O
nce hatched, the butterflies are then released into the wild. “I began raising monarch butterflies in 2007,
when I found a large monarch caterpillar when I was out for a nature walk,” says Janet Kline, FOTWAW member and butterfly enthusiast. “Since I’ve never seen a caterpillar change into a chrysalis or a butterfly emerge, I wanted to see the whole process, and began searching for the caterpillars the next summer.” She has been raising monarch butterflies ever since. In addition to raising the butterflies, Janet also tags each monarch on
MonarchWatch.org so she can follow their flight from Lancaster down to Mexico – a trip which takes about 2500 miles! “Since 2010, I have raised and released over 1000 monarch butterflies,” Janet exclaims.
Other members began taking notice of Janet’s activities and started doing the same. Charlie Longenecker, a retired biology teacher, keeps a detailed record of each monarch he releases. Tis record includes the date the butterfly was collected, the date he or she was released, and whether or not they were male or female. “Te male has a little black spot on the ribs of the wing which the females lack,” says Charlie. Since June of this year, Charlie has released 44 monarchs – 27 males, and 17 females. Agnes Hacker also helps raise the butterflies, specifically the black swallowtail. “One time in February, a swallowtail butterfly egg was outside on a lawn chair. When the chair was brought inside to the warm house, the swallowtail hatched! I brought her into my home and fed her dishes of sugar water.”
In July of 2022, the monarch butterfly was officially added to the endangered species list due to their numbers significantly declining in the last decade. Tis makes the work of the FOTWAW that much more important.
“I find great satisfaction in doing something for the environment. I want to save it for my grandchildren and all future generations,” says Agnes. Charlie adds that there are values in preserving our natural world, and these wonders don’t cost us a dime to enjoy.
“To hold a gorgeous orange and black monarch butterfly in your hand knowing that it was a tiny green, black and white caterpillar that munched on milkweed leaves for 10 days until it formed a shining green chrysalis and now it can sip on sweet nectar and soar high in the sky to fly to Mexico is an awe-inspiring experience. Only God could create this beautiful complicated metamorphosis,” Janet says.
Enriching
Lives, Together
Charlie Longenecker releasing a monarch butterfly.
Agnes Hacker admiring a newly released swallowtail.
Landis.org | FLOURISH | Fall 2022 • 17
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