DAILY BUTTERFLIES Page 67

We came from here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1016010/

Well, the other thread was getting long and I wanted to show off my Eastern Black ST - which is what I believe DNP was taking pictures of at the end of the last thread. One way you can easily ID the EBST is that it has a bullseye near its tails. See the orange-red dot with the black dot inside it? Lots of butterflies have the red or orange spot but the EBST is the only one (at least here in FL) that has a black dot inside of it.

Ok, I teased you with talk of my cherry tree caterpillars. To catch everyone up, last year Dad ripped out our palm trees (one died and the others were too hard to maintain). Naturally, I replaced them with native Florida trees - red cedar on one side of the house and a black cherry (Prunus serotina) on the other. I was hoping to attract Red-Spotted Purples even though I'd never seen one in my area. I also knew that Tiger STs will use cherry, although according to one of my books, "south of Ocala they exclusively use Sweetbay Magnolia".

I'm about two hours south of Ocala so I've been sure to check every magnolia tree I see when I'm out hiking. I've never found a Tiger ST. So far my cherry tree has netted me the Red-Spotted Purple cats I was hoping for and also some fun moths - Nason's slug moth and some Gray Furculas.

So a couple of days ago I'm out there hoping for more RSP and instead I find eggs. Eggs that look a lot like Swallowtail eggs. I waited for them to hatch - and these guys that look a lot like Black ST cats or maybe a darker version of a Giant ST cat come out. I know Tiger STs don't turn green until later, but can someone tell me if that's what I have? Is there another ST that will use cherry?

In other news, one of my co-workers liked my talk at "Bring Your Child to Work Day" so she invited me to come talk at her Vacation Bible School. I gave the talk last night and those kids were so fun. Mom came along as my assistant and walked around showing things to the kids as I talked about them. I borrowed a net from the museum and Mom and I caught various butterflies in our yard (she freed them this morning). I wanted to show them the diversity of shapes, sizes, and colors. They loved petting the caterpillars, especially the Monarchs. The brave ones believed me when I said the Gulf Frit wouldn't sting them. I also brought the two Tersa Sphinx moth pupa and they loved watching them squirm in their hands. My co-worker thought they were ugly so I pulled out my book to show her what they turn into and then reminded her that all of God's creatures are beautiful, lol! It was a lot of fun and I highly recommend everyone share their knowledge and passion with as many people as they can. I think one of my other co-workers has already claimed me for the Great American Teach-In this fall!


When I was out collecting various cats for the kids, I found some more skippers - eggs on my beans and a few cats on the desmodium. Looking closer, I noticed that two cats on the desmodium appear to be Dorantes skippers (as opposed to the Long-Tailed Skippers)! Notice the lack of a yellow line down the side and the plain brown head capsule. I knew I had seen some flying around the yard so I'm glad I found cats. My first Dorantes is still in his chrysalis but then again, so is the Long-Tailed Skipper who went in about the same time. I keep yelling at them to come out but it hasn't worked yet.

Melanie

mellie - looks like you have Eastern Tiger Swallowtail cats - time will tell for sure.

~ Cat

Hi folks. :-)
I was wondering if anybody could help me with an id for this little one that was loving the russian sage this morning.
He is probably on my county list at B&M of NA but I can't seem to pick one.

angele - looks like a Palmer's Metalmark (Apodemia palmeri) but I can't say for sure as am not familiar with that species.

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1657

~ Cat

Had our monthly butterfly meeting http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabast/ today at NABA - http://www.naba.org/nababp/Index.html which is now known as NBC (National Butterfly Park in Mission, TX).

The highlight of the day was a Broad Banded Swallowtail (Papilio astyalus)

~ Cat

This message was edited Aug 1, 2009 3:43 PM

Thanks Cat, I just looked through every single Metalmark at B&M and thought Palmer's was close. Every county surrounding my county has a confirmed report so I think it is a strong possibility.

Wow! Gorgeous BF & photo Cat!!!

angele...that metalmark threw me for a loop as I didn't see any records for NM's Sierra County on the BAMONA site but then again, that site doesn't update their sightings either. We get gobs of butterflies here that aren't listed on there.

I pretty much narrowed it down using the Kaufman Focus Guide for Butterflies of North American book :o)

Sure is a pretty little butterfly. Wish we had that one here!!! Metalmarks are really pretty!!!

~ Cat

Another photo of the Broad Banded Swallowtail :o)

~ Cat

That is a georgeous ST Cat! It looks a lot like the GST, is it as large? How far into TX do they come?

Checked what we think are GST eggs on Tickle Tongue tree. Have three of these guys, although one egg had turned slightly brown and hasn't looked good to this amateur for a few days and doesn't look as good as the other two now. Will try to find DH's tripod for camera and get a better photo. And yes, I'm tempted to bring these guys in but afraid I'd screw it up since I know so little about all this but can't stand the thought of the ants getting these little guys.

Looks like you've got GST cats, congrats! I can't think of any other cats that even use that kind of tree. They wouldn't be hard to raise.

Well, the ants were crawling all over and when they started biting me, I said, okay, that's enough. I cut the little branches off that the cats were on. Put them in the refrigerator container that Sheila gave me the other day - You KNEW I couldn't resist, didn't you?

Now what do I do? Please.

Speaking of Giant STs, you may remember that I had all these mystery eggs on my rue a few weeks ago. Since both the Black ST and the Giant ST use rue as a host, I just didn't know who they were going to grow up to be. Well, they turned out to be Black ST (no complaints here as the Giants have already found my Hercules' Club). But then the other day I was checking the rue for any I might have missed and I'll be darned if I didn't find a Giant ST cat! How one managed to get in amongst all those other Black ST cats, I'll never know. And why would the Mommy butterfly even lay with all those other eggs around? Maybe she did it after I picked them off. Hmm. Something to think about.

Got to talk to a real nice family from Belgium today at the museum. The kids (who were teenaged) took tons of pictures of caterpillars I brought out to show them. The Dad spoke very good English so we chatted and he helped translate. I think the kids could understand me but were shy about speaking in English. I thought I saw the son mimic stinkhorns so I grabbed a Polydamas and showed them. They immediately took out their cameras and started shooting again. We were talking Monarchs and the father mentioned one time he saw one in Morocco. I knew they were widespread, but that widespread? I encouraged them to walk through the gardens after they were done inside the museum so they could see even more varieties flying around.

I saw a Pipevine ST flying around the garden and after hours of pursuit, I caught up with him and netted him. Well, it may have been a girl but I think it was a boy. A little tattered too, but we don't have any in the flight cage right now. The sulphurs are wearing their summer colors and I've seen a few that are just gorgeous. Still not seeing many Zebra Longwings but there are plenty of Black STs munching our parsley. Saw a lot of Monarchs flying but not too many cats right now. Our milkweed could look a little better, but it is July and this is Florida. Even I'm wilting, LOL!


Totally off topic, but hearing my name spoken with a European accent is just such a thrill! Even if it is being said by a middle-aged married guy with two kids, LOL!

Melanie

DNP, we posted at the same time! Just keep some fresh leaves in there for them to eat, dump out the frass (poo) every now and then, don't try to move them if they're going to molt (I learned that the hard way), and stay clear of the stinkhorns. I'm raising Giant STs right now, too. Let us know when they're getting almost full grown so we can tell you all about gut purging and sling-building.

Oh, and don't worry about air holes. Everyone always asks if my cats need to breathe. I mean, they do, but I open the containers to look at them several times a day and that seems to be just fine.

Melanie

hmmm...I am confused on who this one might be....

my little monarch cat is growing!!

Nan, are you trying to torment me? That's a Red-Spotted Purple! The whole reason I planted a cherry tree next to my house! So pretty. Sigh.

DNP, you've got some hairstreaks there! As for the milkweed, I've heard it doesn't like to be transplanted. I grow mine from seed for the most part. At the museum, we take cuttings, let the cats chew them down to stubs, and then replant them. They tend to come back really easily so perhaps you could take cuttings?

Melanie

Ohhhhh...sorry..heehee!!!

I thought that was what it was...but I keep hoping for a BST! I will trade ya...

Sheila,

The Broad Banded Swallowtail comes from Mexico and is a rare stray to south Texas - we usually see a couple each year. Saw that BAMONA has them recorded for the southern most parts of Arizona and New Mexico and there are a couple of records for northeast Texas and northeast New Mexico.

Nanny - grrrr...we don't get those RSP here!!!

Melanie - funny story - now we know how to get your attention - say your name with a European accent!!!

~ Cat

Cat, only if you want me to go all googly-eyed, LOL!

Nan, I got my first RSP cats this year - two in the wild and and another one at my house. So they're here, but not too many. Mom saw one in the yard one day and emailed me a picture at work because she wanted to know what kind it was. I was on the phone in seconds telling her to get it to go to the cherry tree (like she controls nature or something).

DNP, I was thinking Gray Hairstreak but it's hard to tell with just the end showing. It's good that you're spotting the smaller butterflies; some people often overlook them or mistake them for moths.

Melanie (who is on gut purge patrol)

Just checked & 2 more of my monarch eggs have hatched!! Now I have 3 babies!

DNP,,,that's right...I knew you would need it. Now you are hooked! Linda is right the GST is not hard to raise. Don't let Melanie scare you off with talk of stink horns and purge. LOL!!
Just pick a stem and wash it good after looking close for bf eggs. The washing will make sure little spiders, ants or insect eggs aren't lurking there.
As for trying to root the Antelope Horn it would be a waste of time I am afraid. Since you do have a lot of it close, you might try a small plant by digging around it and deep. Pot it and keep it in mostly shade until you are sure it took before trying to set it out.

Melanie...,You are just having too much fun at work. Love hearing all of the stories though. I love the English accents too. LOL!

Congrats Nanny on the Monarchs and RSP!

Cat...Thanks for telling me about the locations. I figured by your excitement it was rare site in th e area.

Oh darn...my cat that I posted a pic of above died over night.....still have 2. Wonder what happened?

Does anyone know how many days inbetween the instars? Like how many days from the first until the 2nd?

I was collecting swallowtail cats to put in the terrarium and came across what appeared to be a double row of eggs with about 8 eggs in each row. Does anyone have any idea what that might be?

Not sure but they more than likely are a predator insect of some type. I would isolate them if you want to find out. Or if you can take a picture, post it on the identification forum.

A chrysallis for the first of the skipper cats to pupate on my mallows. Odd looking...is it just me or can you see a smiley face on it also?

Cute Linda!

Sus - got a photo of the eggs? Most predatory bugs lay clusters of eggs. Some moths lay eggs in rows. What plant were the eggs on?

Nanny...it's usually a couple of days from first instar to second, then about three days from second to third and fourth. Just depends on how much food is available and what the temperature is.

~ Cat

ps...here's Linda's litle smiley chrysalis :o)

LOL! That's so CUTE, Cat!

Went outside to pick caterpillar food and feed the mosquitos and there were more of those Swallowtail eggs on my cherry tree! I also spotted a female Pipevine ST and she landed on my Trilobed Pipevine but I think the fact that there were a million Polydamas cats on it turned her off. Waaah!

Melanie

I really think that is a TST cat in your pic, Melanie! Unless you have Two-tailed Tigers where you live...they both look pretty similar.

Thanks Cat!

We don't get the two tailed Tigers but I'll be more than happy with the plain ones, LOL! It's funny that I pick the eggs off the cherry in hopes they'll lay more, whereas I leave a few cats on the pipevine to discourage any egg-laying. At the museum we keep each species in a separate 20 gallon aquarium tank. Right now we have four tanks of Polydamas! They're insane!

One of the Tiger cats looks like he's going to molt soon so hopefully he'll show some more detail.

Melanie

I have been keeping the refrig. container with the cats in it on my front porch in the shade. Temp usually about 85 to 95. Is that okay, or would it be better to bring it in the house, temp 74 to 76 degrees?

Two of them are eating and moving around. The third stays on a different stem of prickly ash, doesn't move much and seems to get smaller instead of larger and I've had doubts about it since the start. One was being attacked by an ant at the time I decided to bring them in and I'm guessing it is the one that isn't thriving.

Ants are the bane of my existence here. We have more varieties than you can count but especially bad carpenter ants and fire ants, and I'd like to sue those companies for false advertising that advertise that their product will work "all season long" because it doesn't. When I took this photo, I didn't realize there was an ant in it until later.

Polydamas are eating my pipevine down to nothing

Yup, ants are a fact of life. Now DNP, those same cats thrive in my zone which is a heck of a lot hotter than yours. They'll be fine! I keep mine in the house but that's only so I can watch them. Oh, but I do have a butterfly house on the patio that has Monarchs in it right now and they're cool. And sometimes cats will die for no apparent reason. I just lost a bunch of Polydamas but they were acting like they'd been poisoned. I know the TruGreen guy was here last week but he's supposed to stay OUTSIDE my flower beds. I can't just fire him because this is my parents house and I've already gotten them to compromise on a lot. Then again, maybe my neighbors are spraying or the county mosquito people drove by.

And the Polydamas are eating up so much of my Pipevine I had to stop by the museum tonight on the way home and pick some so I could feed the little suckers.

Found more Long-Tailed and Dorantes Skippers on the beggarweed!

Melanie