Daily pictures #97

That's a cool shot of the Zebra Longwing Melanie.

Wish we have more ZLW up this way. They are few and far between.

Keep your eyes open, Sheila. We've had both Zebra Longwing and Julia Longwing sightings in Dallas within the past month.

Dale Clark
Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society
www.dallasbutterflies.com

Got a visit from a black form Tigerswallowtail (I think). And One of my Monarch cat. is about to pupate. Woooohoooo!

Yup, that's the female dark form Tiger ST. Your Monarchs look as hungry as mine, LOL!

Mom found two more Monarch cats but luckily two other cats made their chrysalises so at least I'm breaking even. The Black STs have molted and are striped now which is really cute. Other than that, I'm just waiting for everyone to pop out of their chrysalises.

Melanie

How exciting waiting on all those butterflies to eclose! I'm happy for you Melanie. And thank you for the positive I.D. on the dark form Tiger. I've a little short of 50 Monarch cats. on counting that I'm raising indoor. How long will they stay in the larval form Melanie once they reach their full size at 5th instars please? I'm needing to look around for more milkweeds if they will linger on that stage for a while longer. All the MWs in the garden may not be enough for them.

Wow! 50? That's a lot of Monarchs. They should stay in their 5th instar stage for at 3-5 days I would estimate. Luckily, Monarchs grow pretty fast. Also, if caterpillars don't have enough food sometimes they'll go into their chrysalis a little early and just be smaller Monarchs when they emerge.

Melanie

Thanks for the info. Melanie since it's this late in the season. Will these expected to eclose and released to head further South this time of year. Or will they overwinter in chrysalids? Will they have enough time to fly South if they were to eclose by the middle of Oct.?

Last year, I had zip, none Monarch in the garden. This year I saw 3 adults for but a few day passing by the garden. And since I was so hungry for Monarch cats. I watched for them eagerly afterward. And my patience paid off. Within a few days I collected those many Monarch cats. Oh, all those were newly hatch when I found them. They have molted many times over and about ready to pupate. lol

I've never really known a Monarch to overwinter. They should come out 10 days after they go in. And mid-October would be about right for them to be in your area; maybe just a tad late. I know there's a big Monarch thing around St. Marks (I think that's the right saint) in the panhandle every year and it's always around mid-October. I would expect them to eclose and then head south like the rest of them.

Melanie

I'm so pleased to learn that these future travelers are in my care. The anticipation is great. Now, Bruce. Question for you. Where do I find the tags to tag these butterflies in the near future please?

I thought you could get the tags at monarchwatch.org but I think they may have sold out of this season's tags.

Melanie

Keep it up Lily! Good work.

The usual suspects are out today, but I caught of glimpse of a Brazilian skipper munching on the Mexican petunia a few minutes ago.

I hope to see some variety today.

Russell

My usual Duskywings are out and about on the Spanish Needles. That's why I hate to weed them; the butterflies enjoy them so much. Also saw the Zebra Longwing but he didn't want his picture taken. I did bring in three just-hatched cats that I believe are Zebra Longwings based on their egg color. I'll keep you updated.

Melanie

Many thanks to both Mellie and Bruce. I'll visit the above link and purchase some goodies for my pretties. I've two 5th-instars that remain stationary. Hopefully I'll have a chrysalis being made pretty soon. Love those little skippers as well Mellie. I saw alot of those Sulphurs around our area, an increased number of G.Fs. as well. The season is well on the way for more butterflies here.

Loved all the posts.
Question... Do aphids have any effect on Monarchs laying their eggs on Milkweed?? I have lots of milkweed in the Butterfly Garden and aphids are all over them.

EF - I haven't noticed any change in the Monarchs laying their eggs when a plant has aphids. I think they cause more worry for the gardener than for the BF.

These aren't butterflies, but they are caterpillars. I noticed 3 large tersa sphinx moth caterpillars on my pentas this evening. I never could get a good shot of the green variety, but thought people might enjoy this closeup of the brown one. I brought them in and will hopefully have some moths soon.

Russell

Russell, those Tersa sphinx caterpillars are such cute creatures! I raised several with success earlier in the season. Owed to these nocturnal moths in the garden. I've several of my Datura fruits for the year in which I've promised my local nursery to reserve them some seeds this Fall. Without their contribution, (pollinating the elongated, tubular flowers) most trumpet-shape flowers would likely wilt and fall off and won't go to seeds. Following photos are those of a Red-spotted Purple I saw when I took a walk at a local nature center over the weekend.
Last pic. is a pic. of my half dozen newly formed Painted Lady chrysalides in a butterfly pavilon.

Love those Tersas; I still remember the day I was weeding my pentas and one scared the heck out of me! Those snake mimics work!

Here's a pic of my many, many Eastern Black Swallowtails. Right before I stuffed their cage with rue.

Melanie

Good to see all the cats you all! I can't believe all this summer I only saw one monarch cat and no black swallowtails.

After the Gulf Frits cats devoured all my passion vines, they moved over to my Oleander. Is that "normal"? I'm not complaining at all just didn't know Oleander was a treat for them.

Nice RSP Lily! Mel, I didn't realize how big the Tersa cats got. They are about 3.5 inches long with giant "eyes" to scare off predators. I am enjoying watching them in the BF habitat. They should be making cocoons any time now.

Russell

Gulf Frits only eat passion vine. They're probably looking for more food, but they won't eat oleander. Some of them might be wandering in order to find a place to make a chrysalis.

Melanie

I thought they stuck to the passion Vine but the Oleander is stripped and all I see on it are the cats. The Oleander is next to the Passion vine, which is also stripped.

Are you sure you don't have Oleander Moth cats? They are also orange with black tufts.

Melanie

Bruce, I'm at my wits end. My Monarch cats. appear to be in trouble. They secret meconium fluid, but won't pupate? I afraid the temp. is a little too cool? I am giving them some supplemental light and hoping to keep them warm. I'm so distressed! Needless to say, I didn't purchase any tags fearing I'm losing all these beautiful future butterflies.

Umm...Monarch caterpillars shouldn't secrete any type of fluid - not like swallowtails when they purge. Sounds like something is wrong with them; maybe some kind of disease?

Melanie

Boys Melanie, something is really wrong. I should be seeing some chrysalis forming by now. But they wandering around and look very sickly.

Melanie is right, there shouldn't be any fluid. I don't even know what would cause that, as I haven't seen it before. I do know its not cold weather because its cold here, and no secreting.

Could be parasites; I think I remember some of mine doing that when they were parasatized.

Melanie

I'm so blue!

I'll keep y'all posted on the cats. progress in the morning.

Melanie - never knew such a moth existed. Can't say I've seen any around. Tomorrow I'll definately go & collect any cats, bag & freeze them. Will have to remember to keep an eye out in the future.

Thanks for the ID.

Yeah, I used to have to explain the difference to people when I volunteered at the museum because they thought Gulf Frits were the bad cats that ate their oleander. But Oleander Moths are a little different; they have tufts of black hair while the Gulf Frits have spikes. I don't have any oleander around me so I don't have problems with them, but I've heard they can really do some damage.

Melanie

Both Giant STs emerged today! I also had two Monarchs emerge but Mom took care of them since I was asleep. I also divided the Black STs into two critter keepers since they've gotten so big and numerous. I think I counted 19 total. Here's one of the Giant STs!

Melanie

Those GSTs are beautiful Melanie!

I released five Monarchs this week and it seems that may be it for me. I am not seeing any egg laying now. I am hoping the next disturbance from the north drives some Monarchs down a bit further. I have a lot of MW still and my passiflora didn't get trimmed because the Gulf Frits were in short supply.

This year is bad, if not worse than last year. I didn't see any (monarch) cat. last year. Not sure if I saw any monarch then? But this year I can count on what I've seen on my fingers. Thought, I was lucky to have found the cats. They're so diseased, not sure any will make it? One formed its beautiful chrysalis, then begun to have a gaping hole on its thoracid area. Something is eating at my monatch cats. I am so glad those of you that have success with them. On the positive note; I've half a dozen of V. cardui or Painted Lady (butterflies) that begun to ecloce today. It's also the highlight of my day!

This message was edited Sep 22, 2012 10:33 AM