It took quite a while, but the first of those cats is starting to pupate. It got really fat, then changed colors again and got smaller after dumping. Now it will try to overwinter...hope they all make it to spring.
Two-tailed Tiger Pupating!
So cute!
A two-tailed?! Cool! I'm sure you'll post pic of it later. How exciting!
How cool! What was his host plant?
I hate to ask this...but what do you mean 'after dumping'?
I feel really lucky that these beautiful butterflies return every year and lay eggs here in my area. Here in Texas they lay eggs on Hop Trees most commonly and may also use Black Cherry Trees. This year I found 3 eggs on Hop Trees and one on a cherry tree. They grow very slowly, more so than any other cats I know about. Oh, and different kinds of swallowtail cats often eliminate some stuff right before they pupate. Loose watery stuff, unlike their usual "pellets". Some people just call it dumping.
oh that is so cool!!!
Very cool cat Linda!
They should be fine till spring, just mist them every few days so they dont dry out, then just keep them away from wasps. I know what you mean...so much time hidden, not knowing.
Please post the news in this thread again, so we will know. And start a new thread for it in Spring.. We really want to see it after eclosure for sure.
Linda, do you mist yours? I'm sure you've raised enough to have either decided you do it or not. I don't mist any that I have overwinter. I've heard both pros and cons about it. I have never had any trouble with any overwintered ones not eclosing. This is the first year I've had any trouble with any chrysalids and this seems to be viruses.
It's probably much more humid there than it is here now that I think of it. I have had a few dry out before tho. A few got a virus too, as paige mentioned. The Two-tailed Tiger cat there is so cool!! What about that face? What a character! They do seem like they would be hardier than the little guys I get here so far too. Here I'm preparing more hosts this year to get more kinds to hang out longer than a good drink.
Do you happen to have any old pics of the TTTiger Butterflies Linda?
Linda - Yes! You definately have to post a photo whenever he emerges! I want to see what he looks like, too!
Lucky you...we don't get that butterfly this far south!!! Will be waiting and watchig for chrysalis and butterfly photos.
~ Cat
Okay, here's one old pic of one of the butterflies nectaring in my yard. I do try to remember to mist the chrysalis cage once in a while, especially if we don't get much rain to keep the air humid.
Linda - Beautiful Tiger Swallowtail! That's what I'm trying to attract to my yard. They just fly through my yard. Rarely stopping. I hope to change all of that with new host plants. :-)
wow what a beauty
Oh yeah!!
What can be said? Thank you for finding that picture Linda..extraordinary!!!
Here's a picture of the two-tailed tiger chrysalis. You know, I've never raised the regular tiger, but the two species are very similar-looking cats. The first time I found some two-tails I thought they were the regular tigers. Didn't know any better until the first butterfly emerged later on. Then was I surprised! Two more are pupating now. Only the fourth one is still green.
Linda - Oooh! Thanks for posting the chrysalis photo! I didn't know what their chrysalis looked like! Now I know! Awesome!
looks a lot like the Giant Swallowtail chrysalis. Thanks for the pic and congrats on having more pupating. It is so much fun to watch
That's so awesome Linda!! NIce picture!
Linda, You need to add those to the bug files data base. There is only two pictures there now.
Meant to add the link, here goes:
http://davesgarden.com/bf/
This message was edited Nov 19, 2006 9:00 AM
I guess I should! The only entry I found on there for Papilio multicaudata that has photos clearly shows a Giant Swallowtail, not the Two-Tailed Tiger Swallowtail, so I'll put one on there with the correct species.
I tried to add a new entry, but it's saying it's already in there. I thought maybe I should report the error so they can fix it before doing anything else. BTW, I finally found some photos of the two-tailed tiger butterflies I released earlier this year saved on a CD.
Oh my! Isn't it beautiful!? Thanks for sharing that Linda!
Very nice Linda!