Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening: Butterfly population down?, 1 by Sheila_FW

Sheila_FW wrote:
Chalcid wasps are very tiny and can get into tule if you keep the cats outside. There is another video on LeBug's link above titled:
"Parasites Killing Our Caterpillars" that show the pupa stage.

Plus I have had chrysalis that were in a cage that had a false bottom outside just for a short time one day and ants made their way in and were feasting on a live butterfly that was just starting to emerge. So even when we try and take percautions, some are not enough. I use a mesh that is strong and high thread count. I wish I could tell you what it is, but don't have a clue. I bought the last that JoAnne's Fabric by me had. The Glad containers work great for me and nothing has gotten into them with the mesh. I don't have them outside, but I do have them in a shop that has insects from time to time. Here is a picture of my set up. I cut the top out of a 2 1/2 c Glad container and hot glue the mesh with only a dot at the four corners. That holds it in place well enough to snap on the lid. The WET floral foam is in a 1/2" bottom of a pudding cup and covered with Glad Press 'n Seal. Cleaning is kept to a minumum with a piece of paper towel on the bottom. Holes for the host plant stems are made with a toothpick fresh each time I feed. After about the third instar I separate them to no more than two per container. They will make their chrysalis in the container, but it needs to be removed to a larger cage after about 1 week. I warm glue them to a piece of foam by the silk or a stem that they are on.