Howieh I knew there was a good explanation...I bow to all the big shots ! lol
Wow isn't late re: releasing monarchs? Up here (45 mins. south of Owen Sound) our milkweed have turned yellow and wilted...I haven't seen a monarch in some time...I released our last monarchs in the first week of September...
ADVICE for other novice butterfly rearers...I made the mistake of holding on to one of the monarchs until my little one arrived home from school...she didn't fly off right away and in fact roosted in some potted flowers...she was gone in the a.m....I thought she had flown off but a few days later I found a piece of a monarch wing and since there were no other monarchs around at the time, I assume she was eaten by something that went bump in the night...I felt terrible...I think, I may be wrong, but it is extremely important to release them first thing in the morning when they eclose...experts care to weigh in?