DAILY BUTTERFLIES Page 73

We came from here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1060453/

Well, the weather outside has been frightful, but there are still some butterflies here in Florida. This is a Monarch I released today. I'm sure glad Mom like pansies so much that I plant them for her every winter. Right now, they're about the only thing blooming.

We got down to 20 degrees here, just north of Tampa. Lots of frost which is really what hurts the plants (and no one owns an ice scraper here so we had to improvise to get the stuff off our windshields). I covered all of my bromeliads, my vegetable garden, and brought the few orchids I have inside. Luckily, there was some milkweed and senna popping up in my bromeliads so they got covered, as well.

I had a sulphur come out during the coldest days and he ultimately didn't make it. I did get some good educational photos so his life wasn't in vain.

We do have cold days here in Tampa but what made this so unusual was that we had so many consecutive days of cold weather. The county opened its freeze shelters (for homeless or people who don't have or can't afford heat) and the lady on the news was saying that usually the most days in a row they are open in three. This was the sixth day in a row they had been open and they were running out of supplies.

The butterflies at the museum have a heat lamp in the flight cage, but they were still very sluggish. I made sure none of them were on the ground where they might be stepped on. I just tucked them into the plants and told them to hang in there. All of our tilapia died in the wetland display and I buried five of them. They are non-native so I can't feel too bad, but I read in the paper that there were all kinds of fish washing ashore in the Gulf. The snook were hit especially hard.

Here's my pretty Cloudless Sulphur.

And here's a rare topside view. One good thing about all this frost damage - lots more material to compost!

Yesterday was one of the nicest days we've had so Dad and I were outside working in the yard. It was his day off, and I was off because the county was having one of its five furlough days of the year. No pay, but at least I get a four-day weekend.

We have one of those half-circle drives and in the middle of it is grass and Dad's Canary Island Date Palm. He really wanted one for some reason. Anyway, I convinced him to tear up all the grass, mulch it, and let me plant bromeliads around the palm. This way, I get more planting room, and Dad doesn't have to hear my brother complain about getting speared by the palm when he mows the grass.

While we were outside, we had a few butterfly sightings. Dad saw a Gulf Frit, I saw two Cloudless Sulphurs, and some kind of skipper. Here's one of the Cloudless.

In the house, I've got a couple more Monarchs in their chrysalis, a few Gulf Frits in their chrysalis and one caterpillar, and a boatload of Cloudless Sulphurs. Right before it got cold, Mom told me she had seen a sulphur around my senna for a long time and she thought it was laying eggs. She was right, and I must have brought in close to a hundred. Sulphurs don't have the best sucess rate, especially in the first couple of instars. Last time I counted I had twenty-two, and I've lost two since then.

So as you see, I have a boatload of sulphur cats. My senna is toast, although I had some seedlings coming up in random spots that I managed to grab. I also have a cassia, but it's not looking so good. Luckily, the cassias at the museum look really good so I'll just pick some while I'm there tomorrow. My caterpillars are hungry! I think getting the eggs so early on and then providing them with just the tender new growth helped, but I've still never had this kind of success with sulphurs. I'll probably raise them to chrysalises and then take a bunch to the museum to help replenish the stock. I'm not sure how many butterflies we had make it through the cold, but I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

Oh, one weird thing. A few weeks ago at the museum I found three Sleepy Orange cats! I hadn't seen one in about two months, ever since the sicklepod died off. It was very strange, but they all became butterflies and I got to release two of them myself.

Here's the unidentified skipper I saw yesterday. Do you see what I mean about pansies (okay, I mixed in some violas, too) being the only thing blooming?

Melanie

OH MY!! I sure hate to hear about those butterflies,, and those snook!!! Best eatin' fish there is.

Yeah, they've been busting poachers who were out gathering up stunned fish. Dad told me that's why snook season doesn't start until March; it's just not sporting to catch a fish that can't put up a fight.

Melanie

Well, I know they shouldn't be out there 'doin' that!!! They are getting MY snook!!!!!! And I catch them fair and square,,,, LOL

Saw several Gulf Frits today.

I planted a Parsley and a Dill plant the other day.

The Gulf Frits seem to have come through the cold weather the best. I've seen several caterpillars as well as butterflies. Surprisingly, the rue and parsley I had planted came through the freezes just fine even though I didn't cover them. Good to know they're so hardy!

The other day everyone decided to come out. I had three Polydamas, one Monarch, and two Gulf Frits emerge! Here's the Monarch.

And here's a Polydamas - hope the pipevine comes back soon! Mine is looking pretty toasted.

My Cloudless Sulphurs are still munching away. I've been stopiing by the museum and a local park to get food for them since my senna is nothing but a stick. They're worth it, though!

Melanie

Backside view of a Gult Frit. All I am seeing right now.

Saw a gulf frit and yellow suphur down here in New Smyrna Beach... of course I went off and forgot my camera...
Elaine

Just saw the first Monarch since the freezes. Floating around and not finding any blooming Milkweed. I do have new growth on some of my damaged Milkweed.

Not a good winter to see a lot of butterflies. I released some GF's a while back, but they disappeared.

I brought in plants when it was going to freeze and on small start of a passi was in the mix. I noticed it wasn't doing well and then realized it had a hitchiker. A small cat was eating it to a nub. I have evergreen passi and pulled in some to feed it until it made it's chrysalis. That was about 10 days ago. After it firmed up I took it outside so it could know it was getting cooler again and maybe would over winter. Hope my little guy stays in that form for a while because it is suppose to freeze again this weekend.

I grew Phlox from seed before winter, and it came through the freeezes without a bit of damage. Here is a Gulf Frit visiting today.

Another shot.

Hmmm...never tried growing phlox, although there is a guy down the street who threw a bunch of seeds out along the road and they come back every year now. He threw in some Blanket Flowers too - it really brings in the butterflies. I stopped in his driveway to take pictures one day and of course he came out with the whole, "What is this strange girl doing in my yard?" look on his face. Luckily, I'm very non-threatening. I think it's the dimples!

The only new caterpillars around have been the Oleander Moths at the museum. The flight cage activity has increased though; I picked lots of Zebra Longwing eggs and there are many Monarch eggs, too. I prefer to deal with Monarchs once they've hatched and grown a bit so I left them alone for now.

Lots and lots of rain is making things turn green again. The cassias are sprouting back, the milkweed has leaves again, and many of my nectar plants have also sprouted. Let's just hope we don't get another frost! My fledgling vegetable garden is doing well, too! Let's just hope my cabbages are ready to harvest before the Checkered Whites start emerging!

I don't think I mentioned it here, but Mom saw the hummingbird about a week ago hitting up the pansies! Like I said before, they're about all that's blooming right now. I'm really glad Mom is such a pansy fan because I get the feeling they're what's keeping a lot of insects alive in my neighborhood. I've even seen some bees hanging out on them.

I can't wait until the butterflies start emerging in a month or so. I'm determined to raise Red Admirals this year. I've already scouted several patches of pellitory. Last year I saw a Red Admiral really early in the spring so I'm hoping that is typical and that I might find some caterpillars soon. It's always fun raising a new species!

Melanie

Maybe they are after it only because it's the only thing blooming now. This is about the only color in my yard now, so I am so glad I grew some. I was very surprised when that week of freezing temps did not damage it.

Now I am having zone envy! The only color besides the evergreen plants is the pansies I planted for the Varigated Frits!

Hey Mel, I just clicked on your id and saw the Myspace link and found your picture. You are one pretty lady. I always wondered what you looked like but only saw your young looking hands with the butterflies. You should post that pic on your DG Member page.

Pansies also came thru well here, I guess they love the cold. I am thinking next fall I will start some of them.

Thanks, although that picture is about ten years old now! Yikes! Ever since I turned thirty last year I've kind of freaked out a little. My parents both turned sixty so they're a bit more freaked than me. I guess I still look mostly the same except for a few extra pounds, LOL!

Had a sulphur try to come out today but didn't quite make it. Stopped by the park to pick more cassia for the three (now two) who are left. Not sure about one of them so it might just be one left come tomorrow. I've had a few just kind of waste away; I don't know if it's a disease or what. I had one guy that fell making his chrysalis but I just left him on the gound until he hardened up. I managed to get him taped to the side today and he's looking good. Kept wriggling back and forth when I tried to stick the tape to him.

The temps here are perfect (low 51, high 64) and today there was lots of sunshine. It's supposed to rain tomorrow evening into Friday but we're loving the rain. Can't wait to see my plants sprout and more butterflies out and about!

Melanie

Sunshine would be nice! It's been alternating between cold drizzle and cold rain here. We'll start clearing by Friday. Last year people here were very sick of drought and would have been so excited over a wet winter.

Skipper on the Phlox this morning.

Gulf Frit in the grass. I saw three of these on my Phlox at one time.

My butterflies will return...
My butterflies will return...
My butterflies will return...

Nice shots my warm weather friend!

Mellie,, 30 is VERY YOUNG,,, I have parsley that is growing and ready up here....

My butterflies willllllllllll return 2..lol

Elaine

Cooling off again this week, but no freezes! It is nice starting to see the color of Butterflies again. Now I'm expecting to start seeing Dragonflies soon.

We have a possiblity of snow again this next week!

Sheila,, brrrrrr, you keep all that snow over your way. We usually get what's left.. I am soooooo tired of cold and wet.

Yes everyone, your butterflies will come back. We had a couple of Monarchs working at it this weekend at the museum! I love pointing out butterfly sex to people. You should have seen the look on the (teenage) volunteer's face when I demonstrated that yes, Monarchs can indeed fly while having sex. Priceless!

I went in on Saturday instead of my usual Sunday because today Dad and I attended the annual depression glass show. The museum wasn't too crowded but we had a steady stream of visitors. There were lots of families and luckily I brought in my sulphurs - the one caterpillar I have left is the only one big enough to handle. We have lots of first instar Monarchs and Zebra Longwings, but I like to have something the kids can pet. Okay, the adults like to pet them, too. I had one lady who was terrified of caterpillars and couldn't believe I was just letting one crawl on my hand. Her boyfriend was braver though, and he let it crawl on his hand.

I had three Cloudless Sulphurs emerge so I added those to the flight cage so we'd have a bit of diversity. The Virginia Peppergrass is looking good; I'm keeping my eyes open for Checkered Whites.

Here's the Monarchs in love!

I was a little worried about my senna, but the other day I noticed a little green at the bottom where it's sprouting again. The milkweed is coming back, too.

I was in the flight cage talking to one of the teenage volunteers who was very interested in the butterflies. I like educating them. Anyway, I was in the middle of a sentence when something caught my eye and I said, "Holy crap! What is THAT?" It turned out to be our Polyphemus Moth that emerged (finally). It is HUGE! And furry, too! I kept pointing it out to people and we agreed it was very scary-looking. I assured everyone it only looked frightening; it couldn't actually do anything. Why is it that furry insects look so much more intimidating?

And finally, I saw a new butterfly recently. He was fluttering around inside Target, but he seems much happier at home with me. Apparently, their population peaks in the weeks before February 14th. He seems happy to nectar on melted chocolate and has a deep appreciation for roses. Also attracted to shiny objects like jewelry. He's very affectionate and likes to be cuddled. Wonder if I could add him to the Bug Files, LOL!

Melanie

Mellie, you are too funny. I just love that furry critter. I will have to hunt for him.

Elaine

Yes, I think they migrate after the 14th! LOL!

My Polydamas formed the chrysalis Nov. 24. Do you think
that it is still alive?

Oh yeah, we've had some at the museum waaay longer than that. He's looks good; don't worry unless he turns black and smells funny.

Melanie