Found a bunch of cats on cenizo (leucophyllum frutescens) but not sure what they are. Theona Checkerspot uses cenizo as a larval host but haven't seen any of those butterflies lately. Saw lots of little butterflies that resembled either Elada Checkerspot or Vesta Crescent flitting around the shrubs. Oh well, time will tell.
~ Cat
and another photo...
~ Cat
...and a couple already went into the chrysalis stage.
~ Cat
They're awfully scary looking! LOL! I'm not sure what I'd do if I saw those runningaround here. Speaking of which, do you snatch all the cats you find and put them in a chamber? Is that what we're supposed to do? Do you keep them (different varieties) in separate cages?
Suzy
...and another chrysalis view.
~ Cat
Suzy...
I like raising caterpillars :o) and photographing butterflies, moths, eggs, caterpillars and chrysalids and cocoons.
I can pretty much identify what I'm raising based on the larval host plant they are found on...however, this one stumps me as I know Theona Checkerspots use cenizo as a larval host but I saw gobs of other butterflies around the shrubs....so many of the checkerspot and crescent caterpillars look alike...so am waiting and watching.
If they are quite common, like Queens, Monarchs and Gulf Fritillaries I tend to leave them alone. If they are less common or rare, then I raise them.
Considering only about 2% of the eggs a butterfly lays will make it to adulthood...I like to ensure they are all safe and healthy. I release the emerging butterflies back into my yard.
I have lots of cat cages I've made and two big meshed reptariums. I try to keep the smaller instar separate from the bigger caterpillars...and I keep different species separate as well.
~ Cat
This message was edited May 9, 2007 9:50 PM
OIC. It didn't occur to me at first, but then I noticed every picture seemd to be in a chamber. How come you don't keep the chambers/cages outside?
Did I read right -- that you tie up the chrysalises by hand? I read something about elastic thread written on May 8th on another thread...I think the Pipevine Swallowtail thread. (?)
I had a couple of butterflies whiz past me today, but they didn't stay. They were colored like a Gulf Frit -- or any of a host of brownish-orange ones -- so I checked my violets for signs of Gulf Frits and there were no signs and no chewed leaves. No cats, no chrysalises, no nuttin!
I have most all the trees I'm supposed to have for butterflies common to Indiana, but the trees are mostly 3 and 4 and 5 stories tall -- say 60-80 feet tall. I read somewhere that butterflies prefer smaller trees. Hmmm. I also want to drill a little hole in my Hackberry trees so I can start some sap flowing. LOL!
Suzy
I have some cages inside my house and others outside. Just depends on the weather. South Texas temps have been in the high 90's lately.
I don't usually tie chrysalids up ...I put twigs and little wire jungle gyms in with the last instar caterpillars...that way they'll have something to crawl up on to pupate...or I move them into the meshed reptarium. They'll crawl up on the meshed sides to pupate.
The only time I have to tie a chrysalis up is when it has fallen or I have to remove it from an area that is potentially harmful to its safety. During those rare times I carefully remove the silk and can pretty much get away with a dab of hot glue on a toothpick and I touch that to the silk and twig. Must be careful not to get hot glue on the chrysalis.
Butterflies generally fly about 10 feet or so off the ground. Many of the larval host plants and shrubs they use are under that height. Unless you've got something like a paw paw or hackberry tree....but even then you should be able to find eggs and caterpillars on them.
As for drilling a hole in your hackberry...just mix up a batch of butterfly bait and use bait logs. Many butterflies in the brushfoot family will come to fresh or rotting fruit.
Here is a photo of the cat cage I use the most. I have about 20 of these made.
~ Cat
Cat - The Cenizo (leucophyllum frutescens) cats are beautiful as is their chrysalis! Very nice photos and journaling about them. I don't think I get those lovelies here in Florida. :-(
I agree, that is one pretty chrysalis! Love the cage idea too, where did you get those big containers?
I still haven't figured out what kind of butterfly those cats on the cenizo shrubs are. More have gone into the chrysalis stage.
The containers come two to a pack and are sold at Walmart under the Mainstays brand and also StarWare Plus brand - in the section where they sell gladware and rubbermaid food storage containers. They are 4.5 qt size (8 inches tall by 7.25 inches on each side.
I always have a stack of about six in my car at any given time. They come in very handy when I'm out at the ranch caterpillar rustling :o)
Whenever I'm cleaning out cat houses I just put in fresh cuttings/leaves in a clean containers and move the cats over. Then I clean out the old containers and save them for the next time around when I have to clean the current cages.
Have been using an electric soldering tool to cut/melt through the plastic to cut out holes for ventilation. Used to hold an exacto knife over a candle flame and cut little by little but that is so time consuming. Just got done ordering a Wood Hollow Creative Versa-Tool...it's supposed to have lots of different tips and a hot cutting knife. That should make it much easier to cut through the plastic!!! Can't wait for it to arrive to try it out.
Also use some of the bigger rubber maid tubs with lids when I need more room.
~ Cat
Yes, I have large hackberries (I think I read that they are the tallest tree native to Indiana) & large wild cherries. The shortest limbs would be about 15 feet off the ground, maybe 20, so I couldn't look for eggs & cats without an extension ladder.
I have a million flowers blooming now, but nothing in the daisy family and nothing that the butterflies want. They zoom through here checking, but then fly over the house and into the front yard.
I have poured banana mash over stumps, rocks and smeared it on tree trunks.
I run the sprinkler 2x a day to wet the leaves to provide water.
I have flat white rocks with Gatorade poured over them.
I have a host of hosts.
There is not one thing these butterflies could want that I haven't provided and I still get them flitting through and flying away!
Tomorrow I am off to buy Lantana and parsley. I have some Lanata seedlings, but golly! They won't bloom for another 2 months!
I won't address the hummingbird situation which is about the same. Half my garden is red flowers and the feeder is full of fresh syrup. I had one come through and check things out about a month ago and he never came back!
Your cages are cool. The new tool you bought should have some little wheel cutters and then you won't have to breathe that awful burning plastic. You didn't say how you attached the mesh -- hot glue gun?
Suzy
Yes...mesh is attached by use of a hot glue gun.
Your yard sounds like the perfect spot for butterflies. Perhaps it just not the brood season in Indiana?
Guess I shouldn't mention the hummies that frequent my yard and stick around all year long :o)
~ Cat
