Using a macro lens on an iPhone and a whole lot of patience I captured a detailed video of a Monarch caterpillar as it emerged from it's egg. And it's AMAZING.
That's right. A Monarch Project Update. I've decided to make this whole saving the Monarchs project official with its own dedicated space on The Art of Doing Stuff and catchy title.
For those of you who took it upon yourselves to raise a Monarch butterfly, I've come up with The Monarch Project. A little endeavour to raise awareness about how the Monarch is in decline and how easy it is to raise one to help ensure the species lives on.
If you wanna raise a Monarch (cause they're way easier to raise than kids) you can see all my tutorials on it here.
Yeah, I know. Sounds very humanitarian, save the world kind of stuff. The sort of thing Angelina Jolie or George Clooney are likely to be interested in.
That's enough about that.
I wanted to update you on my own Monarchs. At this very moment I have a tiny 2 day old caterpillar, a 4 week old caterpillar and a chrysalis. I brought an egg in for my sister who wanted to give them to a friend to raise. However that friend was busy the weekend the eggs were to hatch, so we left them here and I hatched them. Well, technically I didn't hatch them, I mean I didn't have to squat over them or anything. All I really had to do to ensure they hatched was not throw them on the floor and stomp on them.
I took a peek at the egg a couple of days ago and I could see by the way it was dark at the tip that it was seconds away from hatching. So I grabbed my iphone, the egg and the milkweed it was on and ran outside.
I managed to get a video of the entire thing. The caterpillar nibbling its way out of the egg and emerging for the first time into the world.
Here it is. Even if you don't want to raise a butterfly, this is a great video to watch. I felt very Wild Kingdom doing it.
Monarch Caterpillar Emerging from Egg
Join the Monarch Project. Learn the whys and hows of raising a Monarch butterfly.
Wanna know how I got such a close up video on my old iPhone? I happen to have a few jewellers loupes for some reason. It's from back in the day when I was a jewellery thief. I ran back inside and got one and just put it in front of my iPhone lens when I was shooting the video.
It worked great. I have a little macro lens that slips onto my iPhone but it wasn't letting me get close enough to the caterpillar. That's when the idea of the loupe came to me. All of this transpired in about 1.2 seconds by the way because I knew I didn't have much time or I'd miss the whole event. And by now we all know that an event not captured on video is only imaginary.
Which is why I proposed all cameras be banned from George Clooney's wedding.
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Tracey
Cool video!
I watched the series on raising your own monarch, maybe I should go watch them again...but I just don't recall you saying when eggs should appear on the underside of milkweed. Ive been checking periodically but nothing yet. I live in Eastern Ontario. Do the monarchs lay all summer? I saw a monarch yesterday. But it was probably only the 2nd one I've seen this year.
That silly Cuddles and her heirloom tomatoes...she's no dummy!
And we haven't talked about her poop lately. Is it better?
Karen
Hi Tracey - It's still egg season. ~ karen!
Su
that's cool.. I have planted milkweed to help the cause .., but have not seen any monarch's this yr :(
Beth W
How long of a "season" do they have? I went away to Europe after your first posts and figured I'd be too late when we got back so I didn't go out to check our milkweed. Might there still be eggs on there? Or would I be able to find caterpillars to bring inside to raise still? I'm in London ON.
Karen
There will still be eggs Beth W. Start lookin'. ~ karen!
Leisa
Just moved to Niagara this summer but I haven't found any milkweed on our property...I did find two dead monarchs in the garden. Any idea where I can dig up some milkweed so I can try this next year?
Karen
Roadside, abandoned parking lots, railway tracks ... those sort of places. ~ karen!
AmyKate
Love this. Promise to post on my page where all of five people will see it! Lol. Thanks Ellen...I mean Karen. Missing butterflies..
Jody
Timing is everything! You're just like Marlin Perkins but with an iphone. And a loupe. Good job.
Tigersmom
"I'm Ellen Degeneres."
Just more proof that watching your videos WITH the sound on is worth the risk of possible cardiac arrest from having the crap scared out of you.
I appreciate you championing this cause. Monarchs are quite amazing once you get to know about them. The migration they do is quite epic.
Go Cuddles!
Sherry
Glad to hear Cuddles is holding her own. Why should she eat pellets when she has all the other wonderful goodies??? She may be saying "Pellets.... Ick. All this special food....... YUM."
Would love to be part of the Monarch project but it's just not possible in central Alaska. No milkweed. No Monarchs......
Love your blog!
Cathy Reeves
What an amazing thing to watch after my s#*tty shift. Thanks for this-- you are amazing and at least as tenacious as the little caterpillar. How can I help the cause and raise one? I have seen a half a dozen this year despite the fact my garden is nothing but weeds this year.
Mindy
So awesome.
Pam'a
Seemingly not content with merely improving her own little corner, Karen has now decided to tackle saving the entire world. (I'm fairly sure she'll succeed.)
*This* is definitely Stuff worth Doing! :)
Lisa
I raised one set of Monarchs a few years ago. I cannot remember if it was that series of posts or your backyard that brought me here. BUT I have expanded my planting of butterfly weed every year since then and nothing.
On the other hand, i have raised multiple generations of black swallowtails on my dill plants.
This fall, I will expand my monarch butterfly weed planting AGAIN. because I really do care.
kimber
I LOVE this! What is the best month to find monarch eggs?
Karen
It depends on where you are Kimber. But in Southern Ontario it's usually July and August. :) ~ karen!
Kat
I did not realize that monarchs were that close to extinction. Thank you, Karen. As usual you totally rock!
Denise
sorry/not sorry LOL when you post on twitter # her!..and i feel like a proud auntie watching it emerge haha
Glad Cuddles continues to mend. We are all emotionally invested in your life and pets/animals in a weird non stalker-ish kind of way
Auntiepatch
No video - how's cuddles doing?
Karen
ARggg! Sorry video's up now. ~ karen! Cuddles is cuddling. Still not eating as well as I would like. Just won't eat her pellets.
Teresa J
Me four with the video saying private. Hope you can resend it. Ditto on an update for Cuddles!
Karen
LOL. Up and running now (both cuddles and the video). So sorry! ~ karen
Teresa J
Thanks Karen, video is too cool and well done!! I hope Ellen calls you for a spot on her show!! Stayed up way late Friday night to watch the Secret Sisters! (No I do not have a PVR had to do it the old fashioned way and just stay awake!! )Loved them and will watch for them from my vantage here in Beautiful BC.
Lauren from Winnipeg
Unfortunately, when I click the video it says "undefined".
More importantly, is Cuddles still improving? I so need a happy ending for a pet this year (not to make it all about me, of course).
Karen
Cuddles is the same as yesterday. Well but not eating her pellets unless they're softened in water. Video's up! ~ karen
Denise
oops, says the video is private..I am doing monarchs this year as well!
Karen
Good for you! Saving the breed one pair of wings at a time. Video's up now. Sorry! ~ karen
Mel
Oh no the video link doesn't work. :( It says it's private.
Karen
Private no more Mel. It's up. :) ~ karen