Daily butterfly pictures #90

Holy cow. How is it that you have all those monarchs and I can't raise a one!

So what I did was to create some supplemental housing this am (see photo). We have already started moving some of the Chrysallises, so hopefully they will have more room to eclose

One was just emerging as I was typing and DW said it had trouble because it was crowded.

We now have appx. 60 chrysallises, and over 100 cats, as we are gearing up to use the 200 tags we got from www.monarchwatch,org

filling up quickly!

Busy morning here--four have eclosed--two more are ready--i believe you can see one black chrysalis in the background--part of a J to the left, and a wanderer looking for a spot. Good thing I built more housing for them.

What amazing pics from all of you!! So good to see the butterflies starting to show themselves and it's so cool to see how you guys "raise" them :) I'm not sure if/when I ever said this, but I don't have a garden because I live in an apt on the 3rd floor. So I go out hunting :) And I hit Butterfly Nirvana today!!

Went down this dirt road, took a left and realized that it was a dead end. But I went down to the end to turn around ..and there it was.. a field of wildflowers and I swear it looked like there were butterflies on every plant! The majority of them appeared to be these little guys that I'm going to post. But then I'll put on some of the others that I saw there. Please ID for me :)

And this one on the right...

And was thrilled to see this one!

And is this a black version or a different butterfly all together?

And this is the last one that I got a picture of.. I did see a Monarch, but it never did land-but it showed me where some milkweed was. I looked but didn't see any cats, so I didn't disturbed the area any more.

All of the pictures above were taken in the ditch..I didn't go into the field, because it was posted as No Trespassing. But I'm hoping to go back and find out who owns that land to get permission to actually go into the field. Here's a picture of it- can't really see what I saw, unfortunately.. but it was full of butterflies!

I think so too...check that MW in a day or two!

BCH…The new housing will definitely help I bet. Yes, I found they do have problems with emerging in a crowd also. Plus if one flutters it may scare another and they loose grip and fall. Speaking of grip…..I had issues with the foam at first with them grabbing hold. If you do, try gluing a strip of fabric for them to grab onto along the vertical surface of the foam. Also with them pinned, if two turn dark that are side by side, you can separate them before they emerge. Love seeing all the potential Monarchs!!

Clan…such a treat for you to find I am sure!! No time to help with the id’s now, but will check back. You do need to find out who owns the land and get a letter of permission to be there for sure. I saw thistle, which is host for a bf, but can’t remember which one right now.

I brought 12 Queen cats I found in and I saw a Gulf Frit cat on my Passi!!! More than I have had in a long time. Plus we got rain for the first time in about two months!!!

Clan, you've got some nice ones there. I think the yellow ones are Clouded Sulphurs (someone argue if you think that one is a Dog-Faced Sulphur), the big yellow guy is a Tiger Swallowtail. The black one is an Eastern Black Swallowtail. The little guy is either a crescent or a checkerspot. You get a lot more varieties up there than I do of those species so it's hard to say. And thistle is a great nectar plant, but like Sheila, I can't remember who hosts on it off the top of my head.

Melanie

Melanie, thank you so much for the info! I've changed the name on my pics, so that I'll know for next time :)


I do have one more.. It wasn't until I got home and uploaded the picture, that I realized that I didn't just get a butterfly in the picture..look to the left beside him. What a surprise!

Christine, looks like you've a type of Sulphur butterfly and a chrysalis of some kind to the left to it. Ummm. Can someone one help confirm my take please?

A female Tigerswallowtail? It doesn't look like the BST I just released earlier in the day.

I have been so wrong lately, I am not going to even try~LOL!! Dale?????

Another view of the same butterfly;

Clan, I'd say you found a newly eclosed sulphur because that chrysalis looks like the kind they make. Plus, the wings don't look as stiff as they should be.

I would vote female Tiger ST even though I don't see the stripes in the upper wings; it seems too big for a Spicebush.

Yah, that's a Female TST, you can see the yellow spots up at the top, which is indicative in my guidebook, though the ones I see often don't have that. *shrug*


BCH, I'm still shaking my head with your setup. Good job.

I've an idea. BCH can open a business making customize housing for butterflies for a premium price. Shipment should be easy to do these days? How about it BCH?

I'm in, and you all can be design consultants!

This one likes it, but I can see I put the strips too close together--back to the drawing board

Try try again!

Hah, moi? Consultant? Umm, what's the comission gonna be? lol I already like what you've got, need to patent it first. There is my first business advice. lol

Thanks Mellie and Marna for helping confirming the TST i.d.

OK, here is plan B, glued some strips on the tops of the existing foam, and hung the chrysalles from the strips--now they should have plenty of room

Also, took Sheila's advice and glued on some screen, so they can get a grip, so looks like Sheila gets the 1st consulting fee when i make my fortune!!

Woohoo!! I'm first, I'm first!! LOL!!

Good job glad you noticed that before it caused problems. I bet the DW is excited that you are making new housing also.

BTW....in that link that I posted above from Marna (not her article, 2nd link) it has a great idea that I plan on using if I ever get to that point again. When the large last instars start their roaming trying to find a place to pupate, he puts them in a cup (gizmo) with paper towel attached to the top. They naturally crawl up and will pupate there. Then all you have to do is cut the paper towel and pin it to your foam...no scraping of the silk!

Awesome set-up BCH, when you get rich and famous, please don't forget us. Sheila, I'm wandering around and looking for that (gizmo) set up.

It wasn't on this thread...LOL!! Got it here, it is the second link.

Great article that Marna compiled for DG…. http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/2358/

Great link on raising butterflies Marna shared… http://www.raisingbutterflies.org/

Nicely done multiple butterfly site…. http://butterflies.heuristron.net/index.php

Monarch Watch website / raising …. http://www.monarchwatch.org/rear/index.htm

Someone’s compact personal website…… http://melanys.tripod.com/butterfly.htm

are those all on the sticky? That Gizmo is on the EBST page for on rasingbutterflies.org.

I had a first for the yard today (that I had seen). A great spangled frit. No picture. I went to get the camera and it was gone. Other than that, just a mild day. A couple of monarchs, one female was laying eggs on the whorled milkweed. Couple of buckeye, hackberry emperor, red admiral, the GS Frit. Oddly no tiger swallowtails today. Had a bunch of those through the week though.

Found this hapless cat's remain on my brug leave this morning (felt off from the oak tree or sweet gum above). Apparently one of the bird's found it impalatible? I recognized it to be one of the bigger moths. But I've forgotten which. Still, I'm looking for Monarch and G.Frits. But none has arrived here.

Not sure if they are on the 'sticky' or not Marna. The sticky is very unorganized I know, but if you know it is there it is a good place to find something.

Lily...that could be part of a Polyphemus moth cat....not certain though.

okay, well, it's stuck now!

LOL! Thanks my friend.

Sheila, I believe you're right. A Polyphemus cat. or was. :(( Thank again all for reposting some of the great website for newbies. I finally got my very first Gulf Frit.! Wooohooooo!

That's a Monarch in the picture. Did you think it was a Gulf Frit or did you post the wrong pic?

LOL, Melanie, actually it was my senior moment . lol I seriously mistaken it was the G.F. Please forgive me. I'm happy all the same for either kind is welcomed. Milkweeds and Passi galore in the garden besides all the nectaring flowers. Bring 'em on.

ROFLOL!! Congrats on the Monarch....even better!

Does this mean my CD of Sweet Home Alabama worked? Congrats on the monarch

BCH, it worked, it worked!!!! Please crank it up some more. lol Thanks Sheila.

Eastern Tailed Blue (♂)

open wings