Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening: DAILY BUTTERFLIES Page 69, 1 by mellielong

mellielong wrote:
Here's some good info for anyone who wants to raise skippers. All caterpillars have defenses, my favorite being the swallowtails' stinkhorns. Skippers don't have those, but they can be equally obnoxious.

Yesterday, I brought my Long-Tailed Skippers to the museum so they won't eat my beans. I was sorting through the leaves making sure I got everyone safely into their new home. There was one guy that wasn't on a leaf so I was trying to pick him up off the plastic. Suddenly, a gush of green liquid came out. The first time this happened to me, I thought I had injured the cat. Turns out, he just threw up. I guess it's their way of being totally revolting and scaring off predators. I know I sure dropped him in a hurry. Just wanted to let everyone know so if it happens to you, you won't freak out and think you killed the caterpillar. Because normally, caterpillars leaking green liquid is not a good thing.

By the way, while I was cleaning the tank and adding new food to the skippers I've brought in over the last few weeks, I noticed that four of them were Dorantes Skippers. So my boss at the museum should be happy.

Melanie