What is a chrysalis?
Good or Bad?
It's the thing that most people call a cocoon, but butterflies make a chrysalis and moths make cocoons. Out of all the BST's I've had, I don't have any pics of their chrysalis. Here is one of a Monarch actually making it's chrysalis, and to the right is a brown BST one. It looks like it has little horns on it. If it's on the plant it will probably be green.
I found one that is closer. That is actually a Queen making it's chrysalis, because this is it in it's J before that picture above. The BST chrysalis is the brown one.
Dumb question: how long does it take a cat to form a chrysalis? Can you actually sit there and see it happening? I have walked away from my YST cats and BAM, when I come back an hour or two later, they are a chrysalis. I let me kids take a chrysalis into school (in small bug cage) and the class got to watch it turn into a butterfly. This is one of the most amazing transformations in nature and I am just totally thrilled by it!
That's not a dumb question! Once they find their place to make their chrysalis, it can be a while from that point, but usually within like 12 hrs. But once they actually start the process of pupating, it doesn't take but a few minutes. If you see them starting you have to sit right there to watch. The most amazing part is how they unattach from whatever they are hanging onto, get their skin off, and reattach without falling off!!! The Monarch and the Queen are the ones I like to watch because their chrysalis actually starts out kind of bumpy then slowly starts to smooth out, then you can see the tiny gold dots.
Hi MollyMc I just got to this forum and agree with most, they are Black Swallowtail's. I have a link to a post I made here a few days ago which shows the cat very clear. Take a look see. http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/519559/
Art
Konkreteblond:
I loved that picture of your beautiful Scarlet Milkweed with the 5 or more Monarch Cats on board. It is a beauty!!!
Thanks Ed! Aren't they cute!? Is Scarlet milkweed the same as Tropical or Mexican? This one has orange and red blooms. (and this year has put off babies with yellow..??)
Well you can't see it behind this big fat guy, but there is one of those Chrysalis hanging on one of the plant stalks.
This looks to be the last one on this fennel and there are some new sprouts starting on the plant. :^))))
Well, there is a new batch of little cats, now taking after my bronze fennel.
The things we do for nature.
Molly
:^)))
That fennel is not as big and bushy as the green was. These guys will starve.
LOL.
Well Molly, you wouldn't be the first person who had to run out to Target to buy up all the parsley and fennel she could find so the caterpillars don't starve...
Who, me?
: looks sheepish :
LOL
Running out of food is scary, but so is buying food that might have been sprayed, so be careful where you get it from. I've always heard that they will pupate early if they run out.
So?? did you pick any of them up yet?
Pick em up? Yes, and one of them puffed at me. Wasn't a real big problem. The first time was a bit maloderous, the second time not even noticeable.
:^)))
konkrete, there is someone one these boards (I cannot remember who) who tells me she either works for or owns one of the huge farms that supply Target with herbs and other plants. She swore up and down to me that Target's herbs are not sprayed. Since she's registered here... I believe her.
Good to know, I think.
That is good to know! My Target isn't a SuperTarget, but if I'm in dire need sometime I'll find one.
Mine isn't either -- it just has a garden center with very good quality, inexpensive herbs.
I should also clarify (noticing that you're in Texas) this DG lady's farms supply FLORIDA Targets... She didn't say anything about other states, although they may very well distribute all around the Southeast. You might want to call your local Target, ask for the Garden Center manager and try to find out who supplies their herbs and then see if you can contact them to find out about spraying. I'm just saying, don't assume Target or Home Depot herbs are sprayed.
Here's my BST cats Molly. They are eating brone fennel because it is the only one I grew for them. I took 4 off today and put in 2 cages and still have 5 out there. These are a first for me. No Monarch or Gulf Frit cats yet
I was so very please today to see a BST flying around the re-emerging green fennel. The 2 little cacoony things are empty now and I suspect this new butterfly came out of one of those. It's like welcoming back a friend.
Funny, this one was flying low and slow. I didn't have my camera this time.
The fennel is trying to grow back now, and there is a whole new batch of cats there, very small ones though.
Now to go look at what a Monarch looks like. I've seen some new colors of B'flies out there this morning.
Molly
:^)))
What a neat thread. I'm so glad ya'll are sharing this with everyone.
was reading up on them last night and found out all Swallowtails use scent as a defense via osmeterium gland so I went out and touched one to see for myself. Here is the pic. Saw a pair of BST but were flying to fast and not setting on any of the flower to get a pic
Donna,
When you tweaked that guy and his little orange things popped up? He let a little toot. Get a little closer next time and you will get a whiff. LOL
Molly
:^)))
Great photo of the bugger doing his thing. Thanks! We need a description of that "whiff, too!"
Molly I read that it smells so I kept my nose away lol
You need to get a whiff for the sake of science. ;-)
Frankly Donna,
I don't believe the odor is intended for predators as large as homo sapiens. As a human, you will detect a stronger odor from basil.
I was closer last week to the cat and it wasn't all that bad. LOL
Molly
:^)))
ROFL Molly
Got pics of BST butterfly finally. Will post when I down load them this evening. Hope they are not blurry. It kept fluttering its wings
Here is pic of the baby cat. Looks like bird poop lol
