Thank you for the kind and true words Jan.. and I know how it is getting around threads and having a life too, lol.
Sheila your GF is stunningly perfect!
Oh ty ty! Becky the BST looks great! He was happy to be there instead of here... what a lucky butterfly he is!! Least he stuck around for a picture, lol. I couldn't be more pleased with the whole thing!
The Tale of 2 Chrysalises
Deb - I was out in my yard working today and there were 3 GF flying and chasing each other around my large Porterweed plant, stopping ocassionally to drink nectar. I believe that one of them was your GF because it came closer to me than the other two and because it was smaller than the others. So I believe it's enjoying the Florida life here! lol
Aweeeeee!!! So cool!
Great story with a happy ending! Loved the photos, too... TFS!
I was wondering, however, what you used to attach those chrysallises to the top of your hatchery?
critterologist - I use unflavored dental floss.
Thanks! Did you tie it around the top? I guess a clove hitch would do the trick...
I'll have to remember that trick!
Like an Alpine Mountain climber..LOL!
http://www.une.edu.au/unemc/clovhit.htm
critterologist - LOL! Actually, when I re-locate any chrysalids, I try to make sure that I have a little silk from the chrysalis (when the cat was spinning it's fiber to hold itself in place) still attached to tie the dental floss to. Check out this photo of some of my chrysalids that were tied with floss:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/fp.php?pid=2999693
This message was edited Jan 28, 2007 9:03 PM
Thanks, that photo does make it clear! I guess whatever you did, it would be important not to restrict the chrysalis in any way so the butterfly wouldn't have any problems getting out. If you had a chrysalis with no little stub or silk on the top, I'll bet you could use a drop of superglue in a pinch.
Deb, that's a great link because the animated image does a great job of showing the "shortcut" way of making a clove hitch to slip over the end of something.
critterologist - Oh yes! Glue does come in handy for some of the chyrsalids. I use Elmer's glue all the time. You just have to be careful not to get too much glue on the chyrsalis. You are correct in saying that you don't want anything to hinder the emerging butterfly. :-)
OK... I haven't hand raised any butterflies (yet), but I'm picking up pointers. Thanks!
Hi gang!
More about the other Black Swallowtails here>
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/701230/
Waves o/~
Deb