Monarch Butterfly Project

Here is another caterpillar/butterfly project that can make a great family project. With a little planning in the fall or spring to set out the right kinds of plants to attract these caterpillars, anyone can have success with this project.

My husband and I choose flowers that attract bees and butterflies, nearly without exception. One such flower, a wildflower called Butterfly Weed, or Asclepius, is a favorite of ours – and of the Monarch butterfly. In the past three weeks we began to notice the Monarch caterpillars on them.

Since we had grown our Asclepius from seed, we had kept one plant in a large pail. We carefully caught one of the caterpillars and put it on our potted plant and brought it into the house to protect it. Soon it made its crysalis. Some of the caterpillars outdoors had disappeared about the time we expected to see them pupate, so we caught the last one and brought it inside as well.

This Monarch is feeding on the Asclepius flowers. She will also lay her eggs on the same kind of plant.

Caterpillar found outdoors on Asclepius

The caterpillar is no longer hungry

Looking for a place to make it’s crysalis

Getting settled in to make a crysalis

Fastened by the tail and hanging in typical “J” form

The skin the caterpillar shed making its crysalis

Success