Second generation

[M_ and_ M]

We have successfully moved onto the second generation with our monarchs. Ended with 5 males, and one female at the end of phase one, the female only has a half of one antennae. The newborns are feasting on the tropical milkweed plants. I really was not sure she had mated since many of the first eggs were definitely blanks, and I had never caught them together. Well I am excited!!

[everton]

I am jealous. We ended up with three females. They are still alive though.

[TeacherAnn]

Hello!

We have both males and females but have not found milkweed plants for sale...please let me know if you have a source...I think they have mated but I can't be sure...

Thanks!

Ann Ward
Friends School Haverford
Haverford, Pennsylvania

[M_ and_ M]

I got my tropical milkweed plants 2 years ago from "Live Monarch", a place down in Florida, I believe you can find it with a google search. Since we have harsh winters, like right now, I potted them, and have brought them in over winters, they keep on growing and blooming for me year round, although definitely healthier in the summertimes. These have the orange blooms and slender leaves. Great success in starting plants with the seed pods this last year. I use our extra bathroom as a type of hothouse for the plants and butterflies in the winter so I can control the heat with a space heater and lights on a timer. Really works well, but really want a "real" greenhouse.
Yes, hundreds of eggs are laid now, but the young larva do eat their neighbors if they are first ones out, survival of the fittest I guess. Have a good dozen larva a bit over an inch now, and maybe 20 at the half inch and under. Eggs still hatching, and the poor female is still laying though her wings are tattered she climbs to the plants. One male left from original "space" cats also,so she still has good company.

[M_ and_ M]

O.K. I see even the best laid plans run into hiccups! I do have 3 new chrysalis from the second generation of space monarchs. That is great, problem is my larva are eating more then I ever anticipated and my lush tropical milkweed, (6 huge plants) are getting down to just stems. Larva are to large to change the diet on. Anyone know if they can survive on just the green stems to reach pupation?? Most are a good inch and a half in size.
On another note, my original space Monarch is still alive and still laying eggs!!! Seems unbelievable since its been so long now.
Thanks for any help on how to keep this going while the plants regenerate.

[M_ and_ M]

Well, I read about feeding yellow squash to larva, does this really work? Any one know???
I had to do something with the "very hungry larva", so got my stash of milkweed from the freezer, rinsed it to thaw some, patted it with towel a bit, and divided the larva up into sizes setting up 6 containers to rear them the rest of the way. Amazing, they just keep on eating like they do not notice the change in milkweed. Maybe they were just hungry enough that it was this or nothing. Hope it keeps working while my plants rejuvenate.

[Mona Miller]

What species of milkweed did you freeze? Have you froze milkweed before and used it to feed larvae?

[M_ and_ M]

Not sure what the species is, for Nebraska it is the most common in fields and ditches found. So large plants as tall as 5 feet sometimes, a broad leaf, purplish, pink flower for buds, before the pods set on. Pods are at least 3-5 inches in size, and I would guess maybe 2 inch diameter. I know I should learn the names of milkweed around here!
I have frozen them 2 years in a row so far, and have great success with raising the larva on it throughout the winter. Problem this time is my tropical was so healthy I did not even think about switching any over at a younger stage to the frozen in storage. Actually probably have more frozen then food in the freezer!
After a day of introducing the frozen milkweed, (did thaw with rinse in water, and pat dry, before I set it in) the larger larva seem content with it this morning, the smaller ones are pretty skeptical, but producing some frass, maybe it will work.

[Mona Miller]

Your milkweed may be common milkweed or showy:

http://www.monarchwatch.org/milkweed/guide/syriac.htm
Asclepias syriaca (Common)
http://www.monarchwatch.org/milkweed/guide/specio.htm
Asclepias speciosa (Showy)

According to Dr. Urquhart in his book, "Monarch Butterfly: International Traveler". Nebraska has 15 species of milkweed (Asclepias):

incarnata, verticillata, pumila, tuberosa, amplexicaulis, syriaca, sullivantii, speciosa, arenaria, latifolia, viridiflora, nuttalliana, stenophylla, engelmanniana, and viridis

The Asclepias speciosa is similar to the syriaca.

[M_ and_ M]

Definitely the common milkweed. Seems the 4th and 5th instars have no problem with the adjustment, and the second instars, those in between are not looking so good. First I think I overcrowded their containers since I was trying to work fast, and may not of dried their leaves as well. Got 2 more to healthy J and hanging.

[M_ and_ M]

Heres a few pictures, not sure if they will come through.

[M_ and_ M]

This is some of the larva doing well.

[M_ and_ M]

ANd of course the stripped plants, six more that look like this.

[Mona Miller]

This definitely makes me miss the Monarchs even more. Did you figure out which milkweed you are freezing?

[M_ and_ M]

Yes, definitely is the common milkweed, we have it in abundance on our 10 acres. Glad theres still someone out there following the Monarchs in Space project, what an opportunity!!

[Mona Miller]

Can you detail for us how you freeze it? What time of year? What do you freeze it in? How do you freeze it? Individually, layers? What do you do to it before you freeze it? Wash, wet, dry?

How do you defrost it? How long does it keep in the freezer?

This definitely will be of help to people who want to have some milkweed on hand for hungry caterpillars.

I've had people tell me that it was impossible to raise caterpillars on frozen milkweed. I read about Dr. Urquhart freezing milkweed and using it, but he didn't put too many details in his book. Thanks.

I didn't get to participate with a school, but I did follow it online. I do help schools raise Monarchs in the spring and fall.

[M_ and_ M]

Gosh my housekeeping rules are not to high of standards on freezing the milkweed. So I usually start gathering some in mid August,I take the stem and leaves from larger plants, about the top 6-8 inches. I also gather younger leaves, just the leaves, from plants, I basically sort as I go with 3 containers to collect it in. The plants still have time to regenerate and grow so they are strong for the next year.
I rinse them in a 10 percent clorox and water basin, then rinse again in just water, then straight to freezer still damp in zip lock bags. I layer the stems and leaves bags about 3 deep, and the two sizes of smaller leaves I try to lay in flat in layers and zip lock and freeze. To thaw, I just break off a portion in the bags, run it under cool water, blot dry with towels and lay it in the containers on paper towel. I have been offering both large and small leaves each time I clean out the containers. Seems it all get eaten no matter the size of the larva or the leaves. Maybe it is not necessary to sort. So I do this till the plants start to pod. I don't know why, I just want to be sure I have healthy plants left outside for the next year bunch.
I really never questioned not doing it, seemed natural, but now I wonder if I should try to chop it up in the blender and freeze in portion cups. Would definitely keep part of the stems with it if I did that.
Well, seems to work for now in a unscientific way of sorts.

[Mona Miller]

Other than Dr. Urquhart, I'd never heard of any one freezing leaves and feeding the thawed milkweed with success. My garden is full of weeds and the butterflies and other wildlife love it--after all isn't milkweed a weed. Thanks for sharing your method with us. You can be sure I'll be freezing some milkweed this next summer.

[M_ and_ M]

Larva still doing well on the frozen milkweed. Up to 12 healthy chrysalis, one partial formation, and thriving larva. Heres some picts. of 2 of the containers from this morning.

[M_ and_ M]

Heres another container.

[Mona Miller]

They look like they are doing great. If you want to slow down their emerging, then keep them in a cool room. A cool room can also keep them quiet when they are adults. We still have several months of winter here in Virginia. We don't usually see Monarchs until the end of April. Sometimes it is late May and June depending on storms which can blow them further inland.

Currently, I have several species of butterflies that winter over here outside in containers. They are in caterpillar and chrysalis from.

[M_ and_ M]

Well plants are growing back in great shape, and the first monarch has emerged today. So fun to see the chance to start over again. Thats space cats, into 7 monarchs, into many new larva, now back to monarch. Gotta call this one "Jim", he some anxious family waiting in their chrysalis to play with.

[Mona Miller]

That is the problem/blessing. Monarchs usually multiply themselves. Cool pictures.

[M_ and_ M]

As of today, I have 8 healthy Monarchs and 4 with crumpled wings that just fell out of the chrysalis when they evolved. I did manage to spot them and help them out a bit, but they all had the roaming spirit and just would not stay still till wings dried. Needless to say they are crawling around the castle, at least they have each other.
I am thinking the first ones out did so well, they hardly had to switch over on milkweed before they pupated. All the remainder were at varying stages when I changed milkweed. So maybe this middle group was just at the wrong point of development for a drastic change! Well, 6 chrysalis to go, thats about 4-5 days away, I am hoping they do well.
Plants still growing alright for a comeback, but I know they will not be able to handle a lot of eggs. May have to separate the monarchs into boy-girl dorms for a while.