Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening: Daily pictures #97, 3 by Sheila_FW

Sheila_FW wrote:
Great pictures everyone! Haven't been on much but you guys are keeping it active...love it!

Bruce, you are doing a great job with the Monarchs and passing the knowledge on to your family as well...you go!
Melanie, super pics on the SSS, I love to look at them too.

Glad you took those pictures Lily. If you still have the black head cat, take one from the side and then separate it when it pupates too, just in case it acts or looks differently, etc.

My suggestion on collecting MW, not in the heat of the day is #1. Then when you cut a stem, cut it in no taller than 6 inch pieces, check it for eggs and cats first, then rinse or drop in cool water to eliminate ants, spiders and etc from being in the cage. When I only need a few leaves I cut individual ones, check them and plop them in the water as I cut them. You can allow the leaves to float for about a day, but no more. Blot them with a paper towel to remove the excess water as you use them.
Always cover you water source to avoid drowning of the tiny ones. I use the "wet" floral foam and cover it with Glad Press n Seal wrap. It will last for a long time with re-wetting with a spray bottle. Jello pudding cups cut in half work for small cages I like to use.***

****I of course have not had the volume that Bruce experiences and would no doubt be unable to keep up with that demand, but this works for me. I house the tiny ones together then separate the larger ones with only three to a cage when they are big enought to pupate.



This message was edited Sep 10, 2012 11:09 PM