Saturday, January 21, 2023 To control the dangerous spread of Ophryocystis elektroscirrha
(OE), a parasite that infects monarch butterflies, I have cut my tropical milkweed plants down to 4 inch stems without leaves. (see photo below)
Monday, Dec.25 Theta (also past her due date) emerges today in Paul's butterfly garden. The expected 10-14 day chrysalid period has been lengthened by the cooler December temperatures.
Photo A (Photos A, B, C & D by Paul Ho)
12:49pm Monday, December 12, 2022 Theta (lover left) & Zeta enjoying a moment of liquid sunshine. Photo B
8:15am, Saturday, Dec.3 Kappa has formed a chrysalis this morning as we near the end of Monarch butterfly Season 2.
Friday, Dec.2 Iota has climbed to the top of the Japanese Lanern-style chrysalid frame but died while still a caterpillar, leaving only Kappa. The mortality rate is higher now than mid summer. 8:05 am .
Photo C
Breaking News. Paul is patiently awaiting Zeta's emergence because she is past her due date: She formed her chrysalis November 5. It normally takes 10-14 days but the temperatures have dropped, for example: the low for tonight will be 50° F. These low temperatures prolong the chrysalid period. She's now at 30 days, about 15 days over due.
Photo D
7:16 am Tuesday, November 29, 2022 How much do monarch caterpillars eat? To answer that question, I have gone outside to forage for their food. In the "Before" photo below are two milkweed sprigs just placed in their vivarium. The "After" photo was taken 9:07 am Wed. November 30
24 hours later.
Sunday, November 27. I have rescued two young caterpillars (Iota, and Kappa) and have brought them inside, out of reach of tachinid flies.
Thursday, November 24, I deliver Eta (in chrysalis) to Jason in Temecula (92592). She is due to emerge between December 3 and December 8, 2022. If she survives, we'll expand the release map to include her new location. Jason has plenty of milkweed to keep her fed.
Monday, November 23, Eta forms its chrysalis.
Theta, and Iota are in the caterpillar stage.
Friday, November 11, Zeta, the chrysalis below, has arrived in Laguna Niguel with Paul where she'll be released in the next few days to add new DNA to the monarch butterfly population of Orange County Zone 3, click on the blue link below to see all release zones. Zeta is expected to emerge as an adult butterfly between November 14th and November 18th. Paul will keep us posted.
Click HERE for the Orange County Monarch Butterfly Release Map Zone 1: T0by Zone 2: Virginia and Tom, Zone 3: Paul Zone 4: Jason
Zeta in residence in Laguna Niguel
Photo credit: Paul Ho
Saturday, November 5, In the photo below, Zeta pushed her cremaster into the silk button attachment on the chop stick. (For greater detail see the electron micrographs further below). She will be picked up by Paul Friday November 11th, travel to Laguna Niguel, and is expected to emerge into her adult butterfly stage between November 14th and November 18th. Click HERE for her whole circle of life. <- This is an excellent source for an understanding of the stages navigated to become an adult Monarch Butterfly
A. Scanning
electronmicrographs (left and below) of monarch Cremaster located at
the tip of the caterpillar's abdomen. Once the silk pad has been
stitched to attachment surface, the caterpillar presses the cremaster
into the pad. Photo credit: Dr. Brower ... ... ... B. Scanning
electronmicrographs below) of monarch Cremaster located at
the tip of the caterpillar's abdomen. Once the silk pad has been
stitched to attachment surface, the caterpillar presses the cremaster
into the pad. Photo credit: Dr. Brower 
Friday, November 4, Observation at 6:45 am. Zeta shed her last instar skin to become a chrysalis. The change occurred sometime between 8 pm last night and 6:45 am this morning.
Closeup of cremaster during the formation of the chrysalis.
Video Credit: FrontYardVideo
Closeup of silk button into which Zeta has plunged her cremaster (See the electron micrographs below).
Scanning electronmicrographs (left and below) of monarch Cremaster located at the tip of the caterpillar's abdomen. Once the silk pad has been stitched to attachment surface, the caterpillar presses the cremaster into the pad. Photo credit: Dr. BrowerWednesday, November 2, 2022 First good rain of the season. But what do butterflies do when it rains? (See video) Click HERE for the answer.
A female monarch can lay about 400 eggs, but only two will survive to become adult butterflies. Click HERE for more details
Tuesday, November 1, 2022 Beta (the adult male butterfly) has emerged today, it is 7:15 am. He dries his wings (see video). After 6 hours, I transfer Beta to a 4 inch pot of milkweed. 5:05 pm Patricia carries the potted milkweed plant with Beta out to the off-the-south-deck patch of milkweed. Patricia's job is to release adult Monarch butterflies into the wild.
Friday, October 28, 2022 ... Paul takes Alpha home to join the two monarch caterpillars feeding on his parsley. The caterpillar Alpha made it's chrysalis on October 20, 2022. Since this stage is 10-14 days long, we expect the adult butterfly to eclose (emerge) on or after October 31st. Paul will let us know when that happens. He'll release a new monarch butterfly to join those (if any) already in his neighborhood. I also provisioned Paul with two tropical milkweed plants so this adult butterfly and those that follow will have a scent trail to follow back h0me.
Zeta and Eta are the two remaining caterpillars in the vivarium.
Thursday, October 27 Delta is now a chrysalid bringing the total to four in various stages preparing to eclose. Episilon, the latest chrysalid succumbed this evening to a tachinid larva infestation.
Wednesday, October 26 Gamma now a chrysalid on the Japanese lantern and today a fourth caterpillar (Delta) has located there as well.
Monday, October 24 two caterpillars have succumbed to tachinid fly larvae.
Sunday, October 23, 2022 When monarch chrysalids are found in dangerous places* they can be relocated using any number of procedures. See Examples 1 and 2 below.
*A "dangerous place" in this case means that when the adult butterfly emerges, it hangs upside down, unfurls its wet wings, inflates them with body fluid so they can dry fully extended. When there isn't enough vertical space, their wet wings flop on the surface where they dry malformed leaving the monarch adult butterfly incapable of flight. This makes relocation worth the risk if done carefully. See below.
Video and Photo credit Emery 1978 https://youtu.be/xyvC3VHOIy4
I carefully relocate the Chrysalid named Beta to the Japanese lantern where it has enough room to unfurl. (See photo below.) I observe two drops of body fluid as a result of an accidental fall, (the risk previously mentioned). I will monitor its progress and report if the injury causes permanent damage.
Friday, October 21. I
find a second chrysalid (Beta) in a low spot. It needs to be relocated to a place at least 3 inches higher to allow enough height for its wings to
unfurl during eclosing (emerging from the chrysalid state to complete metamorphosis.
4 monarch caterpillars remain in their netted
vivarium. Gamma succumbs to tachinid fly larvae on Oct. 23. Tachinid thread observed descending from caterpillar remains.
the University of Minnesota for research on Monarch Survival and Parasitism.
Note: the remains of the last instar skin can be seen above on the top right of Chrysalid Alpha.
Thursday, Oct. 20. Rescued
caterpillar count is now 6. One appears fully mature and has climbed to
the top of the vivarium. After an hour I nudge it onto the Japanese
lantern where it has enough room to unfurl. It finds a branch and begins a process of laying down a silk attachment pad. It is now a chrysalid Alpha, (See photo above.)
Saturday, October 15, Adult monarch (JenaDean) is here almost daily, laying eggs both on the deck milkweed and the plots to the south. I have rescued 3 monarch larva in the last two days who are now growing quickly in their habitat. I say rescued because of the predatory nature of tachinid flies whose larva feed directly on growing monarch caterpillars.
Friday, October 14, 2022. Two of the three chrysalids being cared for by Virginia and Tom eclosed while I was in Alaska. The two Monarch butterflies are now flying within range of their home.
Friday, September 23 Virginia and Tom have volunteered to care for 3 monarchs in progress, but one chrysalis requires relocation. They will release 3 butterflies from their home in San Clemente? in the next two weeks? Two survived and are new to the Monarch Butterfly population of San Clemente as of October 12.
Video and Photo credit https://youtu.be/78bhsaN7n1g
Friday, September 16 Two chrysalids eclosed (butterflies emerged) this morning. Observed one sipping milkweed nectar within a hour indoors. Left open the sliding door for their exit. The second butterfly flew straight outside about 3:15pm. Two new Monarch butterfly adults released into the flight zone in South Laguna Beach.
Thursday, September 15 Rescued a full term caterpillar, moved it to the nursery.
Sunday, September 10 Tossed bag of milkweed seed pods into composter. Found a monarch chrysalid attached inside the bag where it may have been infected with OE. (see Figure 1.1) When a monarch caterpillar gets the urge, it begins what could become a long journey. Destination: metamorphosis.
I've been bagging tropical milkweed seed pods to keep seeds from maturing and reproducing uncontrolled in the wild which would be a danger to monarch butterflies as Ophryocytis elektroscirria first grows on tropical milkweed then infects monarch larvae. (scroll down to OE)
Ophryocystis elektroscirria, a protozoan (single celled) organism infecting monarch, queen and lesser wanderer butterflies that scientists believe evolved alongside monarchs.
FIGURE 1.1 SIGNS OF OE INFECTION:
SPORES SEEN AS DARK PATCHES IN THE CHRYSALIS
Photo credit: University of Georgia, Athens
OE damage takes place during the chrysalid stage. While the infected adults do not survive to migrate, they do spread the protozoan parasite. If you see the sign of infection above, keep this butterfly isolated when it emerges, Place milkweed florets with blossoms to feed the isolated adult.
Saturday, September 9, moved chrysalis (day 3) to Japanese Lantern "tall hatchery" to have enough space to spread wings.
Assembled dual composting bin.
Thursday September 8, 2022 (Chubby Checker), a very chubby caterpillar (en vitrio) entered chrysalid stage today, looks healthy.
Saturday, September 2, adult monarch entertaining brunch guests on the deck (about 75 minutes) could be JennaDean. Monarchs observed the last 5 days.
Sunday Aug. 28 2:31 pm. Female monarch laying eggs south end of deck. 2:52 pm ... and on blossoms, sipping nectar.
Saturday Aug. 27 No monarch butterflies since Aug. 20.
Friday, Aug. 26 11: 15 am One monarch spotted in the pool area (300 meters south of condo).
Monday Aug. 22 3:35 pm 72 F. Monarch sighted for a less than 15 seconds off the southern end of the deck. Previous sightings have also been in the afternoon.
Sunday Aug. 21 Honey bees are visiting blooming milkweed every day since plants began to bloom. No monarch butterfly sightings today.
Saturday, Aug 20 Butterfly visits daily extending the 9 streak to 14 straight days. I will begin charting the time of day of these visits.
Tuesday, August 16 A single butterfly has been visiting the deck for the last 10 days. Before that there was about a 7 day period without a butterfly sighting (Aug. 4-11).
Reasons unknown, the small caterpillar of August 14 did not eat and died after two days.
Sunday, August 14, 2022 It's unknown weather this young monarch caterpillar has been infested with tachinid fly eggs, but I've rescued it and washed a milkweed cluster in case eggs have been deposited on the leaves. This action assumes that the species of tachinid fly here in South Laguna Beach does not deposit eggs directly onto caterpillars. I have observed tachinid fly larva inside a milkweed seed pod so we may have the fly species that lays eggs on the host plant (makes washing the plant important). One last caveat, the small caterpillar below (possibly 3rd instar) may have already swallowed a tachinid egg on an already eaten leaf making it important to rescue caterpillars as early as possible. More research needed here. Click HERE then scroll down to Video Clip #2 to watch tachinid fly deposit eggs on caterpillar.
Photo credit: Toby Manzanares
2:56pm Saturday, Tuesday, August 13, 2022 Some milkweed plants show aphid infestations (see Figure 1). Today, I spotted both a ladybird beetle (Figure 2) and a ladybird beetle larva (see Figure 3) on aphid infested milkweed plants. I hope to see more ladybird beetles as milkweed plants are visibly stunted by aphid colonies (as in Figure 1).
Figure 1.2: Aphid infested milkweed.
Figure 2: The ladybird beetle I spotted did not have spots.
Seven spotted ladybird beetle photo courtesy of Marlin: Red Planet Inc.
Figure 3: Ladybird beetle larva observed August 13, 2022
Photo credit: Toby Manzanares
Tuesday, August 9, 2022 2pm. JennaDean, now an adult female monarch butterfly is back laying eggs and sipping nectar from the milkweed blossoms on our deck. She eclosed (emerged from her chrysalis July 13th, 2022 and has been active in the neighborhood since.
I just found this work by Louie Schwartzberg. This documentary has excellent video of honey bees and monarch butterflies.
1:20 Honey bees2:55 Monarchs3:10 Monarch butterflies Moving Art.
3:20 Put this on your Bucket List. I'd love to be there when the monarchs start to stir.
Tuesday, August 2 Click HERE to participate in Tagging Monarchs
Monarch Watch Chip Taylor on how to net, handle, and tag monarch butterflies.
Wednesday, July 27 12:57pm Charlie just found Grougo, outside and brought him in to safety. And there's another tiny caterpillar Charlie calls Groot (Marvel). Two monarch butterfly caterpillars under glass with Jeffery the chrysalis.
Charlie has named the new chrysalid Jeffery (Lisa if female). We'll find out in about 10 days if it's male or female. As a late stage caterpillar, Jeffrey took a 3-day walk about the kitchen and showed up yesterday, climbed up on the milkweed seed pod and changed into his chrysalid stage see below.
We know he walked across the kitchen stove because he left a trail of caterpillar footprints. It could have been a harrowing journey since his footprints were found only 1/4 inch from the back stove burner.
These may be the only caterpillar footprints you'll ever see!
Friday, August 5. Jeffrey, the nomad eclosed today with anatomical deformities of unknown cause, another example of the deck of life being stacked against monarch butterflies. Every time you see a monarch on the wing, you're witness to a butterfly making way against the odds!
Wednesday, July 20 JennaDean has been visiting daily since emerging from her chrysalis. This is a first, yesterday, I saw two monarchs flying closely together (maybe preparing to mate).
Wednesday, July 13, 2022 JennaDean, Rebel Without a Cause, emerges from his chrysalis 6am. Patricia carries him outside about 4 hours later where he flies westward to the tallest trees down hill. Labeled rebel because he abandoned his glass feeding container for whereabouts unknown. Three days later we found him in his J stage attached to the antique cabinet in the living room.
Since the 1990's there has been an 80% decline
in the Central Monarch population. (Zone B below)
Since the 1980's, the Western Monarch population
has declined by 99%. (Zone A)
You are in a position to help
save Monarch Butterflies from extinction!
Read on!
Figure 1: Migration
Resource credit: Xerces.org
How to help.
1. Plant milkweed in your yard or in containers at least 12" in diameter.
Sunday, July 10, 2022 Moana emerges from her chrysalis, and flies off in 2-3 hours.
Figure 2: Moana
Photo credit: Tom or Virginia or Tess
Moana's world is about to change yet again.
Friday, July 8, 2022 A late stage Monarch chrysalis named Moana is in the care of Tess, Tom, and Virginia. They are just a few days away from releasing a soon to emerge monarch butterfly. This larva made her chrysalis on June 28th. Sometime in the next 4 days the chrysalis in their possession will change color and emerge a day or so later. (scroll down to Figure 12). TT&V also have a potted 4 inch milkweed plant in their possession. If they leave this plant outside, sooner or later, female monarch butterflies within a mile will pick up its scent and come a calling to lay a few eggs (see Figure 4).
Figure 3
Figure 4: Seven Monarch eggs. Usually there is only one.
CREDIT: journeynorth.org
Research by Jenna Vining
"Typically, monarchs live between 2 and 6 weeks. The last generation of the year (determined by the decline of nectar plants and environmental factors) do not become sexually mature right after they emerge as adults, as the summer generations do. The late summer butterflies go into what is called reproductive diapause, which means they cannot reproduce. Once spring arrives, the monarchs become mature and reproduce starting the new first generation that make their way north. These monarchs can live much longer for two reasons. They are not using energy to reproduce, and they are in a very cool location. Cool temperatures slow their metabolism, allowing them to live longer." Source: U.S. Forest Service. https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/Monarch_Butterfly/faqs.shtml
Up to five generations of monarchs live each summer, with each one moving further north. It is the last generation that migrates south.
Talking about monarch migration and natural history, expect to hear more about OE, Ophryocystis elektroscirria, a protozoan (single celled) organism infecting monarch, queen and lesser wanderer butterflies that scientists believe evolved alongside monarchs.
FIGURE 6 SIGNS OF OE INFECTION:
SPORES SEEN AS DARK PATCHES IN THE CHRYSALIS
Photo credit: University of Georgia, Athens
OE damage takes place during the chrysalid stage. While the infected adults do not survive to migrate, they do spread the protozoan parasite. If you see the sign of infection above, keep this butterfly isolated when it emerges, Place milkweed florets with blossoms to feed the isolated adult.
FIGURE 7: LIFE CYCLE OF Ophryocystis, elektroscirrha.
Resource credit: Project Monarch Health at https://www.monarchparasites.org/oe
Sunday, July 17, 2022 The good news is that none of our 9 Laguna Beach chrysalids showed signs of OE infection.
FIGURE 8
Photo credit: Chip Taylor
Monarch butterflies live in an ecological community that includes a multitude of flora and fauna. Of this collection of living things, 12 are diseases, parasites, and caterpillar killers.
This explains why 90% of monarch caterpillars do not survive to reproduce.
Figure 9: Deadly Tachinid Parasitoid Flies
Figure 10: HOW TO MAKE A CHRYSALIS
Credit: Jefferson Lab
Figure 11: The video
Figure: 12 Lower left chrysalis ready for metamorphosis.
(Moana, right)
Friday, July 8 Moana Day 11 (see top right Figure 12)
Kafka day unknown,
James Dean (on the antique cabinet) Day 5
Thursday, July 7 Moana Chrysalid Day 10
Wednesday, July 6 Moana Chrysalid Day 9
Tuesday, July 5 Moana Chrysalid Day 8
Monday, July 4 Hayao ecloses 6am (very healthy looking butterfly: and launches off the deck for his first flight (toward the Pacific Ocean) and disappears into the greenbelt trees 4o meters downhill.
To be named: Chrysalid Day 7
Sunday, July 3 By 6:30 am, Nemo has descended to the base of his cylinder but his wings were misshapen. Carried him out to the deck placing him on a floral milkweed cluster to drink nectar.
By 7:30 am Nemo has been sipping milkweed blossom nectar and is now fueled up enough for his first flight out into the wild. Bon voyage Nemo!
Saturday, July 2 Steve discovers that Nemo has eclosed 12:30-ish, and had fallen.
Friday, July 1
Thursday, June 30
Wednesday June 29
Tuesday June 28 Moana the caterpillar transforms into a Chrysalis. Chrysalid Day 1
Monday June 27 Moana, the caterpillar has eaten her way through 3 milkweed seed pods and has attached herself to a bamboo chopstick at the top of her glass case.
Sunday June 26 Mona Lisa 12:45 pm on day 13 emerges from her chrysalis, this is called eclosing.
Figure 13 Mona Lisa dries her wings.
Number 2. Michaelangelo Chrysalis Day 5Number 3 Hayao Chrysalis Day 4.
Saturday June 25
Friday June 24
Thursday June 23 Hayao Miyazaki, Chrysalis Number 3 completed today. Patricia and I observed heavy abdominal larval contractions followed by a rapid splitting of the last instar skin. See video below. Hayo's wiggling activity stopped after discarding his old skin.
Mona Chrysalid day 10. Michaelangelo day 2. Hayao Day 1.
Wednesday June 22
Number 1: Mona day 9. Meanwhile, overnight, Floral cluster B completely consumed down to the stump. This was Number 3: Hayo's last meal.
Number 2: Michaelangelo Chrysalis Day 1.
Number 3: Hayo Miyazaki appears to have stopped eating and will metamorphose to the chrysalid stage tomorrow (see photo below on right). He has anchored his location on a bamboo beam crossing the top of the in vertrio container, upside down and ready to chrysalize.
Figure 14
Tuesday June 21, Mona chrysalis day 8. Monarch butterflies emerge between 10 and 14 days (later this week Thursday to Sunday). Placed 2 milkweed floret clusters in glass container. Floret cluster B was larger than Floret A
Monday June 20, Mona chrysalis day 7
Sunday, June 19, Mona's chrysalis day 6.
Saturday, June 18, chrysalis day 5, Transferred Mona Lisa to Japanese flower stand using glue attachment to her new suspended location. (see photo). Also moved second and younger larva to in vitro container. Let's call him Michaelangelo, who also has eaten his way half way through a milkweed seed pod. Speculation, if milkweed seed pods are available, larva may prefer them to eating only leaves. Are there other nutrients available in seed pods? Some of the silk attached to embryonic seeds is also eaten away. Will this be the source of raw material the larva will use to spin the anchor pad for it's chrysalis?
Figure 15
A monarch caterpillar will increase in size 3000 times in the two weeks from the day it hatches until it is ready to pupate and become a chrysalis. Monarchs are insects and like all insects they have to shed their exoskeleton and grow a new larger one several times as they get bigger. A monarch caterpillar sheds its exoskeleton 5 times. It goes through five instars. An instar is a stage between molts. When the caterpillar emerges from it egg it is a first instar caterpillar. When it sheds its exoskeleton the first time, it becomes a second instar caterpillar.
When the caterpillar is a full grown fifth instar caterpillar it is ready to molt the fifth time to become a pupa, or chrysalis. The caterpillar will begin to wander until it finds an appropriate place to create its chrysalis. It will lay down a silk mat, like it has every time that it has molted before. But this time it will spend time creating a small wad of silk–a silk button—in the middle of its mat. When it is ready it will grasp the silk button with it last prolegs and hang upside down. This is called hanging in “j.”All summer long monarchs will eclose from their chrysalides, mate and lay eggs. A female may lay anywhere from 400 to 1200 eggs over her 4 week life time. But at the end of the summer, a generation of monarchs comes out of chrysalis ready to live 8 months and take on a great migration to the monarch reserves in Mexico or, if they live in California and in the west, to roosts along the coast. These butterflies will emerge in reproductive diapause (they will be sexually immature) and they will be ready to follow cues to a place where the temperatures and moisture are just right to allow them to wait out the winter months before they return to their summer breeding grounds in the spring.Resource: https://monarchchaser.wordpress.com/about-monarchs/
Friday, June 17, Mona Chrysalis day 4.
Thursday, June 16, & 17 in vitro chrysalis day 2 & 3 for Mona.
Wednesday, June 16 Mona has at 8 am attached herself to the top netting and completely covered herself with silk. She is now wiggling vigorously. Her shed skin drops and she stops moving. 9 am pupa shape is forming. This is chrysalis day 1.
Tuesday, June 14, & 15 Mona is now back to eating leaves.
Monday, June 13, Larva Mona Lisa has almost reached her maximum size and have transferred her en vitro (in glass). She has eaten her way half way through a seed pod (this is a first).
Monday, June 7, 2022 Relocated one larva to mature Milkweed plant in deck long planter B (north planter), let's call her Mona. 1:04 pm Monarch butterfly #10 (this season) laid an egg on the same plant. This is the largest adult specimen I’ve ever seen and is still fluttering about our milkweed forest.
Sunday, June 6, 2022 Spotted two Monarch larvae on mature Tropical Milkweed plants left over from 2021 season at the south edge of the deck. Both are estimated to be in their second larval week. One vanished overnight.
Figure 16
Figure 11: The video
Click HERE for 12 experts. "According to this, there is no real debate over whether this plant should be planted - that is, among monarch butterfly scientists. 100% of monarch scientists said they would not recommend planting it.
-- Andy Davis
Native Milkweed near me:
Neel's Nursery Escondido.
FIGURE 17
No comments:
Post a Comment