Our local NABA put up a pdf file of the article on Raising Purple Caterpillars. It's written by Gil Quintanilla who is great butterflier, photographer, master naturalist and our webmaster.
The article is the one that was published in NABA's American Butterflies magazine Winter 2005/6 about the rare Marius Hairstreak and five caterpillars I found in my backyard using duranta as a larval host back in September 2005. Those were the buggers that got me hooked on butterflies!!!
I've learned a lot about butterflies and their larval host plants and have raised a large variety of caterpillars since then. I keep learning new things every day...and much of that information has been gleemed from everyone's postings!!!
This is the link to the page where you can click on the article and read the pdf file. Click on the "Raising Purple Caterpillars" on that page.
http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabast/gardening.html#articles
~ Cat
pdf file available on Raising Purple Caterpillars article
Wonderful story Cat. Thanks for sharing it!
oh to cool CAt
That's really quite an interesting caterpillar/butterfly. I'd never heard of them before. Thanks for sharing that with all of us! Always something new to learn! Just fascinating!!!!!
What a great article. Props to you for making it happen.
Maggie
Thanks ya'll :o) Hadn't raised a caterpillar before then but I read lots, asked lots of questions and read more. Got my feet wet raising Gulf Frits...as we know how abundant those are...then went on to Queens, Monarchs, Giant Swallowtails and Black Swallowtails. Have picked up more of the less common butterflies and moths along the way...learning more and more each day. Finding those less common makes it all worthwhile. I keep reminding myself each little bugger that makes it to adulthood ups the odds. I also strongly believe 'if you plant it, they will come' - of course, being in the right location with butterfly potential does help :o)
I hope this will be the year for Malachites and maybe a stray Mexican Cycadian or Atala Hairsteak... it's a long shot...but I can always hope.
~ Cat