Has anyone tried raising butterflies with one of the butterfly kits. I think you have to order the larvae.
Raising Butterflies
Never tried it myself. I prefer to plant their larval host plants and have them come to my yard. Have raised gobs of different native species that way. Yep, plant it...and they will come!!!
You can try with the common butterflies that frequent your yard. Monarchs, Queens, Swallowtails..etc. You do have nectaring and larval host plants (what the caterpillars will eat)...don't ya? If you're not sure which plants you need to grow you can do a search on this forum...I know there have been numerous postings about larval host plant lists. Or you could snoop the internet or check with your local NABA chapter. Lots of us on here have raised butterflies and can quickly tell you what caterpillars will eat.
It's so much more rewarding to work in your yard, plant the right stuff and watch the butterflies come to lay eggs. Then you can watch over the eggs until they hatch and watch the caterpillar grow, eventually go into the chrysalis stage then emerge as butterflies to continue the cycle of life.
~ Cat
kyjoy - I have never tried the butterfly kits either. Though I do raise many in cages with pots of their host plants to feed them. If you are planting in your yard and need host and nectar plants, it's a good idea to try some of your local native plants. Here is a website for your state and county listing the butterflies/moths that frequent your area. Just click on the name of each butterfly to get all the info about each species.
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/map?dc=715&_dcc=1&si=18
I want to raise butterflies because I don't have any. I don't know what you are calling "host" plants. My yard has been certified as a wildlife santuary. I have plants that attract butterflies, birds and wild life. I have all kinds of birds, squirrels, chipmonks, rabbits, etc. all of which I feed. Also, I have several kinds of flowers that are supposed to attract butterflies.
Host plants are what the butterflies or moths will lay eggs on and what the hatching caterpillars will eat until they pupate.
That link Becky listed is a great one. Browse through it to see if you recognize any butterflies you've seen in the vicinity. It lists the flight periods...so you can get an idea of when to expect them. The caterpillar host part lists the food sources.
If you have birds...and other wildlife like racoons, lizards and frogs and such...they might be what's keeping you from seeing butterflies. Butterflies, caterpillars, chrysalids and eggs make tasty treats for some critters...then again, depending on where you live...it might just not be the right season for butterflies to appear.
Our best butterfly time is the fall season down in south Texas. Not sure what works best for Kentucky.
~ Cat
Hi Kyjoy!
If I lived where you do and wanted to establish butterflies, I would plant:
Lindera Benzoin "Spicebush" for Spicebush Swallowtail
Citrus, (Lemon, Lime, Hercules Club, or Ruta Graveolens) For Giant Swallowtail
Asclepias, "Milkweed" There are so so many cultivars of this one. Most common would be A. incarnata, A. curassavica, and A. tuberosa.) Asclepias tuberosa might be the best one for KY. Milkweed is for the Monarch butterflies.
I'm with Cat about importing. It isn't such a good idea unless you have the larval host plant in abundance, and still do not have the species that uses it as a larval host visting yet.
Ultimatly, I rather wait for them to come in on their own 'free' will.
Starting with most common is usually best, and only a few species at first. These will really keep you busy enough. Then you can add as you get the hang of it.
:-Deb
I don't have milkweed. A funny story: Last summer I had scads of butterflies. I thought my garden had finally done its job, but then I discovered one of my neighbors was raising them. I haven't seen one this summer.
Got Milkweed? kyjoy - I have some seeds of Scarlet Milkweed if you are interested. D-mail me. :-)
Joy,
I have some fresh Asclepias curassavica seed,... just send me an SASE,
I'm on the address exchange under 'extras' in the DG Home page menu
Shooting Star in Frankfort KY has:
Zanthoxylum americanum
http://www.shootingstarnursery.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=Zanthoxylum&osCsid=8099790581bf413303305140a7694228&x=0&y=0
$8.00 .............for giant ST's
They have all sorts of Asclepias:
http://www.shootingstarnursery.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=milkweed&osCsid=8099790581bf413303305140a7694228&x=0&y=0
various prices.. tuberosa would be hardy there in KY, its only $4.50
They have Lindera benzoin:
http://www.shootingstarnursery.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=spicebush&osCsid=8099790581bf413303305140a7694228&x=0&y=0
$10.00.....................Spicebush STs
Shooting Star has a really good DG rating too. Right there in your town, Lucky you! They seem to have many if not all of the host plants for butterflies which fly in your county..
:-Deb
This message was edited Jun 5, 2007 1:58 PM
The best Kentucky Nursery in our state is Wilson's Nursery owned and operated by Jennifer Wilson. Her husband, Charlie, was killed in a car wreck a couple of years ago. Jennifer's retail business is located in Frankfort while her wholesale business is located in Lexington, KY. The nursery is huge. They grow all their own plants and do landscapping, etc. The other nurseries in this area don't compare in size. You can google Wilson's Nursery and learn all about it.
This message was edited Jun 5, 2007 6:24 PM
This message was edited Jun 5, 2007 6:25 PM
HI Joy,
I couldn't find much of anything about Wilson's google or otherwise. What kind of plants do they grow and sell? Do you have a product list?
:-Deb
Wilson's grows and sells everything. Try googling Wilson's Nursery, Frankfort, KY