May/June 2025 HAWAII PARENT 133 Raising monarch butterflies with your kids is a captivating and educational experience that offers a unique opportunity to explore the wonders of nature together. Watching a caterpillar undergo metamorphosis and transform into a beautiful butterfly not only sparks curiosity but also provides valuable lessons in biology, responsibility, and the environment. Monarch butterflies, known for their striking orange wings and their fascinating journey from egg to butterfly, provide an excellent way for children to learn about the natural world in a hands-on way. Through this process, they can gain a deeper understanding of life cycles, ecosystems, and the importance of conservation, all while enjoying the joy of nurturing these delicate creatures. Monarch butterflies have become a very recognizable and loved butterfly in Hawaii despite not being native to the islands. They made their way to Hawaii in the 1840s and by the 1960s, monarchs had successfully colonized most of Hawaii. Monarch butterflies thrive on the crown flower plant. This milkweed plant nourishes them through all phases of life. Females also lay their eggs on milkweed knowing it will provide nutrients and protection for hatched eggs. Monarch butterflies thrive in Hawaii. They no longer migrate here, but rather have made it their permanent home. The release of monarch butterflies has extreme benefits to the ecosystem and their quickly declining global populations. As pollinators, butterflies are extremely important to the overall health of the planet. Female monarch butterflies lay small, cream colored eggs on the milkweed plants that generally hatch between 4 to 6 days. On average they lay between 100 to 300 eggs during their lifetime. Once hatched, the caterpillars eat their shell and then the milkweed plant where they were laid. Although their warning stripes are helpful in protecting themselves from birds and other predators, they don’t guarantee survival. Predators and exposure to the elements decreases their chances of survival to only 5%. Since 2021 monarch butterflies have joined the global endangered species list so it is more important than ever to aid their lifecycle. If you’re interested in raising butterflies, there are a few ways to get monarch butterfly caterpillars. The easiest would be to find them on crown flower plants in your area. Monitor these plants and when you see caterpillars bring them home, keeping them in jars or critter cages. Feed them daily with new leaves, leaving a few sticks for eventual chrysalis creation. If you don’t have a crown flower plant, or the time to go caterpillar hunting, there are many online sites that sell caterpillars. Buying living animals online can be difficult here in Hawaii but there are a few by Blyss Deas “Raise monarch butterflies, witness their magic, and help conservation—all in Hawaii’s backyard!”
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