DH and I find that we need to enlarge our butterfly rearing accomodations. Some of you have talked about your large setups. Would you be willing to post photos and discuss what works really well and what is problematic? For example,in our next box, I want to make sure we design a way to make photographing the cats easier.
Thanks,
Maggie
butterfly rearing setups
here's some pic's of my cage
another
the little cage was my first try.I worked well but to much work getting plants in and out.
This message was edited Jul 16, 2006 2:56 PM
again
New born Monarch next to a plate with rotten banana
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and
ashot to show shelves ,very important.
This message was edited Jul 16, 2006 2:55 PM
another,oops sorry same
This message was edited Jul 16, 2006 3:01 PM
and
will return with more details if you'd like.
Don
I am fascinated by your cage pics. I have never seen one before.
Please tell us where you place it? Under a tree? In dappled shade? Part sun/shade?
tabasco,It's under an oak tree or I should say several oak trees.Probably 2 hours of morning sun then dappled to part the rest of the day.It's pretty light so if the need to move it arises I'm able to do so solo.I've only had a few chrysalis damged due to heavy rains and high winds.I'm able to put in about 40 1gallon pots of milkweed,or 4or5 3 gallon pots of passion flower.As Monarch and GF's are the only cats I've been able to attact so far.I've only been doing the butterfly thing since Jan/Feb.I'm on my 4th batch of monarch's with about 250 released so far and about 50 GF's released.
It's alot of fun ,but for every question I figure out the answer to 6 more then arise.
Don
That's a lot of juggling of gallon pots! sounds like your cats really go through the host plants. Must be fun to watch your cats mature though!
I wonder if I could do that here in Ohio....mmmm....
I am using a mesh reptarium that is 16.5" X 28" X30. I can get three 1 gallon milkweeds in the enclosure. I currently have 15 to 20 chrysalises hanging from the screening and just released 3 more monarchs this morning. There is a larger 260 gallon size that is 30 x 30 x 71 which sells for $90 at reptilesupply.com. They are easy to use and can be put in your washing machine for cleaning.
tabasco anywhere that Monarch's leave larvae on milkweed it could be done. Just as long as you have enough milkweed to feed the horde of just like teenage boys eatting cats.Boy they can rifle through the stuff quick!
Just FYI...I found some great "cages" at Live Monarch.com
they're made out of mesh and collapsable(sp?) They have worked really well!
That's a gorgeous setup Donlaclair. How do you go about cleaning it if it's occupied? What do you use for the bottom? I'm thinking hardware cloth might be better than the screen we have now. More ventilation, better frass removal, more support. On the other hand, hardware cloth might let the lizards in.
I saw a mention of spritzing cats on another topic. Do you do that? I'd previously seen mentioned only that cats like humidity but no so much that they get a fungus.
Thanks for sharing your pics,
Maggie
Maggie,
as far as cleaning,well it's it catch what catch can.Hard to do when it full of plants,but I sweep what I can on the ground.When everything is hatched out then I do a real good cleaning.That's what the bottom is,ground.For now just the bottom open is working out well with the watering and cleaning aspect.Hardware cloth I think is way to open for this.way to many enemies could get in.Cats could get out I think.As for spritzing never really thought about doing it.But maybe I ought to start.I've found my greatest attrion comes from the first and second instar stage.Like I'll start out with 100 small cats on plants in my 4 empty fish tanks untill they get large enough to take out to the cage .I will probably only get about 70-75 to make it out to the cage.I've been trying to find out what other folks have experianced but haven't really had much luck. I've only been doing this since Jan/Feb so I'm just learning ,and making alot of mistakes I'm sure,But man is it fun.
Don
I am just finishing up a horde of PvSTs and Paolydamus. My attrition rate is roughly 25%. I'm still learning too- especially since last year we only really had monarchs. I lost several last year after a bad summer in Jacksonville where there were ticks everywhere and I had no choice but to spray. Despite being as careful as I could, I know that many we lost last year were due to neurotoxins.
Thanks for your help,
Maggie