new to rearing monarchs

[hyland]

I am new to Monarch Watch. I found this website when I was looking for info on determining whether our Monarch butterfly was a boy or a girl (one of the children asked that ?). I live in Southern Louisiana. A year ago I took a milkweed plant from my mom and planted it in my flowerbed. I didn't even know it was called milkweed until I came here. This past week the children and I found approx. 20 little caterpillars and some eggs.

I wasn't expecting this at all. I always wanted a butterfly garden, but I didn't expect to rear monarchs so soon. I told my husband that I want at least a whole corner of our property for the butterflies.

We released a butterfly a few weeks ago, a male Monarch last week and we have now have a chysalis. We are enjoying our experience.

I think I'll have to go take some more milkweed from my mom or my grandmother. I took some milkweed clippings and set them in water, but they aren't rooting yet.

[harpo787]

I'm not sure if I'm answering the right question here. You ask how to identify males from females, but then you mention a few sentences later that you released a male monarch. Well, anyways, here's two ways:



Note: I don't THINK that the wing shapes are different like you see here between the sexes. I think the female's wings are simply not fully extended like the male's are.

[Jim]

Note: I don't THINK that the wing shapes are different like you see here between the sexes. I think the female's wings are simply not fully extended like the male's are.

That's correct. In the photos above the male is a pinned specimen with the wings fully spread; the female photo depicts a more natural pose.

More male/female information is availble at

www.monarchwatch.org/biology/sexing.htm