Monarch Butterfly
Rescue - 2007!
For the past few years I have had a small
area of my backyard set aside for a stand of Milkweed in hopes of Monarch
Butterflies would use it for breeding. This year
they have come to lay eggs in waves, one after the other and I hope to set free
over 100 Monarch butterflies - WISH GRANTED - the running totals show I
made over 160! Maybe the reason so many are coming
is that those raised last year are returning.
Last year's Grand Total = (not really kept
count).
2007 Grand Total = 168
Grand Total from 2006 is at least =
168
When caterpillars ATTACK &
KILL! -
Shed your skin & eat it too!
Young
Spencer dropped by to see the butterflies and then
started his own effort at raising them.
How to make a
Monarch Butterfly
garden
&
get Butterfly Bush!
Thanks to Mississauga Community Support.
VIDEO - NEW for 2007
(The
YouTube site where all these & more video are posted.)
Attacked by Monarch caterpillars!
- Monarch Butterfly eggs - 1
Monarch
caterpillar going to chrysalis -
First Monarch Butterfly for 2007
Monarch caterpillar going to chrysalis - 2
-
Red
Tail Hawk soaring and can hear its call
8 Monarch Butterflies take flight
- Time-lapse of Monarch Butterfly being born
Time-lapse 2 of Monarch Butterfly being born
-
Time-lapse of many Monarch Butterfly hatching from chrysalis 3
Monarch Butterfly hatching out of its chrysalis 2
- Monarch Butterfly Media interview
5 Monarch Butterflies take flight
-
Spencer gets his hand covered with Monarch Butterflies in front of media
Setting Monarch Butterflies free with aid of City TV & 2 youth
-
The MAIN INDEX page
for
Monarch Butterfly
Rescue in Mississauga
&
View pictures of other Years
Successes.
Their
discoveries - improvements -
surprises
- the joy, smiles of
the community and their children.
Other web-sites dealing with Monarch Butterflies.
Under Construction
June - July - August - September
June 24, 2007
June 30, 2007
July 2, 2007
Signs we like to see along the road.
July 3, 2007
No pictures.
July 4, 2007
July 5, 2007
July 6, 2007
A Monarch Butterfly laying its egg on the smallest Milkweed plant
it could find - little bigger then it is.
This is often the case, find more eggs on the very small plants then on the
larger ones.
July 7, 2007
A spot less Lady bug.
The kind of front yard butterflies love!
July 8, 2007
It started out as a group shot but then saw a big
caterpillar attacking a small one - never thought that it would end in death.
Here we see the attack that resulted in the guts of a smaller one
being ripped open, It did not happen fast as they are not built for this
kind of thing and took a lot of maneuvering by the big caterpillar to get the
small one in position to put the bite on it.
Another dead one. After this I put the big ones in their
own aquarium, so the eggs and really small ones were separate from the ones big
enough to bite and kill them.
July 9, 2007
Nice pictures of a newly formed chrysalis.
The finial part of the act of shedding of skin.
July 10, 2007
The same chrysalis as above, now hardened and its jewels can be
seen.
This fellow appears to have been bitten at some point.
July 11, 2007
Nice group shot.
July 12, 2007
Whole gang again.
Screen start to fill up as they hang out.
Anyone know what kind of bug this is?
July 13, 2007
Shedding the old skin and you can see its face on its old head
capsule.
Eggs in bowl to make sure they are not eaten by the big guys.
July 14, 2007
WOW - can they ever eat those Milkweed leaves.
Lets try that again!
July 15, 2007
Again they eat a pile of leaves.
And back home - till they eat their way out again.
Close-up of above.
Just born and ready to eat its egg.
Attacked by Monarch caterpillars!
Monarch Butterfly eggs - 1
July 16, 2007
Not a good picture at all.
July 17, 2007
Hay dude, you are eating a steam and missing a perfectly good
leaf.
July 18, 2007
The numbers of caterpillars is dropping.
Only one big one left.
Most have gone to hang around.
Another is going to chrysalis by shedding its caterpillar skin.
Monarch caterpillar going to chrysalis
July 19, 2007
Just waiting for the right time to fly.
First Monarch Butterfly for 2007
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 1
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 1
July 20, 2007
Monarch
caterpillar going to chrysalis - 2
July 21, 2007
On the small Milkweeds there can be found more eggs.
Monarch's really like to lay on the smallest of milkweed plants.
Red
Tail Hawk soaring and can hear its call
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 2
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 3
July 22, 2007
One more today.
Even laying eggs on the top of leaves.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 1
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 4
July 23, 2007
This is more like it for a Monarch Butterfly release.
Wings to the ready.
Shots taken just after being born.
8 Monarch Butterflies take flight
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 9
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 13
July 24, 2007
This poor little guy had a wing that was not quite right so could
not fly.
Move him to a flower and hoped time would fix it but came back and saw he fell
off - so on to another flower.
By the way anyone know the name of the white flower in the third picture?
One of the other winged visitors.
Death of a Monarch
Butterfly.
The poor guy with the bad wing got attacked by a wasp, knocked to the ground and
head ripped off!
Very sad - did all I could as it was on my hand pawing it for help.
After years of dealing with Hazel McCallion know just how it feels.
Time-lapse of Monarch Butterfly being born
Time-lapse 2 of Monarch Butterfly being born
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 10
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 23
July 25, 2007
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 4
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 27
July 26, 2007
The day they just kept coming - media invited but butterflies
were not waiting around.
Time-lapse of many Monarch Butterfly hatching from chrysalis 3
Close up & personal - Monarch Butterfly being born.
Monarch Butterfly hatching out of its chrysalis 2
Yes, there still are caterpillars.
Another Monarch Butterfly being born from a different angle.
Mississauga News reporter and local kid - doing video at same
time.
Hay, don't shy, they wouldn't bite, as they already eat 2 people earlier today
so they are full.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 18
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 45
July 27, 2007
Five more facing the sun & ready to fly.
Monarch Butterfly Media interview
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 5
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 50
July 28, 2007
More butterflies.
5 Monarch Butterflies take flight
Caterpillars are a coming.
Lots & lots of eggs are to found - can see them all.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 5
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 55
All hail the flying Monarch
Mississauga News article
July 29, 2007
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 5
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 60
July 30, 2007
No pictures.
July 31, 2007
They grow so fast.
Rogers Cable 10 comes out to see what is going on.
The mystery caterpillar - anyone know what it is?
The heavy eaters.
The free one and the empty Chrysalis.
Here are the empty Chrysalis removed.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 1
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 61
Aug. 2, 2007
The wounded one - fluid is leaking from it & end is flatted
out.
How happened no idea.
The hungry ones eat leaves to their main stems.
An egg & ant. The very young and veins of the leaf -
its first meal.
Nice Monarch Butterfly poses for pictures.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 1
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 62
Aug. 3, 2007
No pictures.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY =
1
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE =
63
Aug. 4, 2007
Some visitor dropped by after reading about my efforts in the
Mississauga News.
You can see the wing ribs from the other side of the wing, as they show through
and not line up with the ones on the side facing me.
The new born caterpillars' bodies not only lack colour but even look a bit
transparent.
A special picture - note the black at the top of the egg, that is
the head of the caterpillar and it is just about ready to hatch.
Every now & then find a dead one and this one even left a mark on
the leaf that was on top of it.
Found it the day before on the side of the terrarium with one end flattened out
or deflated and a drip of fluid coming out the other end.
Carefully got it on a leaf and hoped for the best.
This poor guy was flying around in an odd way and I was taking
pictures of him as he let me get close.
Later see in the pictures that one of his wings is torn.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 3
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 66
Aug. 5, 2007
Only a couple taking wing today.
This is my set-up outside for the Monarch's to try their
flight wings when ever they feel it is time.
Over to Christine Hucker's and her is her famous pond with her blind turtle
Here is an interesting spider she caught going towards an monarch egg.
Wonder what kind it is & if it would eat the egg.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 3
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 69
Aug. 6, 2007
A family dropped by to ask a few questions about Monarch
Butterflies after reading about it in the Mississauga News.
Just as they stood before the Milkweed patch a Monarch butterfly landed before
them - can you see it?
One more butterfly gets set to take to wing.
Still many more lining up for their wings.
Don't see this every day.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 1
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 70
Aug. 7, 2007
More about skin eaters below.
Just one to take flight today.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 1
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 71
Aug. 8, 2007
Here we see a sight often seen but not fully. Often see
caterpillars clime on to the side of the aquarium to shed their skin by the skin
goes missing, thought it just fell down. But if you spend the time to
watch, the caterpillar will turn around, in time, and eat it.
The others.
Aug. 9, 2007
Hard to catch event, just after being born from its egg and
turning around to eat it.
Because even the small caterpillars appeared to be eating the
leaves and the eggs on them, put the eggs in their own little bowl.
Aug. 10, 2007
Those being moved into big boys group.
The screen for those hanging around going to wing.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 1
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 72
Butterflies take the media by storm!
Toronto Sun photographer kneels before the Monarchs.
City TV 57 cameraman kneels before the young Lord of the butterflies.
Sadly the media came after most of the butterflies were let go but looking
closely in the terrarium, there was one left!
Later, a closely watched royal event - a Monarch butterfly is being born.
What can be more fun then a caterpillar walking all over your body - for young &
old?
A wild one!
While looking for eggs on Milkweed found this fairly large caterpillar - not often find caterpillars in wild most are eaten long before they get this size.
The screen out for Monarch butterflies to take to wing whenever they care to.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 11
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 83
Toronto Sun article for this day.
Here are some pictures taken by the visiting family;
Yes, if this doesn't put a smile on your face,,,
Looking at a Monarch caterpillar on a glowing leaf - doesn't that bring back
found memories of warm summers past?.
When the Monarch speaks - all shall listen!
Young
Spencer dropped by to see the butterflies and then
started his own effort at raising them.
Watching the grand entrance of the Monarch Butterfly from its Chrysalis.
And few words from host.
Later that day visited the mouth of the Credit River, by the
Port Credit Library.
Where a number of Butterfly weed bushes have been planted and Monarch
Butterflies come in large numbers.
Even found an interesting bug - any one know what it is?
Well one fellow (mrdavesmagic) sent me an answer looks like the Japanese
Beetle - Thank You!
Aug. 12, 2007
It was a rainy day.
Not the best start to any story.
I had invited City 57, again, out to record the release of 10 Monarch Butterflies
and other people as well but then it started to rain (just as they arrived), so
had to put off a day. People who came could not come following day but
others did, in time, show up. All the best plans ... It is a pain
trying to clean and add new leaves to a terrarium with butterflies in it, slow
going & care works wonders.
The gang on the top screen, butterflies and caterpillars doing their change
to chrysalis thing.
Later added some Butterfly weed for the butterflies to feed off.
The smallest caterpillars.
Next size caterpillars.
The small caterpillars who will soon be going to Chrysalis or Pupa.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 10
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 93
Aug. 13, 2007
James Tumelty was the City 57 News camera man who came and got the best shots going.
Timing was a problem again in one way but it appears like the butterflies had it set up so he would get the best shots going - video of two Chrysalis or Pupa breaking open and Monarch Butterflies dropping out as a caterpillar in the background sheds its skin to turn into a Chrysalis. How is that for lucky? Then after letting go 10 Monarchs a group of young children shows up and the two that wanted to set a butterfly to its wings, each got one of the last two butterflies!
On the right is the set-up on the left is how I set the screen up so the Butterflies can be born, usually in the morning, pump-up their wings and take off when ever they care to. Next picture shows the middle one couple minutes after being born.
Setting Monarch Butterflies free with aid of City TV & 2 youth
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY =
5
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE =
98
Jack Willnot of the South Peel Naturalist's dropped by with
Mississauga News article in hand to see first hand how it was done.
He shared a story about how his wife in her final days had been given a Monarch
Butterfly Chrysalis and it opened to ravel a beautiful butterfly to her.
He was interested in what kind of Milkweed I was growing or ordinary Milkweed
and not Butterfly Milkweed, which is most common and easy for most people to
recognize and grow, as well as works just fine. In fact I showed him how
Monarch Butterflies are laying their eggs on the smallest Milkweed plants, only
few inches tall and often more than one egg per plant. Why would they lay
eggs on the very small plants that are often apart from the main group?
Been told that the smaller plants have less of the toxins that affect the heart
and the reason why the Monarch Butterfly eats Milkweed because they take the
toxins in and store them in their body so when they become butterflies they will
be very bitter or worse. It seems odd that some thing that wants to become
foul tasting or poisonous would also chose the least poisonous plants for its
young but it has in most cases in my backyard. And apart from the other
plant, maybe because the greatest number of insect predator are to be found on
the groups of Milkweed plants.
Even when I look for eggs on larger plants that are apart from groups there are
often more eggs found.
Here are a couple pictures he shared with me that show how the wing patterns of
a butterfly or moth can be totally different from one side to the other -
presenting the - Eastern Comma.
Aug. 14, 2007
Small guys.
Eggs.
Large ones.
Those above it all and soon to fly.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 1
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 99
Aug. 15, 2007
Eye-balling each other during a release.
Not so good shot.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 1
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 100
Aug. 16, 2007
A revisit with Mom - he had been by on Aug. 13th. for the
release that day.
When showing them where to look for eggs came across a few
more - can you spot them?
Well finally got around to planting a butterfly garden with
its flowers just for butterflies and humming birds.
This one has Butterfly Bush - Yarrow, 2 kinds - Gayflower - should be great next
year.
There are some planted in front yard too.
The little guys.
Medium sized guys.
The big guys.
Those in wait of wings - couple fell or otherwise needed help.
Aug. 17, 2007
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY =
4
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE =
104
Aug. 18, 2007
The littlest guys.
Have to be careful all the time when working around these guys as they get everywhere.
Even a small one like this found his way on to the screen covering the small terrarium.
Lots to move to next terrarium.
Couple of helping hands to hold up Chrysalis.
Big ones.
Those who would be butterflies.
Butterfly's first flower.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 2
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 106
Crippled Wings TODAY = 1 TOTAL = 1
Aug. 19, 2007
This poor butterfly was born late in the day before and for some reason its wings did not get pumped up with the fluids from its abdomen. As they had dried, it will never fly so gave it to Christiana Hucker to look after.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 0
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 107
Crippled Wings TODAY = 1 TOTAL = 2
Aug. 20, 2007
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 3
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 109
Crippled Wings TODAY = 0 TOTAL = 2
Aug. 21, 2007
Some came out of their chrysalis late in the day before and it too windy and wet to let them go so kept for the next day but it little better. So late in the day hand delivered them to some sheltered from the wind Butterfly bush - best I could do.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 4
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 113
Crippled Wings TODAY = 0 TOTAL = 2
Aug. 22, 2007
All in a days work.
The big ones & a fly.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 1
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 114
Crippled Wings TODAY = 0 TOTAL = 2
Aug. 23, 2007
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY =
3
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE =
117
Crippled Wings TODAY = 0 TOTAL = 2
Aug. 24, 2007
Auto camera not so good picture but it was of another caterpillar leaking fluids while hanging on side of terrarium.
The later in the day it formed a chrysalis much to my surprise.
One that had badly formed wings, so gave it a flower to feed off of and hoped for the best.
The colours of a chrysalis just starting to change.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 1
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 118
Crippled Wings TODAY = 1 TOTAL = 3
Aug. 25, 2007
mmmmm, breakfast.
Surpised to be still finding eggs and small caterpillars.
These poor guys are off to Christiana Hucker's to
be look after.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY =
4
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE =
122
Crippled Wings TODAY =
2
TOTAL = 5
Aug. 26, 2007
So are so far gone that there is no hope what so ever of there being any chance.
Just put it on a flower and walk away.
At Christiana Hucker's a Monarch is found on one of her flowers.
She called me up to say that at least one of the butterflies I took over there got its wings in flying order and took off.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 1
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 122
Crippled Wings TODAY = 1 TOTAL = 6
Aug. 27, 2007
Good news & bad news.
Still eggs, black top ready to hatch & small caterpillars.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 4
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 127
Crippled Wings TODAY = 2 TOTAL = 8
Aug. 28, 2007
The morning butterfly.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 3
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 109
Crippled Wings TODAY = 0 TOTAL = 2
Aug. 29, 2007
The little ones.
When a caterpillar gets a hold of a good leaf, they just do not want to give it up!
First caterpillar going to chrysalis in the small terrarium.
The group of the day and one with bent wings.
Couple needing a helping hand. One on the right was the one that went to chrysalis on the side of the terrarium.
The one with the bent wing clearly has abdomen problems.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 6
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 135
Crippled Wings TODAY = 1 TOTAL = 9
Aug. 30, 2007
Aug. 31, 2007
The action is on the screens.
Two more to wing it.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY =
2
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE =
137
Crippled Wings TODAY =
0
TOTAL = 9
Four more to fly - nice group shot.
But beware the bad boy wasps are hanging out on Milkweed
corner!
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY =
5
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE =
142
Crippled Wings TODAY =
0
TOTAL = 9
Sept. 2, 2007
Ken Cole - the local N.D.P. candidate - drops by to see the Monarch's but no
butterflies when he comes.
Couple caterpillars.
This is the chrysalis that formed on the side of the terrarium - does not look
good - in fact it never hatches.
Oh, some lady bugs getting it on.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY =
2
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE =
144
Crippled Wings TODAY =
1
TOTAL = 10
Sept. 3, 2007
You set out the newly born Monarch butterflies on a newly flowering Butterfly
bush and along comes a wasp to ruin the moment.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY =
3
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE =
147
Crippled Wings TODAY =
0
TOTAL =
10
Sept. 4, 2007
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY =
3
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE =
150
Crippled Wings TODAY =
0
TOTAL =
10
Sept. 5, 2007
3 more to fly.
Monarch Butterfly with a costume malfunction! If you look close you can
see part of its chrysalis stuck to its tail, belly or abdomen.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY =
3
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE =
153
Crippled Wings TODAY =
2
TOTAL =
12
Sept. 6, 2007
More butterflies and more weaken ones.
One so bad could not put on Milkweed as it kept falling off.
Tried to protect it by putting it into a sheltered area but wasp found it even
there.
Even after moving it, the wasp kept looking.
In the end all could do was put it on a flower for its end.
After this dark scene has occurred, a Monarch butterfly comes by to show me its
colours and keep my sprits up.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY = 3
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE = 156
Crippled Wings TODAY = 2 TOTAL = 14
Sept.7, 2007
Sept. 8, 2007
Sept. 9, 2007
Sept. 10, 2007
Sept. 11, 2007
Sept. 12, 2007
Young
Spencer dropped by to see the butterflies and
then started his own effort at raising them.
Before clean screen.
after.
Last few caterpillars of 2007.
Last chance to play.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY =
1
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE =
157
Crippled Wings TODAY =
0
TOTAL = 14
A little help from the audience.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY =
3
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE =
160
Crippled Wings TODAY =
0
TOTAL =
14
How a good plan goes wrong - the monarch butterfly's chrysalis should just break
open and it pop out.
However, if it is weak and leaked fluids not only does it stick but parts of the
chrysalis stick to its body.
Another of the crumpled winged ones that did not fair so well.
This chrysalis has been transparent for more than a day so there must be a
problem and decide to slowly cut it open & hope for the best. Well there
were signs of life in the fluids came out in a normal fashion but little other
signs of life.
Note how the antenna fit into the shell of the chrysalis.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE =
109
Crippled Wings TODAY =
2
TOTAL = 16
A helping hand to the Milkweed.
Hang in there!
Not many chrysalis to go.
The poor fellow was given as good a place on a milkweed as could
but it could not hang on.
Still found a place to hang on to and not end up on the ground - no place for a
butterfly.
In the end, a wasp got him.
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies HATCHED TODAY =
5
TOTAL Monarch Butterflies to DATE =
168
Crippled Wings TODAY =
1
TOTAL = 17
Spencer was given 3 small caterpillars to raise and 1 made it - not bad for a
first effort.
He was using a plastic
terrarium and both chrysalis that were attached to its side fell off and were
taped back on.
Of those two 1 made it to butterfly, below. The other caterpillar appeared
to have eaten a bad leaf as it never made it to chrysalis.
Ready and willing to fly.
He (and it was a male - can tell by the 2 spots on its
wings) flew only a few feet, kind of struggled to get to the bush
at the back of the house. He stayed there for awhile rested up and then
took off into the sky ... really strong.
See you next year - bring some friends!
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