Monday, October 16, 2017

A final kittenpillar update



I went out and checked on the chrysalis in my peonies on Wednesday night and it looked like this.


It was going to be very cold Wednesday night so I feared that Toby wouldn't make it, so I didn't report on the fact that you could see the wings.Thursday night Toby looked like this


More cold nights were forecast, so I still worried but come Saturday..


I went and checked on Toby several times and I missed his/her departure (apparently you can tell the gender from the wings so if anyone knows monarchs you'll know if Toby is male or female) I've never looked closely at the chrysalis once it has hatched and it was so interesting to look at.

Unfortunately, Pickle did not make it. Pickle emerged with wings that would not straighten out. I feel more than a little guilty that I took him in and he never knew life outside but I'm trying to not let that get to me. I was trying to help and there was a very good chance that he wouldn't have even been able to form a chrysalis (aka he would have been eaten) if I had left him outside.

I enjoyed this quite a bit and will see what I can do about planting milkweed at my new house next spring.

10 comments:

  1. Wow, how awesome that you got to see the butterfly! That is sad about Pickle.

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  2. So glad Toby survived but so sad about Pickle. Nature is fascinating.

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  3. You did all you could, and we.thank you for take ng us along on your Monarch adventures!

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  4. how cool - though sorry about Pickle

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  5. I'm so sorry about Pickle.
    Toby is beautiful! I wish him/her a good life xo

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  6. Toby is gorgeous ! We're sorry about Pickle. Purrs

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  7. How cool that Toby emerged and is now on his way to Mexico. So sad about Pickle, though.

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  8. Very sad about Pickle. But Toby, you made it ! Fly free and proud, lil guy.

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  9. Tales of the Foster Monarchs ! Great pictures !

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  10. Wow! This is so beautiful to see! So sorry to hear about Pickle :( <3

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