Slow-Motion Butterfly Release
Caterpillars! Caterpillars!
Although world-wide the Monarch populations is down 90%, the Monarch butterfly mommies do not have any trouble finding our crown flower plants in our urban garden.
A Batch of Caterpillars
After a Spring, Summer and Fall without many caterpillars (Monarch population is down world-wide), we have caterpillars!
The girls have rescued more than 50 caterpillars from the Crown Flower plants in our school garden. The lizards and wasps eat the caterpillars before they are full grown and turn into chrysalis if we do not rescue them. There are so many caterpillars to feed that we have run out of leaves to feed them. We can even hear them munching inside the cage.
You should see our butterflies fluttering about in the next few weeks as they emerge from their chrysalis. Cheers to metamorphosis and the life cycle.
What's up in the Butterfly Garden (summer/fall 2013)
The buttery count in the area has been down for the past 4 months. The crown flower is growing vigorously, but the milkweed has been invaded by aphids and is not growing well. We have raised approximately 30 butterflies this summer and fall. The lower percentage of egg laying on our plants has given the crown flower a chance to grow. See the pictures of our crown flower plants below in full bloom!
On 10/10 we released 6 butterflies from the most recent batch of caterpillars.
Now we wait to see signed of new caterpillar life.
Milkweed and Crown Flower Blooms!
The leaves have grown back and we have flowers!
We have noticed butterflies fluttering about.... may be time for some eggs once again?
Our largest egg cycle yet....
Rescuing caterpillars....
Chrysalis stage.....
Butterfly stage....
Butterflies ready for flight!
If you see a butterfly fluttering around Kailua...
Chances are it was a butterfly raised by a "butterfly" at Huakailani...
The Huakailani School for Girls "Butterflies" (as the girls are called because the school mascot is a butterfly) released at least 30 butterflies on February 27! The school has been part of the Butterfly Restoration Project, which works to increase the number of Monarch butterflies on our island. The Monarch population on the island has decreased due to over use of pesticides.
All of the butterflies raised in the school are caterpillars that the students, ages 5- 12, have personally rescued from the school's urban crown flower garden. This school year, the students have raised and released over 100 butterflies to date. The project has been a perfect fusion of science and environmental stewardship.
When you see a Monarch fluttering around, know that the planet is in good hands with the Huakailani Keiki, who are learning from a very young age the importance of taking care of the environment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)