Wednesday August 15, 2007

 

 

Monarch Activity Today

 

The milkweed – from the top of the aquarium

 

 A side view.  Since this aquarium did not have a screened top, I am using a window screen.

 

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Michael

 

Michael was busy this morning before I went to work in the office, then was very still when I checked on him at 10 AM and noon.  I was glad I knew that they will be very still before shedding their skin – which they do several times during the caterpillar stage.

 

In the early afternoon he shed his skin, ate it, then began munching again.

 

He is getting big and beautiful!

 

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The Twins:  Max & Molly

 

By the size of the hole in the leaf, it appeared that Max had been eating all night.

 

Consequently he seemed much larger than Molly this morning.

 

I was kind of worried about her, as she just sat there – not eating – not moving.

 

When I checked on them at 10 AM – I was glad to see her eating the skin she had just shed.

 

Notice how much bigger Max is than Molly – and yesterday they were the same size.

 

Finally, when I checked on them after work – she was munching on a leaf.

 

While Molly explored her leaf this evening, Max decided to head to the penthouse.

 

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Baby Munch

 

Look at him this morning!  He’s starting to look like a caterpillar.

 

And tonight he is even bigger.  Notice all the black poo on the leaf.  Michael and Munch share the same leaf, making a lot of dirt.

 

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The Eggs

 

As far as I can tell, all six eggs are still intact.

 

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Guess what I saw at suppertime!

 

A Monarch Butterfly

 

I have only seen one or two this summer, and they were so flighty I couldn’t get a picture.  This one just stayed and allowed me shoot as many pictures as I wanted. 

 

Maybe I smell like a Monarch – or maybe I’m taking care of her babies!

 If I understand my research correctly, this one is a female because there are no dots on the interior of her bottom wings.