Milkweed & Monarch Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I tell a male and female monarch apart?
A. Male monarchs will have thinner black markings and two black marks on the hind wings. Female monarchs have thicker black markings and do not have the two black dots that males have.
Q. How do I tell the gender of a monarch chrysalis?
A. A monarch chrysalis has a very tiny line near the top set of three dots. The tiny line is not present on a male monarch chrysalis. See the page RAISING A MONARCH FROM CATERPILLAR TO BUTTERFLY for an example.
Q. How do I tell the gender of a monarch caterpillar?
A. Before metamorphasis there is no way to determine the gender of a monarch caterpillar.
Q. How long does a monarch wait to fly after emerging from a chrysalis?
A. a monarch may wait about four to six hours for its wings to dry before it begins its first flight. But it could be shorter or longer depending on the butterfly.
Q. How long till a newly emerged monarch butterfly will begin eating?
A. The monarch will not eat immediately because the feeding tube of a monarch starts in two pieces. In the first few hours the two parts of the feeding tube will become one. The monarch should feed in the first 24 hours. It may be best to release your monarch on a flower and let the monarch decide when it is ready to eat.
Q. Is my newly emerged monarch healthy?
A. New monarchs should have symmetrical wings. A crinkled wing is common but not ideal. The white markings on the black abdomen should be clearly defined. If the white markings look faded or they white appears very powdery then the monarch may have health problems.
Q. Is my milkweed dying?
A. It depends on the time of year, the milkweed species and your location. Native milkweed in northern states will begin to go dormant in the Fall. It is not dying. Perennial milkweed will begin growing again in the Spring as warm weather returns. The plants growth should correspond to the migration of the monarchs.
Q. When is the best time to plant milkweed seeds?
A. In my experience, Fall is ideal. Allow the seeds to remain in their planter or in the ground all winter. I like to plant the seeds Thanksgiving weekend. They will be cold stratified and begin growing in the spring when conditions are favorable.
A. Male monarchs will have thinner black markings and two black marks on the hind wings. Female monarchs have thicker black markings and do not have the two black dots that males have.
Q. How do I tell the gender of a monarch chrysalis?
A. A monarch chrysalis has a very tiny line near the top set of three dots. The tiny line is not present on a male monarch chrysalis. See the page RAISING A MONARCH FROM CATERPILLAR TO BUTTERFLY for an example.
Q. How do I tell the gender of a monarch caterpillar?
A. Before metamorphasis there is no way to determine the gender of a monarch caterpillar.
Q. How long does a monarch wait to fly after emerging from a chrysalis?
A. a monarch may wait about four to six hours for its wings to dry before it begins its first flight. But it could be shorter or longer depending on the butterfly.
Q. How long till a newly emerged monarch butterfly will begin eating?
A. The monarch will not eat immediately because the feeding tube of a monarch starts in two pieces. In the first few hours the two parts of the feeding tube will become one. The monarch should feed in the first 24 hours. It may be best to release your monarch on a flower and let the monarch decide when it is ready to eat.
Q. Is my newly emerged monarch healthy?
A. New monarchs should have symmetrical wings. A crinkled wing is common but not ideal. The white markings on the black abdomen should be clearly defined. If the white markings look faded or they white appears very powdery then the monarch may have health problems.
Q. Is my milkweed dying?
A. It depends on the time of year, the milkweed species and your location. Native milkweed in northern states will begin to go dormant in the Fall. It is not dying. Perennial milkweed will begin growing again in the Spring as warm weather returns. The plants growth should correspond to the migration of the monarchs.
Q. When is the best time to plant milkweed seeds?
A. In my experience, Fall is ideal. Allow the seeds to remain in their planter or in the ground all winter. I like to plant the seeds Thanksgiving weekend. They will be cold stratified and begin growing in the spring when conditions are favorable.