It seems that the monarch caterpillars are having a field day at my neighbors’ and friends’ houses. My whole stand of milkweed is full, but my caterpillars are so tiny. I feel quite slighted. It’s as if the monarchs this year are using my yard as their species survival backup. They need to get eating if they are going to help bump the survival rate above 10% and be flight-ready before winter.

That is correct. The chance of an egg reaching all stages of gestation is only 10%. A female monarch can lay up to 500 eggs but lays each egg one at a time. It can take 5 to 10 days for the egg to hatch into a caterpillar. The larvae (caterpillar) stage takes an additional 10-14 days as each caterpillar undergoes five instars (growth spurts) while only eating its host plant, the milkweed. The last transformation is the pupal stage when the caterpillar forms its chrysalis, taking 10-14 to complete its metamorphosis into an adult butterfly.

There is always something new to discover about native flora and fauna. Our family’s go-to for monarch-related questions is a visit to the Native Butterfly House at Paul Smith College’s VIC. Not only does this unique netted canopy house provide a place to view native species, but the Butterfly House staff is a valuable resource.

The Butterfly House is here to provide us a window into the world of butterflies and moths. It isn’t meant to be the sole place to see butterflies. It is merely a sampling of the native species that we can see around the Adirondacks. It’s also not a butterfly zoo. You may never see the same creatures year after year. That is part of its appeal, never knowing what will be there.

I’ve been going to the VIC’s Native Butterfly House for so many years and so many times that I’ve long lost track of the number of visits. Sometimes my visits are based on research. I didn’t know that monarch caterpillars eat the milkweed pods. Sometimes my visits are just about watching beautiful butterflies and moths. Even if I’m unable to go, the Butterfly House is on the top of the list for visitors of all abilities.

The plants inside the enclosure are not chosen randomly. The Butterfly House has three seasons of nectar plants for their visiting butterflies and moths. Lilacs, purple coneflowers, goldenrod, columbine, milkweed, and annual flowers provide the necessary food. There are displays showcasing Adirondack butterflies and moths and a small touch box.

There is a free Butterfly Festival on Aug. 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. with games, activities, and crafts in addition to the ever-present educational naturalists. The last open weekend (September 1-2) is reserved for the butterfly tagging and release.

The Paul Smith’s College Breck Chapin Native Species Butterfly House is currently open every day, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., through Sept. 2.

Admission is free, but donations are accepted to help improve The Butterfly House experience. From Saranac Lake take Route 86 to Paul Smiths. Turn right onto Route 30 and drive about a 1/2 mile. The VIC entrance is on the left. Enjoy the butterflies!

Diane Chase is the author of the “Adirondack Family Activities” guidebook series, “Adirondack Family Time: Your Four-Season Guide to Over 300 Activities.” For more family-friendly activities go to www.adirondackfamilytime.com.