I recently discovered some BSTs cats. on my fennels and Parsley plants. One felt off of the parsley onto the ground this morning. It happened once again with another one this evening. A 3rd cat. must be on its 2nd instar was brought indoor in hope I can prevent the same thing that infected the other two. Have you any idea what would have attacked my two cats.?
You said they fell off but didn't say they died, but I am assuming they did...
It could have been a wasp. Some sting the cats and take them back to feed their young in the nest. Then it could and most likey was a microscopic wasp that inplants their egg in the young caterpillar and when it matures and starts to pupate it dies and the wasp hatches out.
Farmers consider them beneficial insects....but they indescriminately kill butterfly caterpillars. This is the main reason some of us take the eggs and small cats we find inside and raise them.
http://www.beneficialinsects101.com/trichogramma.html
I forgot to include a picture of one such happening. After a Monarch was trying to make it's chrysalis it died and these came out.
Thanks Sheila for the above website. The 2 cats. was perhaps paralized? And indeed did not recover. I suspected spiders maybe the culprits however for there were spider fur-balls on the Parsley where the cats. were found. The youngest of the 3 are doing fine indoor in a butterfly pavillon -- I'm happy to announce.
Outdoor on the Fennel; these fellas are still safe and sound. I'm reluctant to bring them inside fearing that I may not be able to provide enough fresh fennels for them?
Poor babies! I didn't think that raising caterpillars and butterflies would be so heart wrenching!
Jen, the reality is, nature is harsh. These little ones are faced with all sort of predators from day one. There were more eggs on the same Fennel that the above cats. were on. Yesterday evening I came home ... nothing is left. How sad.
Lily....if you bring in the cats when they are first instars (with white band) you can feed them a different host plant. This year I had more rue last year it was parsley. The older ones won't switch I have found.
Thank you Sheila, I'll keep that in mind for the next batch. Question please, the above pic. with the cats. as shown. Do you think those were the 5th instars (final instars) before they pupate? Could they have wandered off to safe heaven for the next stage. I think I'm mourning the loss of my cats. :((
Lily, those are 5th instars above. They could have wondered off to pupate.
Jen it is harsh...but it also very rewarding when you have been successful and release another butterfly.
My 2 new BST eggs hatched today. They were on Queen Anne's Lace but I am switching them to fennel. The ones eating fennel seem to grow much faster!
I now have 1 in a chrysalis...3 more getting ready...they purged yesterday. And 3 little ones that I hatched that are growing VERY slowly. I have 2 eating the Queen Anne's. The smallest I just switched to fennel yesterday and it seems to be doing better this morning. And then the 2 new ones.
A little girl down the street asked me if it was my job find caterpillars and raise butterflies. I just thought that was so cute! lol
Thank you Nan, that helps me feel a little better. I could have brought those cats. indoor and watch them transform without worry about not having enough to feed them. Oh well, water under the bridge! On the lighter note, the one BST that I brought indoor as mentioned above, is purging today. I found the thing wandered around, but refused to eat when I offered fresh parsley cutting. I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed that this will be a a success. My first BST ever.
Big smile about the child being inquisitive. I'm totally with you I think that was tooooo cute.
Oh good news beside BST, I saw a dark form TST flitting around my willows, I hope it was laying eggs. I'm so ready to see more butterflies in the garden. Thank again Nan for your reply.
Nan, oooh I meant to say congrats on the Chrysalis, and others. Care to share some pics.? Oh I found one single 1st instar on the same Fennel that those other cats. were found. There were more than a dozen eggs, and only one hatched! The little one is no more than the size of an ant. Tiny tinsy bit little bird-drop like little thing. lol
I might be able to get a pic of the chrysalis. The 3 that are in the process I am afraid to open the container since one decided to settle on the lid! The other 2 were nice and used the stickes I put in there for them. :)
Will see what I can do.
Oh...you are very welcome! I know I had lots of questions at first!
This message was edited Jul 15, 2010 7:16 PM
Great news on the caterpillar front I see. As for opening the lid...wait until the chrysalis is made and hardened.
One of our 2 new ones that hatched yesterday!
The biggest from the first batch of eggs that I brought in which hatched on July first.
Its roomy is smaller....
These are the 3 toddlers that were 4th instar when I found them on my fennel. They made their chrysalis overnite last night.
#1
#2
#3 on the lid....
Looking good nanny.
