Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening: DAILY PICTURES #105, 3 by TexasPuddyPrint

TexasPuddyPrint wrote:
Dale, did you make it down for the Butterfly festival?

The crackers haven't been back and no sign of cracker eggs. The Common Mestras laid eggs on the d discoreifolia but I lost sight of the cats. I found 3rd instar Common Mestras cats on the tragia yesterday.

Berry in Falcon has Gray and Glaucous Crackers on his d. Elegans. I think that is the species. He gave me a small seedling that was growing great but something ate it down to an inch! Am thinking it was a rabbit???

Vit...I firmly believe if you plant it they will come. Give them time. Mexico has way more cool butterflies!!!! I put out butterfly brew and I also have citrus trees so I get brushfoots feeding on that. Mainly Tropical Leafwings and Common Mestras at this time. The lantana, Porter weed, salvias, cosmos, firebush and blue mist flowers are blooming so those attract the butterflies and moths.


Had 46 species on one huge blue mist bush earlier in the week. Even a Zilpa Longtail showed up but when I went to get my camera I couldn't find it again! Found three xerociris wilsonii caterpillars at the ranch - so cool looking! Also saw several Erichson's White Skippers - am usually lucky enough to see several there.

Ahhh and found this small Queen chrysalis on a butterfly garden stake in one of my flower beds - too cute and what makes a caterpillar pick the perfect center to pupate!?!?! Looks like a nose!