Data needed from classrooms

Please provide feedback!  I'm trying to find out what works best for teachers.

I'm trying to understand what happens after teachers receive their eggs.  I've enjoyed meeting teachers when they pick up eggs, but I hear very little about what happens back at school.

My guess is that dealing with hatching and feeding very small caterpillars is the hardest part for teachers.  One school reported 27% losses by the time caterpillars were small (not tiny).  After that, very few losses.  Just an occasional accident, like a dropped chrysalid, or a butterfly that fell down during eclosure and became deformed.

I'm guessing that some eclosures are not seen by students because the butterflies emerge when students are elsewhere.  Certainly, some transitions of "J" to chrysalid, or hatchings of eggs are missed (because they are harder to predict).  These are all amazing events--let's work on improving our chances to see them.  Eclosure time is easily predicted and controlled.

I suspect that caterpillars are not easily visible for students who might want to watch their behavior, and that when eclosure occurs, students have to peer into dimly lit mesh cubes, through a wavy vinyl window, past other students crowded around.  There are better ways to show eclosure. =>

Good light, access, and protection are needed during eclosure.

I know students are squirrely and there's a risk they might cause accidental harm.  On the other hand, one goal is to reduce their fear of insects, and allow close observation.  How do you provide access yet protect monarchs?

If we streamline the whole process by giving you caterpillars-- then students won't see earlier life stages.  Should we compensate for this loss by providing a volunteer who can show kids eggs, hatching, and tiny caterpillars, under magnification and good light?

If my impressions are incorrect, or you have a better way, please let me know!

Counting monarchs helps

I know teachers are stressed this time of year, but there are good reasons to count your monarchs...

• If you had 6 last time and today you transferred only 5, you probably left one behind in the old milkweed. 
• Counting reveals how you lose monarchs and shows how to improve.
• We value the life of every monarch. Taking care will defend our project from criticism.
• It sets a good example for students.  Let the students count.

If this is your first year raising monarchs, you can skip counting.

A volunteer counting eggs by making a "leaf diagram."

Here's what's needed.  For each class, record the number of...

• 
  Eggs received
• Caterpillars that hatched
• Caterpillars at about mid growth
• Chrysalids formed
• Butterflies that successfully eclosed
• Eclosures seen by students
• Butterflies released (if different from above)

Kids counting & transferring eggs to an ice cube tray. Some are very good at it!

You might record in a pocket notebook for each class... but if that seems unrealistic, here's a shortcut:

• Tape an envelope to the side of the bin where you raise caterpillars.  Keep a pad of 3"x5" blank notes handy.
• Whenever you do something, like transfer caterpillars to fresh food, make a note on a fresh 3x5 sheet. Include the date, time, your initials, what done ("fed caterpillars--manually transferred"), and your count (N=5).

Additional notes give meaning to the count...

• If the count has dropped, try to account on the same sheet for what happened to the caterpillar: "Accidentally left lid off bin overnight, instar 5 probably left to form chrysalid. Couldn't find it."
• If the caterpillar or chrysalid died, and you suspect disease, take a photo. "Caterpillar black--suspect disease."
• If the emerging butterfly fell down and its wings are deformed, briefly explain how it happened. "Butterfly fell during eclosure. We weren't there.  Forgot to tape a non-slippery surface on side of plastic bin."
• On one sheet provide a short description of your setup.  Do you raise caterpillars in a large bin, with milkweed stems in jars with lids?  How do you handle the chrysalids once formed?  How do you display eclosure?

Each time you make a note, drop it in the envelope taped to the bin.  After you've released the last butterfly, clip all the notes together in order, write on the top note the year, your school's name, class and teacher's name, and give the notes to your school's monarch coordinator.  You've made a little book!  Hopefully, the coordinator or a volunteer will enter them into a spreadsheet.

I'll use the notes to find out where the most improvement is needed, and what changes in our methods might be needed.  Don't be afraid to admit mistakes... I make them also.  I'm not going to embarrass anyone by publishing names with results!  

Over the years I've recommended many improvements. The whole process is getting easier, with fewer losses!  Do you remember... when teachers had to go out and find their own eggs?  Or pay $100 for a shipment?  Nowadays, you probably couldn't find eggs this time of year.