Blog Vol.II, # 17. More Vivid Colours.
Every summer we “rescue”
monarch caterpillars and raise them to form adult butterflies. The day that they eclose (emerge from the
Chrysalis) is very spectacular.
Especially when the wings start to fill out; they become iridescent with
black, orange and white spots. Definitely,
a sight to behold. There is no camera
lens that can even begin to capture the vividness of these colours. One more excellent reason to have 20/20
eyesight.
A few words on rescuing
monarchs. The survival rate is higher
for a monarch caterpillar in a well ventilated and spacious container with
ample milkweed for food than it is in nature.
Contrary to popular belief, monarchs do have natural predators. We were always told that they taste awful, so
birds, like blue jays, may experience the taste of monarch once, but Yuck! The main predators are insects and spiders,
which do not mind the flavour and will eat the caterpillar as a food
source. Monarchs can also be infested
with a parasite called OE (Ophryocystis elektoscirrha) which can deform the
butterfly and spread more of their spores to other monarchs. A word of caution
when putting a caterpillar in a container: make sure it has been thoroughly
cleaned with chlorine and rinsed beforehand and only one caterpillar per
container.
Keep the caterpillar well fed.
They will eat a tonne of milkweed leaves, and when they are ready, will climb to
the top, hang upside down and make a “J”.
Then it is chrysalis time, a green covering will form and it will hang
there. Wait about 10-15 days and watch
for the colour to change to orange and black.
Emerging from the chrysalis takes 3 hours, for proper drying. The vivid colours emerge when the monarch
starts pumping hemolymph into its wings.
The pumping fills out the wings and also starts the drying process, in
which the adult must hang until they are
fully dry. Another good reason to
rescue them is this long duration of drying, when they are vulnerable to attack
from other insects like a mantis or spiders.
As I am writing this article
our monarch has just enclosed, and is hanging upside down and pumping hemolymph. Awesome.
Once again, having the eyesight to take this in, is really something
else.
til next week,
The good doctor, Dr. Mark Germain, Burlington Optometrist
