106 Hawaii Parent May/June 2026 Since 2021, monarch butterflies have joined the global endangered species list, making it more important than ever to aid their lifecycle. 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. Butterfly Life Cycle 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 on which 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 decrease their chances of survival to only 5%. How to Get Catepillars to Raise 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, many online sites sell caterpillars. But buying live animals online can be difficult here in Hawaii. Beyond at-home kits, school programs are also available. On Oahu, “Sharing the Butterfly Experience” sells caterpillar kits that include a pop-up tent, a small crownflower plant, and written instructions.
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