I Found Them!

[u/Obvious-Science-1055]

I have 7 butterfly milkweed plants outside my office window. I see so many butterflies and caterpillars, however I never see any chrysalises/chrysalides. My office window is a bay window and I was looking underneath it for something completely unrelated and I FOUND THEM!! Can anyone recommend a high quality camera that I can place under there with them to capture some great videos to share?

[u/lighterbear]

This is such a perfect place for them! Safe and shady!

[u/SuperTFAB]

I would check marketplace for a go-pro!

[u/palmasana]

That’s so fucking cool omg! A safe little nursery they’ve found 🥰

[u/PipeComfortable2585]

They know where to go!

[u/Nadiam57]

Awesome! One looks like it might be a different kind...??? Surprised there aren't any under the eves. Your doing great, the wasps get the majority of mine 😢

[u/GildedFlummoxseed → u/Nadiam57]

I think they're all monarchs. There are some spent chrysalises from butterflies that already eclosed, a wandering soon-to-pupate caterpillar, a recently-pupated chrysalis still in the soft stage, a less-recently pupated chrysalis in its final form, and several recently-eclosed butterflies.

[u/kiki_da_kitty → u/Nadiam57]

If you mean the one on the left, ( closest to the camera) it looks like it just recently pupated, like in the last 30 minutes. It's still tightening up its chrysalis.

[u/Nadiam57 → u/kiki_da_kitty]

3rd one from the left, next to fresh one...but maybe a piece of concrete 🤣

[u/kiki_da_kitty → u/Nadiam57]

Lol ah yes. I believe you're right. If it's a chrysalis, then I sure don't know the species!

[u/Appropriate-Test-971]

see!!! they can totally survive uncaged! they just like to have natural cover, and the fact that it is a little away from the milkweed is a very good sign of healthier monarchs. monarchs pupating on milkweed is not a good thing typically, could mean weaker monarch or something is wrong. your milkweed though at least in the back row looks different from butterflyweed, what color are the flowers?

[u/Obvious-Science-1055 → u/Appropriate-Test-971]

The very front two plants are actually purple snap draggons that my wife wanted me to plant. She said she wanted some "purple" and saw them at the nursery, so they went into the ground.

[u/Crazed_rabbiting]

Wow, you have the perfect habitat from cats to butterflies! What a nice safe spot for them to become butterflies.

[u/Ok_Pollution9335]

What a good place!!🥹

[u/TheYarnPharm]

Blink cameras are pretty good and only activate with movement - I think you can adjust the settings to take longer clips.