I just got home last night from a trip to Texas. (was delayed there about 3 weeks because the Coronavirus thing) I bought a few small tropical milkweed plants while I was there; also I have some swamp milkweed seedlings up. And lots more seeds in the fridge here to plant this weekend, but anyway... I looked the milkweeds over before I bought them to make sure they didn't have eggs, but I must have missed one. Or a mama monarch found my plants while they were outside.
I wish I'd known I had a stowaway; I saw some wild milkweed growing along I-45 in a safe place near Normangee, TX and could have transferred him to it. But I didn't find it until I got home. It's over an inch long; what is that, instar 4? The migratory monarchs aren't due here for about 5 weeks. I have enough milkweed to feed this one (that's not what it was for, but the MW will recover.) Can I put the crysalis in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks to delay its development without hurting it? That way, I can release the adult in mid-late-May when the first of the migration gets here. Otherwise, it will emerge in early May while it's still a little too cold and there's no flower or mates.
I guess I could also take the butterfly to a garden center that has a greenhouse; see if they want it. Thanks.
