Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening: Butterflies have been busy in my yard, 1 by TexasPuddyPrint

TexasPuddyPrint wrote:
I've been so busy this week I haven't had the chance to look around my yard. Seems the butterflies have been busy!!!

I also found out I have termites so had to call in the exterminator....they had to drill through the foundation outside and inside...but did explain to them when they came to give me an estimate that I raise butterflies and didn't want the plants or yard affected. I also semi-converted four men!!! The two that came by yesterday were really impressed - they wanted me to show them eggs and caterpillars....so I showed them various eggs that were on different larval hosts as well as caterpillars and of course, a few different species of butterflies were flitting about. The Giant Swallowtails flying about were impressive...ya'll know how those big beauties catch your eye and a female even laid eggs while they were watching!!! The two that came today to do the work were curious and said they didn't know people actually raised butterflies and moths. They wanted to know what I did with them when they emerged...and I said, release them to continue the cycle in my yard :o)

One of the men was telling me about how superstitious people are when they see a black moth - saying it foretells death. I told them most moths are seeking a shaded place and that's why covered porches attract them. Also explained the deteriorating natural habitats leave them no other option but to seek out food sources in our landscapes.

I say semi-converted because alas, killing pests that eat plants and wood etc is their business...but they said they would tell their customers about how the butterflies lay eggs on certain plants and that the leaf damage is done by caterpillars and won't kill the plant. The also said they'd ask their customers if they would prefer granules that pests like ants, roaches and termites eat over spraying everything and killing anything that comes into contact with the chemical.

Since the majority of my butterfly plants are not up against the house I think the caterpillars are pretty safe. Most stay on the plant and pupate on nearby trellises and such.

Here's some of the eggs I found and showed them. By the way, they took a breather on my covered back porch and watched as butterflies flitted about. They said they'd never much paid attention to them...but I have opened their eyes.

~ Cat

Giant Swallowtail eggs on citrus - tangerine leaf.