Years ago my sister-in-law showed me how to look for the almost microscopic white specs that are monarch eggs. Monarchs are attracted to milkweed plants and lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves. Usually only one on a leaf and usually only one on a plant.

If you find the egg, you pick the leaf and put the end of it in water to keep the leaf alive.

After a few days if you see signs of something eating the leaf, that would be a monarch caterpillar. They start out tiny and grow to a good size pretty quick. They also eat and crap all day, so you have to keep changing out the old leaves with new ones. Once they hatch you don't have to put the leaves in water anymore, just lay them in the bottom of a bug cage.

The bug cage has to have a lid. They use that to climb up to and make their chrysalis.

It's kind of a cool process, for nerds. I raised 14 one year and this year Di found 6 of them.



The best time to look for the eggs seems to be end of June into July, but I would imagine you can find them all summer. Till they start migrating to Mexico.

The things we do in our spare time. I'll update with pictures as things progress.

Very cool Ken!

My daughter, who just turned 6, has a way with butterflies and dragonflies. If she sees one flying around, she'll stand still with her arms thrust out in front of her and her index fingers sticking out. Surprisingly enough, a butterfly will usually land on her hand or head. She'll then walk slowly over to me to show it off. Sometimes it will stay with her for a couple of minutes. I've seen her do that multiple times. Last night one landed on her nose. <cue spooky music>

We visited a butterfly sanctuary in Niagara falls, CN last month.
They had species flying around from all over the world.

They would land on you if you stood still.

Very cool to see such vibrant and luminesce colors from the jungles.
There was a guy with equipment worth several grand trying to take pics and asked for folks to clear a way.
He was getting frustrated with no pics.

I walked up with a disposable camera and took a pic while one was on his shoulder and back.
I said I'd email him the pics.
He wasn't enlightened.

still worth the price and time spent.
The added museum on their habitat and specied ID was also very cool.
Also sections on moths vs butterflies was neat.