I have a question about wild caterpillars/chrysilis

[jturk3]

I have collected small caterpillars and reared them indoors to the chrysilis but I am wondering where do the caterpillars go in the wild to pupate? I raised swallowtails one year an they "marched" in a line for a couple of days inside a cage until they finally attached to the top and formed pupas. Do Monarchs do this too and if so how far do they go from the host plant? Do they climb taller plants and attach?

[Pat]

They just find themselves a nice sheltered spot. I recently found a wild chrysalis hanging under a sturdy yucca leaf several feet away from the nearest milkweed.
Pat

[Tim from Winnipeg]

They can travel quite a distance, but I would guess that it is usually within several meters/yards.

I've always wondered if I could "trick" them into pupating in a certain spot. I have some milkweed by a sidewalk and road which always worries me. I know some caterpillars must go the wrong way towards the road.

[Teresa]

It's funny you say that Pat. The first crys i've ever seen in my life ( 4 years ago) was attached to a yucca leaf