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24 Ag Families-Fall MONARCHS CONTINUED... Susan immediately thought I can do that and began researching milkweed plants with David for their garden. She discovered milk- weed is in the genus Asclepias and is the only plant the monarch caterpillar uses for food. She also found monarchs prefer tropic milkweed to other varieties. As monarchs and other butterflies float through her garden Susan delights in talking about her project and newfound passion. I taught school for 28 years and that was my passion she said. Now this is my pas- sion. I love sharing what I have learned and in- troducing others to the fascinating world of the monarch butterfly. The life cycle begins when a female butterfly lands on a leaf and deposits its eggs. In about four days a tiny cat or monarch larvae will emerge on the underside of the leaf. Susan col- lects the caterpillars and raises them in monarch sanctuaries that resemble a 3-foot- tall mesh laundry hamper. She provides fresh milkweed leaves and cleans the sanctuaries twice a day. It takes the tiny caterpillars 10 to 14 days to grow into the easily recognizable yellow and black striped caterpillars that are ready to pu- pate. When the caterpillar is ready to trans- form it crawls across the top of the container and hangs in a distinctive J. It will then turn itself inside out and become a green gold- flecked chrysalis. A monarch butterfly will emerge in another 14 days. Considered the king of butterflies the monarch has a distinctive orange and black pat- tern. Early American folklore says the butter- flies were named monarchs and even called King Billies by early British settlers in honor of King William who was previously the Prince of Orange. The life journey of the monarch butterfly is driven by an intergenerational GPS system that brings them back home each year. Its the only species of butterfly that migrates from south to north in the spring and then from north to south in the fall. Many of the monarchs that stop at the Chiles home migrate to southern Canada in the summer and Mexico in the winter. Susan explains the monarchs leave Mexico in late February and head to Texas where they lay eggs that will develop into caterpillars butter- flies and then move northward. The monarchs Susan raises from late spring until mid-summer wing their way to southern Canada and lay eggs there. Regardless of their location all monarchs born in late summer and early fall instinctively know they are born to fly and spend their time fattening up for the trip south. Susan and her granddaughter will tag these so they can be tracked back to Mexico. Unfortunately habitats for monarchs are dis- appearing because the list of plants preferred by butterflies are considered weeds and have been removed from cropland. However there can be a balance between food production and nature with individuals such as Susan provid- ing habitats for these pollinators. Susan said developing a monarch habitat is not difficult and all a person needs to provide is a caterpillar host plant a nectar plant as butterfly fuel water and shelter. Susan is ever ready to share her knowledge through programs at Jeffers Bend where she and David have developed a certified Monarch Way Station. She provides cats and chrysalises to curious children adults classrooms and a local assisted-living facility. Currently three teachers at Trigg County Primary School are raising monarchs from Susan. Once the butter- flies emerge she will help the teachers and students tag them for release. In mid-August the tops of the three sanctu- aries in Susans living room are covered with chrysalises. By mid-September she is ready to start tagging the final generation of butterflies that have been born since late August. Tagging is the culmination of this labor of love and a project she relishes because it gives her the opportunity to nurture her granddaughters ad- miration of the monarch. As they share this experience Lauralyn care- fully removes a butterfly from the sanctuary identifies it as boy or girl male monarchs have a small dark dot on their hindwing hands it to Grandmama who places the tag records a series of data and returns the butterfly to the sanctuary. To apply the tag which is a small water-proof disc slightly larger than a pencil eraser Susan carefully holds the monarch between her thumb and index finger. The tag goes on the butterflys discal cell which is a large mitten- shaped cell on the hind wing. As tiny as it is the tag is labeled with a web address the words Monarch Watch in red letters a phone number and the tag number. The sanctuary is then taken outside where Susan and Lauralyn have the joy of releasing the butterflies together. They say their good- byes wish the monarchs a safe journey to Mexico and look forward to the day when one of their tagged butterflies is found. Susan doesnt hesitate to explain why she loves raising and tagging monarch butterflies. From the elderly at our local assisted-living facility to my carpet cleaner to my dentist I have yet to meet a person who wasnt amazed at the metamorphosis and incredible journey of this beautiful butterfly she said. It makes me so very happy to be sharing my experi- ences and what I have learned with others. Lauralynnlightlyholdsataggedmonarchfromhergrandmothersgarden.Eachtagislabeledwithawebaddress thewordsMonarchWatchinredlettersaphonenumberandthetagnumber.PHOTOS BY CATHERINE RILEY Atinymonarcheggabovethatwillhatchintoacater- pillarsitsonamilkweedleaf.SusanChilessharesher knowledgeaboutmonarchswithhergranddaughter LauralynnandherfriendNova.PHOTOS BY CATHERINE RILEY