Melanie & Russell, great pictures. Really wonder how that bee would still be flying! LOL!
Dale.....I guess it is only a "few" considering the numbers you handle at the exhibit!
I am confused though. Do they change to a black spikey cat before pupating? I raised one I found in the "j" once. Here is what it looked like. Is it the same one you have?
Mrs Ed...from the looks of it, he was very happy. I have never seen a bee roll in a flower before, but this guy was clearly having fun, almost doing a backstroke in each flower before moving on to the next one. There was a giant patch of those flowers and it presented a great opportunity for all of the bees.
Beautiful MC, Sheila.
What kind of flower is that Russell? Primrose? Poppy? Would love to watch bees bathe in pollen doing the backstroke. :D
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/67513/ They are blooming in sandy soil on the side of the roads in Aransas Pass, TX.
They are very vibrantly colored.
Russell
Sheila: My Mourning Cloak larvae are second and third instar right now -- yours in the photo is fifth. They do change as they age. Just finished squeezing in a hackberry cuttings for them to munch on. Thankfully, I have lots of hackberries here.
Also, Sheila, I meant to ask you today when I saw you in the exhibit: are you coming to listen to Dr. David Wagner next Thursday night when he gives his presentation at the Botanic Gardens? He's the author of "Caterpillars of Eastern North America" (as well as several other lepidoptera publications). It's $4, but members of garden clubs or any nature organization get in for $2. Dave's a great guy and he'll be showing some really cool shots of caterpillars from around the world.
Dale Clark
Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society
www.dallasbutterflies.com
Okay, this thread is really long so let's start a new one to celebrate the beginning of the butterfly season! Keep following the conversation here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1249809/
