17 am

I am very new to this, we went to a butterfly birthday party and everyone received an egg, milkweed and container. Our first egg died, we went back and they gave us three more eggs. Two of them died. Our last little one has made it so far, but we know that it is past the 19th day, he stopped eating and is just laying there, he did not crawl to the top of the container and attach himself. I have been putting fresh milkweed in and I also put a stick in just in case he didn't want to crawl up the container. When I looked at him today he seemed to be oozing a fluid out and he is hanging over the side of a stem of milkweed. Is there anything I can do to help him or is it too late? Thanks.

by **Megathymus ursus** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 4:33 am

Your larva is dead, probably of Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (NPV), a very rapid and thorough killer. Has it turned black?

by **Rkghc** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 10:21 am

Thanks for your reply. Yes, he did turn black rather quickly, we were very disappointed.

by **Megathymus ursus** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 4:17 pm

Have you done any rearing since?

by **Rkghc** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:06 am

NO, we had received this one at a butterfly birthday party that one of my kids attended. Out of the 12 kids there, only one (the bday girl) was successful. We might try again in the spring. Thanks for your help.

by **Megathymus ursus** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 2:53 pm

My advice is to bleach out EVERYTHING the larvae will come in contact with and rear outside if possible.

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