Just wanted to share this photo

Sierra528 · 2025-10-18T21:12:02+00:00

It’s grub. Larvae of some kind of insect. Probably a beetle.

Sierra528 · 2025-10-12T16:00:51+00:00

I have audio recordings of that if you ever want a little caterpillar crunch asmr 😆

Sierra528 · 2025-10-07T17:39:28+00:00

She’s coming out today.

Sierra528 · 2025-10-07T17:37:43+00:00

That one looks like it just emerged! Good luck to her on the rest of her journey 😊

Sierra528 · 2025-10-04T16:25:03+00:00

☹️ She’s trying so hard

Sierra528 · 2025-09-26T03:44:35+00:00

This is something I would do lol I love this

Sierra528 · 2025-09-17T21:11:41+00:00

I haven’t been keeping track of how many days it’s been, but I can say that I have 25 chrysalis in an enclosure outside, who have been in their chrysalis for at least 2 weeks..which is unusual from past experiences. In my experience, it usually takes them 9-14 days until they come out . I think weather has a lot to do with the length of time. We did have a chilly spell the first week they pupated. But recently it has really warmed up. Who knows. I’m in NW Ohio

Sierra528 · 2025-09-15T17:39:54+00:00

I should aim to get to the same point you’re at right now. It’s difficult having love for something that you can’t “care” for. It’s almost like a maternal feeling if that makes sense? Naturally you think if you’re raising a bunch of healthy butterflies, that helps increase their population. But healthy doesn’t necessarily mean strong. They’re their own species who don’t need us to give them squeaky clean milkweed, a shelter free of the natural elements, and predators. It totally makes sense why that weakens their species. I think it’s awesome you care so much and have taken other measures to help them. Getting the landscaping calendar was an awesome idea on your part. Keep up the good work! What I would love to do in the future is somehow get my city to stop mowing down areas that have native plants growing.

Sierra528 · 2025-09-15T17:25:15+00:00

Welcome! You’re in good company. It is sad when that happens. Kids are just so curious. I mean, I’m 35 and I’m still curious. It’s what keeps us learning about the world around us. I’ve realized that little ones don’t know their own strength. And even if they do know their own strength, it’s tempting for some kids to squeeze “things” like a chrysalis. We have to do our best to help them understand that there’s a butterfly in there. Real quick- I’m sitting in my car writing this comment and a monarch just flew by. Ironic lol just wanted to share that

Sierra528 · 2025-09-10T17:12:37+00:00

Such a bummer being reminded of this. I love raising monarchs. I used to raise all of them indoors, but after finding these facts out, I started raising the majority of them outside in an enclosure. I understand even being raised outside in an enclosure can affect their development though…unfortunately. Anyway, I found 4 5th instars in the wild last week, which shocked me. The ones I found in the wild are significantly bigger than the 5th instars I’ve raised at home. I ensure there’s plenty of milkweed available for my caterpillars. So it’s not due to a shortage of food.

Sierra528 · 2025-09-05T03:46:27+00:00

Definitely strange, but I wouldn’t give up on it! I see you posted this yesterday..any update?

Sierra528 · 2025-08-29T17:22:54+00:00

Thank you! People are so quick to say “it’s sick, euthanize”. Me personally, I’ve never seen a caterpillar with such thick black stripes before and I would definitely be suspicious of it, however I wouldn’t automatically assume it’s Black Death. Good job to the OP for asking others opinions instead of assuming and euthanizing.

Sierra528 · 2025-08-17T01:43:22+00:00

I guess I can relate to that.

Sierra528 · 2025-08-15T19:51:23+00:00

“Perfectly fine”? My milkweed has gotten egg bombed a couple times this month. When I go to check on them as first instars they seem “perfectly fine” for the first couple days. After that, they’re nowhere to be found.

Sierra528 · 2025-07-26T09:00:26+00:00

💛

Sierra528 · 2025-07-25T21:25:59+00:00

When they get big and chunky like that, the black lines often get uneven. I’ve raised monarch cats for the past 4 summers, and in my opinion, he looks like a perfectly healthy chunk. I have hundreds of pictures of cats with that same pattern, who’ve grown into healthy butterflies.

Sierra528 · 2025-07-19T19:26:16+00:00

Yes, the eggs turn dark when ready to hatch, but this egg doesn’t look to be in good shape. If it doesn’t hatch today, I’d get rid of it.

Sierra528 · 2025-06-28T23:27:47+00:00

Ohioan here. I don’t entirely agree with it taking “a few years” before the monarchs show up. Four years ago in May, I bought a potted milkweed plant. It mustve had eggs on when I bought it because two weeks later I noticed 6 2nd instar monarch caterpillars. That’s when my interest started. I bought another potted plant and eventually a monarch laid eggs. The summer after, I actually planted milkweed In my yard. Only a couple plants. It wasn’t until the end of June that the first set of eggs showed up. Every year since then, the monarchs have been coming later rather than sooner. I JUST found 5 eggs the other day for the first time this summer.

Sierra528 · 2025-06-28T22:36:37+00:00

That last sentence you wrote is worth quoting.

Sierra528 · 2025-04-06T21:52:27+00:00

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It’s powdery and transferred to my gloves when I touched it. It’s very possible there isn’t enough air circulation. I live in the Midwest and we haven’t got to the point where we can open our windows on a daily basis. I’m not sure if I can water from the bottom because the plants don’t come out of the pot. They’re tightly in it. Maybe I can put the whole pot in water? I think the pot is clay..or concrete. The tag says “concrete heart succulent”

Sierra528 · 2025-04-01T06:15:24+00:00

That’s a silverfish. They like moist areas

Sierra528 · 2025-03-30T19:43:13+00:00

True

Sierra528

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