Monarch Butterfly NZ Trust

What’s the difference between a pupa, a cocoon and a chrysalis?

All insects go through a series of changes as they mature (called metamorphosis) unlike mammals, where the young are born as ‘miniature’ adults.

With moths and butterflies, the first stage is the ovum or egg, the second stage the larva (larval stage) or caterpillar, the third stage the pupa (pupal stage) and finally it becomes the imago or adult, usually termed the ‘butterfly’ or ‘moth’. Moth caterpillars spin a silk cocoon around themselves to enter the pupal stage.

Most butterfly larvae, however, split open and then the inside forms a transparent skin or cuticle . This is called a chrysalis. (Just to complicate things… there are a few butterflies that spin a cocoon, but most make a chrysalis.)

How can I tell the difference between a moth and a butterfly?

Butterflies usually fly during the day and moths generally at night. Butterflies usually put their wings together above their body when at rest, exposing their body, while moths will fold them over each other.

Another difference is that butterflies have clavate or club-like antennae or feelers, but the feelers of moths are feathery (pectinate) antennae.

As well, moths leave a ‘dust’ behind them when trapped in a drawer or the bottom of a cupboard, for instance, as they try to escape.

How do I help a butterfly that is hurt?
How do I help a butterfly with a damaged wing?

There are many types of injuries - and sometimes it is time for the butterfly to die. But in bad weather (cold or wet) you can best help a butterfly by putting it on flowers in a sheltered position, or by bringing it indoors.

Pick some flowers with nectar, and put your butterfly on that, and with warmth, shelter and nectar it may recover.

Remember that a Monarch lives only 6-8 weeks after it has done what it is here to do - continue the species. Every living thing must also die - but hopefully before it’s time is up, it will have either fathered a new generation of butterflies, or laid sufficient eggs to leave behind many descendants.

It is possible to replace a broken wing by gluing on a perfect wing from a dead butterfly. But this is labour-intensive, and requires practice. Full instructions can be found here: http://www.livemonarch.com/hospital.htm

If you don’t have the time or inclination to do the job well, our suggestion is to pop your injured Monarch into a container and put it in the deep-freeze. The Monarch will feel no pain, just go to sleep as if winter was coming, and then be euthanised while it is ‘asleep’.

How do I preserve a dented or fallen chrysalis?

A pupa that falls or is dented may well be infected with disease. It may be best to euthanise the pupa (by wrapping it in a tissue, and putting it in the deep-freeze). You certainly don’t want to foster disease or a virus.

What food plants can I feed a Monarch Butterfly in NZ?
What do caterpillars eat?

In NZ the natural food species of the Monarch (Danaus plexippus) larvae is the Asclepiadiae family - milkweed which includes Swan Plant (Gomphocarpus fruticosus) and Giant Swan Plant (G. physocarpus) as well as Asclepias species such as Bloodflower (A. curassavica).

The Monarch Butterfly Trust will be able to help you with seed of some of these plants.

Larvae in their latter stages can be also fed on a noxious weed called ‘moth vine’, ‘cruel vine’ or ‘kapok plant’ (Araujia sericifera) as well as cucumber, pumpkin and courgette - but only when they are ten days old or more than 2cm in length.

Butterflies will feed on any plant giving nectar. They usually choose flowers with bright colours, purples, pinks and blues. Hebes are very popular. There are more listed in our forum - click on the link on the homepage to go there.

Feel free to add more names, it will help others.

What pests affect caterpillars in NZ?

The worst pest is undoubtedly wasps, which eat the larvae (caterpillars) and eggs until late summer, when the wasps’s diet changes from protein to nectar.

Also, praying mantis will eat caterpillars.

Disease can also be transmitted from caterpillars and will badly infect pupae - so if you are breeding Monarchs ensure that you keep their food supply in small, separate ‘islands’ in your garden rather than a concentrated area. In this way, any disease cannot spread as rapidly.

If you have too many caterpillars, take some of them to where there is milkweed with no caterpillars; don’t let your plants get inundated with larvae.

Can I feed a Monarch Butterfly sugar water?

Yes, but it is always better to choose a natural diet, the nectar from fresh flowers. In a country like NZ there should be no need for artificial diets.

How can I prevent wasps from attacking larvae on my swan plants?

You can grow your plants in pots, and move them to where the wasps can’t find the plants or grow them under cover, such as a mosquito net.

Cover the plant when you have seen a female Monarch laying plenty of eggs. Then you can watch your caterpillars grow. There is more information on the forum, http://monarch.org.nz/forum

How long does it take for a Monarch butterfly to leave the chrysalis?

The process from egg to butterfly takes about four weeks in the summer. The egg takes 7 to 10 days, the larva/caterpillar and pupa/chrysalis each take about 10 to 14 days.

In winter, autumn and spring it takes a lot longer (if it happens at all - they continue to breed in some parts of the Bay of Islands).

The process slows down in cool weather; in this way we can ‘use’ the climatic conditions to speed up or slow down the creation of a butterfly.

When the pupa is ready to hatch, the shell will be transparent and you can see the dark colours of the butterfly’s wings folded up inside. The transformation happens suddenly, and if you turn away for 20 minutes you will usually come back to find a butterfly.

How can I tell a male from a female Monarch?

Males have a black spot on each of their hindwings. These are scent glands. They also have thinner veins (lines) than female Monarchs.

Why do male butterflies die after mating?

After mating the butterfly has done what it was created for - to continue the species. They will die 6-8 weeks after using up all its sperm mating with various females. Similarly the female will die after she has laid all her eggs - usually between 300 and 400, although one lay over 1,000 eggs! Only a few of these will survive the process of becoming butterflies.

How can I best grow milkweed for Monarch butterflies?

Milkweed (such as Swan Plant) is easy to grow. Just make sure that your soil is not too fertile or rich. You will see that the strongest plants grow in ‘wild’ gardens.

Where can I get Swan Plants in NZ?

Most garden centres sell them in the season. This can get expensive, though, as you can never have enough!

You can however, buy seeds of the Giant Swan Plant from the Trust, plant them NOW (whatever the time of year) and grow them so you have lots of food for your Monarchs in the Spring. Seeds are $5 a packet (of about 50) from the Monarch Butterfly NZ Trust, C/- NZ Post, Russell 0242.

Once your plant is well established you will have seeds and plants growing forever.

Where can I buy live Monarch butterflies?

Throughout the summer season there are several people who sell plants, butterflies and/or pupae (chrysalises).

Try www.madambutterfly.co.nz or email jacqui@madambutterfly.co.nz.

How do I breed Monarch butterflies?

The process is very simple - grow some milkweed in your garden, and you will soon embark on a wonderful adventure. The female butterfly will donate a few eggs to your cause as it flies around looking for milkweed. The eggs will hatch, and out will come caterpillars - and you’re in business.

As issues arise, the Monarch Butterfly NZ Trust will gladly help you with information to help you. Soon you’ll be hooked, as we all are!