I decided to start a new thread to document the progress of Deb's (debnes_dfw_tx) two chrysalises. Her package arrived by overnight today (January 9, 2007). See photo.
The Tale of 2 Chrysalises
One chrysalis is that of a Gulf Fritillary and the other chrysalis is of a Black Swallowtail. They traveled from Ft. Worth, Texas to Sebastian, Florida. The caterpillars were hand-raised by Deb until they went into their chyrsalis form.
Deb will have to fill us in on the details of how long she raised them as cats and how long they had been in their chrysalis stage when she mailed them out to me. From Texas to Florida, we will see how long it takes for them to eclose into their butterfly stage.
The reason they were sent to me was because the climate where Deb lives had gotten very cold and many of the nectar and host plants had died back since it is winter in her climate zone and city/state. So if the chrysalises eclosed within their normal 2 weeks, there might not be food to sustain them or host plants to allow them to reproduce in Ft. Worth, TX after being released into the wild. So these cats were sent off to me by their concerned human mommy because I live in a warmer zone and have not had cold enough temps to kill back my nectar and host plants for these species of Butterflies. And I also raise and release these same species of butterflies here in Sebastian, FL.
Here is how they look when they arrived in Sebastian, Florida.
Here is a closer look on day 1 in Sebastian, Florida.
Awwww how sweet (my babies).. Thank you Becky!! This is going to be interresting!!
Ok lemme find the thread where I posted the closing in so we will know the aproximate date.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/663901/ Here it is....
I'm regrouping here to get the right pictures.. This photo shows #3 & #4...The one I sent to Becky was actually #2.. of the 4 Cats (last of my 2006 batch of BSTs).
This picture only shows the last 2, (which I still have here over-wintering.)
This message was edited Jan 10, 2007 9:21 AM
Here it is, ...
The cat here in the pic below is the one that journeyed via USmail from Fort Worth to Florida. The actual date closing into chrysalis > October 23, 2006. It would have normally been expected to eclose sometime in April, but now that it is in Florida we are going to see if that might be sooner.
The Gulf Fritillary I sent was an egg when I took Passionvine cuttings. (I will post the date documentation I know in with the photo of it as a caterpillar..)
This message was edited Jan 10, 2007 10:42 AM
The inconspicuous G. Fritillary egg that happened to be on my Passionflower vine cuttings hatched and proceded to eat all the leaves off about a dozen pieces of vine. As I put in a new lush piece it looked like it was ready, (in the form of a J on the top of the container). I began to be concerned then, as it would have not made it this far outside.. we had some days of freezing weather. So I wondered what the little Butterfly would eat when it eclosed....
Then bam, it hit me... to send the chrysalis to Florida for Becky to take care of it and make sure the Frit had breeding ground and nectar to survive.
I sent along the BST while I was at it, so we could see an early eclosure for it.. The ones I still have here will remain in hibernation.
Here the frit that hatched on about December 7, 2006 and ate the whole flat.. The chrysalis was formed January 6, 2007. Normally it would have only taken about 2- 2 1/2 weeks, but when the weather cools down they grow slower and even morph sooner. They also will morph sooner if they run out of host plant. Still the Caterpillar has everything it needs after the third instar to become a Butterfly.
Picture here, at about 1 week old. I washed away the scat every day or so.. I since used the pearlite to perk up some potting soil.
This message was edited Jan 10, 2007 7:56 PM
This message was edited Jan 11, 2007 6:39 AM
Deb - Here's a photo of your Gulf Fritillary hanging in my Hatchery.
And here's a photo of the Black Swallowtail chrysalis.
How exciting...to have mailed them and they arrived safely! It looks like they are in good hands Deb! Can't wait to see them eclose.
This message was edited Jan 10, 2007 7:04 PM
Your tellin' me !Rox! And I'm on the edge of my seat here... awesome job tying-up the chrysalids Becky!
Stay tuned ..... The adventure continues! :-)
That was a wonderful idea Debnes! You waited until they enclosed then mailed them to FL so they would have flowering plants when they emerge. Our weather here is too roller coaster lately and nothing is blooming for sure. We will mark this one for watching......
I would be more than glad to take anyone's chrysalids if you have this happen to you in the future. I think TropicalKaren has also offered to be a foster mom for any chrysalids. Unless we get a very unusual hard freeze and longer cold winter here, I usually have plants and flowers year round. Most of which are host and nectar plants for butterflies since that is what my gardens are for. :-) But of course, it has to be a butterfly that is also known to be a Florida species. Otherwise it would live a very lonely life!:-(
Thanks Sheila, But you know how inspiring this kind of work/hobby can be...... Specially with troupers like Becky over there in Florida. It's no accident that we know the perfect foster moms. Karen I saw that you offered to foster as our project was underway, and I know how much you love every living thing.. I would trust you as well in the future. Thank you for being there and caring like you do!
Deb
This message was edited Jan 11, 2007 6:45 AM
Nothing is coincidence! It's all part of the greater plan! :-) Deb believes that and so do I! :-)
And when you let the "greater plan" direct your path ..... it's by far more interesting than you could've ever imagined or dreamed of!
I couldn't have said it better Beckaroo!! By far indeed!!
(Huggamatics!)
Deb, thanks for letting me know you had this foster mom plan goin' on. Just dropped by to catch up. Too cool! I'm marking the thread, for sure.
gram
Thanks for joining us Jan!!
At this point we wait for them... the Gulf Frit has been morphing for 7 days as of tonight, so any day for that one..
The BST we expect to eclose in a week or 2 now...
:-S
Oh good, Deb! I was hoping you were counting the days so far. I check them several times a day to see if either one of them are getting darker or starting to eclose. Nothing yet ........
Yes, Yes, Yes...."Send me your tired and your poor" (can you tell I am from NY city?). I will gladly foster any cats, moth or butterfly!!
Ha ha! ((Karen!)) I knew we could count on you! Nice to know you're there with your profound love for living creatures!
:-S
Let's all say a prayer for the little anole that my cat brought inside the house and my husband insisted on killing (sob).
Aweee ((Karen))! Sure thing!
Deb - No emerging butterflies yet. I added 4 Monarch chrysalids to the cage today. And I have the Great Southern White chrysalids laying on the bottom of this cage. I would think that your two chrysalids would be pupating soon. What do you think?
Here's a photo of the Gulf Fritillary and Monarch. I get a kick out of the GF moving around in it's chyrsalis.
Here's the Black Swallowtail. Nothing has changed as you can see. I can't tell if he is getting any darker. He looks the same to me.
I was just thinking that Becky, maybe by this weekend a tiny GF will emerge.. Thank you for showing me the pic of it twisting like that. Perfect thing to have in mind while logging off for the night. Sweet dreams!
:-D =beaming = :-D
We were typing at the same time, lol. BST looks great too, Thanks again!!
This message was edited Jan 17, 2007 10:14 PM
I enjoyed watching my sole GF experience, when it did that. It would be turned one way then the next day twist a differnt direction. It moved while I was misting it one time. Won't be long now!!
I think you are right Deb and Sheila. Soon for the GF! No telling when the Black Swallowtail will pupate.
I still have the GS pupa. It has been hanging for 2 months now. Can I assume it is dead?
I wouldn't yet Karen.. Wait for Spring and see.. have you toched them to see if they wriggle any?
Unbelievable!! The black swallowtail emerged and is out in the world. You were correct Deb.
Debnes speaks........Swallowtails listen!!!
Pictures please!!
Oh Joy!!!
Glad for you Karen! They would normally be hibernating if they were here, and in Florida they are all year.. Sometimes a change in weather will make them stay in a bit longer..Like the BST Becky has from here.. Who knows when it will eclose, exactly? This is a very cool test to see how the chrysalids of both adapt to the substantial change in climate. 3 morphed one day apart and the last one followed in a few more days.
(;-S@ Sheila)
I had a feeling your GST would be alright Karen, I am so so happy!!! I was actually thinking if someone is bold enough to make a prayer request in this open forum, I can sure be bold enough to abligue a response. *Answer was there before the question was asked*
I love a happy ending.
Deb
Ps, Wee frit was twisting from the very first day back and forth... and 2 days later when I detached and sent it to you, Becky.. It is so comforting to hear that it hasn't stopped. Gonna be a tiny jet-speed flier, LOL
Yea! You guys rock!
Deb - Shall we take bets on when the BST and GF are gonna pupate?
HA HA!! Your kidding Becky!! Right?
I would say GF this week and BST in 1-2 weeks.. I wouldn't dare try to nail down a day, lol!
We all win when they do, :-)
I was thinking of what everyone thought since we have never done this before. Theory of when a transfered chrysalis will pupate from one zone/climate to another. Would cold have triggered something inside the morphing cat? Or does warmer weather trigger something? What determines overwintering? That is the question.
I think it is a combination of the two.. I believe they have a magnetic element in their brain also..put there by theit Creator. Monarchs and Geese have the same kind of of thing.
Another reason why this will prove some presidences that we can not find anywhere else.
:-D
Into the unknown.......To go where no man has gone before......!! :-))
Sheila - LOL! Only a butterfly lover would go into this kind of unknown.
Wwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeelllllllllllll, Deb! Give us the day total. Your little Gulf Fritillary pupated this evening! I glanced over at the cage and saw wings peeking out from below the lid of the cage. It is a little fella. But cute and perfect in every way! And of course ............... I took photos!
