{"id":11610,"date":"2018-09-17T06:30:06","date_gmt":"2018-09-17T10:30:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=11610"},"modified":"2018-09-18T08:49:59","modified_gmt":"2018-09-18T12:49:59","slug":"take-5-monarch-caterpillars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-monarch-caterpillars\/","title":{"rendered":"Take 5: Monarch Caterpillars"},"content":{"rendered":"

As summer draws to a close and the days get shorter, the season’s last generation of Monarch caterpillars are busily munching away at their favorite food: milkweed. This final calorie-binge will sustain them as they “pupate,” ensconcing themselves in a chrysalis\u00a0to spend 8\u201314 days metamorphosing into their adult butterfly form. The adult butterflies<\/a> that hatch this month will fly south to Mexico for the winter where the weather is nice and warm.<\/p>\n

Monarch butterflies are a beautiful and easily recognizable member of our ecological community here in Massachusetts, but since the larval caterpillars are working so hard, we thought it would be nice to celebrate them with five photos from our annual Picture This: Your Great Outdoors<\/a> photo contest.<\/p>\n

You can look for chrysalides in various stages of metamorphosis on the undersides of milkweed leaves over the next few weeks, but be careful! It’s best to leave the pupa to its work without disturbing it. Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary in South Dartmouth and Westport leads Monarch Butterfly Tagging programs<\/a>, so stop by if you’re in the area and want to learn more about these amazing insects.<\/p>\n

The 2018 photo contest<\/a> is closing soon! Submit your nature and wildlife photography by September 30 to be considered for one of several prizes.<\/p>\n

\"Monarch

Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar \u00a9 Emily Curewitz<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Monarch

Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar \u00a9 Ken Conway<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Monarch

Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar \u00a9 John Linn<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Monarch

Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar \u00a9 Keegan Burke<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Monarch

Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar \u00a9 Sean Horton<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As summer draws to a close and the days get shorter, the season’s last generation of Monarch caterpillars are busily munching away at their favorite food: milkweed. This final calorie-binge will sustain them as they “pupate,” ensconcing themselves in a chrysalis\u00a0to spend 8\u201314 days metamorphosing into their adult butterfly form. The adult butterflies that hatch […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":11615,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[158],"tags":[34,184,68,83,84],"class_list":["post-11610","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-take-5","tag-butterfly","tag-caterpillars","tag-monarch","tag-photo-contest","tag-photography"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/09\/4046Sean_Horton16884.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-31g","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9558,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-caterpillar-craze\/","url_meta":{"origin":11610,"position":0},"title":"Take 5: Caterpillar Craze","author":"Ryan D.","date":"August 7, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"What on earth are caterpillars, anyway? \"Caterpillar\" is a common name for the \"larval\" (immature) stage of insects of the order Lepidoptera, a.k.a. butterflies and moths. Finding caterpillars in nature is not easy! The easiest way is to look on their preferred host plants. Monarch butterfly caterpillars, for example, prefer\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar \u00a9 Sean Horton","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/08\/4046Sean_Horton16884_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/08\/4046Sean_Horton16884_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/08\/4046Sean_Horton16884_fi.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11690,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-glorious-goldenrod\/","url_meta":{"origin":11610,"position":1},"title":"Take 5: Glorious Goldenrod","author":"Ryan D.","date":"October 1, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Ah...ah...AH...CHOO! Feeling a bit sneezy these days? Well, we're here to clear the air\u2014goldenrod is not to blame for your seasonal allergy woes. This bright, ubiquitous, late-flowering plant has been framed by the real culprit, ragweed, which blooms around the same time and often nearby. Ragweed's light, dusty pollen is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Goldenrod \u00a9 Katharine Randel","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/09\/2371KatharineRandel8320.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/09\/2371KatharineRandel8320.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/09\/2371KatharineRandel8320.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/09\/2371KatharineRandel8320.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8753,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/5-tips-for-attracting-butterflies\/","url_meta":{"origin":11610,"position":2},"title":"5 Tips for Attracting Butterflies","author":"Hillary T.","date":"March 8, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Sure butterflies can be found frolicking in open meadows on warm, breezy summer days, but these exuberant and colorful insects can also be found in your own backyard\u2014if you play your cards right! What does it take to bring the flutter closer to home? Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary Conservation\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/03\/Common-wood-nymph-via-Rosemary-Mosco-at-Graves-Farm-640.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/03\/Common-wood-nymph-via-Rosemary-Mosco-at-Graves-Farm-640.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/03\/Common-wood-nymph-via-Rosemary-Mosco-at-Graves-Farm-640.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9758,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/a-good-year-for-monarchs\/","url_meta":{"origin":11610,"position":3},"title":"A Good Year for Monarchs?","author":"Hillary T.","date":"September 12, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"During the last week of August, Regional Scientist Robert Buchsbaum and several Mass Audubon naturalists and scientists took a field trip to Conway Hills Wildlife Sanctuary just west of the Connecticut River in Conway, MA. While there, they were pleasantly surprised by what they saw. Here's Robert's report: --- The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/09\/monarch600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/09\/monarch600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/09\/monarch600.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":288,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/dont-weed-the-milkweed\/","url_meta":{"origin":11610,"position":4},"title":"Don’t Weed the Milkweed!","author":"Kristin S.","date":"July 10, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"If a gardening catalog offered a plant that sported unique flowers, attracted butterflies, fed and protected the beloved monarch butterfly, provided nesting material for goldfinches and orioles, was easy to grow, and was native to our state, wouldn\u2019t we be eager to plant some in our gardens? So, what is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Gardening"","block_context":{"text":"Gardening","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/gardening\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2012\/07\/commonmilkweedmonarch_cropped.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2012\/07\/commonmilkweedmonarch_cropped.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2012\/07\/commonmilkweedmonarch_cropped.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16367,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-munchin-on-milkweed\/","url_meta":{"origin":11610,"position":5},"title":"Take 5: Munchin’ On Milkweed","author":"Ryan D.","date":"September 20, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"It's well-known that Monarch caterpillars (the larval form of Monarch butterflies) rely on plants in the milkweed family as their sole source of food. 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Most notably, this includes two insects in the seed bug family\u2014large milkweed bugs and small\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Red Milkweed Beetle on Common Milkweed \u00a9 Jenny Schule","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/09\/6637Jenny_Schule34218-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/09\/6637Jenny_Schule34218-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/09\/6637Jenny_Schule34218-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/09\/6637Jenny_Schule34218-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11610","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11610"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11610\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11658,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11610\/revisions\/11658"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11615"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11610"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11610"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11610"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}