OE = a type of parasites that attack Monarch caterpillars, Amanda.
On Aug. 31st I found an egg from the EBST. It looked bright green the past few days. This morning it turned sorta 'orange' in color. Soon it will hatch I think.
Parsleys for BST Cats....questions.
Below is the description of OE, along w/ descriptions of how to test and control--yes we have a microscope, and unfortunately we are finding a lot of our raised monarchs to be infeected. fortunately--I have captured several wild monarchs and have not found any parasites on them
http://www.monarchwatch.org/biology/control.htm
I just hope we don't get any infected Monarch. I saw but one pair of the butterflies here last week in which they've left me no eggs in the many MW in the garden.
I am overrun with BST cats this weekend!!! I found another "population" on some parsley that "bolted" and went to seed months ago. I didn't think there was enough foliage on it to feed one cat let alone a dozen or more (forgot to count!!!). In any event, this population looks different from the ones I've collected from my healthy green parsley - photo attached. Both BST, right? I watched them eating the seed casings because there is no foliage!
Still no Monarchs, but we did have a sighting on Saturday and my boyfriend said he watched her laying eggs.
Also - setting up containers for the BST cats ready to spin themselves into their cocoons - what's the best placement of twigs or media for them to hang from? I've only hatched out 2 or 3 BST in my butterfly career. It seemed they like to be almost vertical. Think I read someone just runs paper towels around the inside of the enclosure - guess they can hang from almost any porous surface. Your thoughts are welcome.
Thanks!
Those two do look like BSTs to me. My 'set up' for the caterpillars is very basic. From simple plastic critters carrier like that one I posted on Aug. 10th above, to the cage made for butterfly to the mesh cage that I found in big box store. The main goal is to keep them clean to hopefully ward off diseases.
I've one that's currently spinning silk;
Here is another freshly formed chrysalis of the BST. This one lost some of its silk and is hung on on a thread, literally. (will be back with pix).
The mentioned chrysalis of the BST that was newly formed.
Looks like it maybe wiggled too much in the formation of the chrysalis and slipped out of the stirrup...maybe because of the curve of the surface. When it hardens, you could run a piece of twine throught the wire and tie it where it is to lift it for support.
I'll see what I can do to that little one. There are two now wiggled until they break the silk that keeps them suspended. Thanks Sheila.
Mine are attaching to the container, paper towel, twigs, etc. I'm guessing they will all be wintering (?!) at this late stage, but I guess will keep my eyes open.
Amanda, that's a very good question. Sheila, here in my region 1st frost sometimes doesn't happen until mid Nov. I've two chrysalides; 1 was formed early this morning, the latter this afternoon. Then I've 3 other 5th instars that about to pupate.
My question is to those that had experience with raising these little ones this late in the season. Should I store the chrysalides in the fridge or allow them to eclose naturally?
Please everyone join me on the new thread http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1219092/