This Gulf Fritillary ate on a wild passionflower vine and then started to pupate on a Budda Belly Jatropha right next to the passionflower. According to a book I have you can see in this photo where the "head area is becoming swollen with fluid; soon the skin will split and roll back."
from Florida's Fabulous Butterflies by Thomas Emmel.
It is a small book but it does have some nice large photographs of the butterflies and cats also includes a section on Moths.
Sweet! Delisa! Great shot...I've never been able to catch that!
Adrienne
Very nice Delisa!
I have found GF chrysalids is some very creative places.. Sometimes a long way from the passionvine. I usually take in the ones I find after they harden a day. Some dissappear if I leave them in plain sight too long. I put them in a screen cage so that when they eclose they can climb up the sides and hang to poof out their wings and dry.
:-Deb
Deb I am sure that I will eventually get a butterfly cage set up. Does anyone know if there is a thread explaining how to make a butterfly cage?
Delisa - Here is a thread started last August about different types of cages. Mine are bought cheapies that have served me well. But many folks here made some really nice cages. Check out this thread:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/643281/
I went ahead and bought a Jumbo. I am going to do Monarchs.
This same passion vine has Gulf Fritillary cats all over it and now I see a few Zebra Longwing cats. I had never noticed them before but they look a lot like the GF's but white.
Delisa - Awesome about your ZLW cats! Do you know what your passion vine cultivar is?
Glad to hear you decided on a cage! You'll really enjoy raising the cats and releasing the butterflies! Good luck and enjoy! :-)
Becky it grows wild here and is a pale purple. It has fruit and so I always thought it was a maypop.
Delisa, which cage did you decide on?
I started with the Monarchs and still get a thrill when I find a cat or eggs and bring them into the cage. I don't think I'll ever tire of it. It's indescribable...the feeling of putting them in the cage where they will be safe to grow and become a butterfly.
Flygirl I bought the jumbo and it was delivered here today! I ordered it on Saturday and it was here today on Tuesday from California. I heard just because its Sunday doesnt mean the mail stops traveling and I guess its true.
I think I missed something....from where?
I'm in the market for a new cage myself. The one I made is of pine and they have warped so the door won't close all the way, ugh!
That's a fast delivery...was it regular mail?
It was bought from:
http://www.livemonarch.com/castle.htm
I got the Jumbo Castle for 25.00 and it is very well made.
I should do some Gulf Fritillary's first because there are just gobs of them on the passiflower plant.
Thanks Delisa, that is a nice one and a good price!
I'm still waiting for the Frits :(
The Gulf Fritillary emerged a butterfly today. I was expecting it to take longer?
I put gobs of Gulf Fritillary cats today in my new butterfly cage with lots of passiflora that they like. Do I need any thing else for them yet?
If you have them inside, you will need to spray with water mist every few days, and make sure to keep the frase cleaned out daily.
Delisa,
My Frits emerged after 7-10 days.
Adrienne
I have them in my gh in a shaddy area. So should I mist in there?
Thanks Sheila and Adrienne!
I would say yes, unless you have a sprinkler that gets them.
Just to share a great stage by stage site:
http://www.sasionline.org/fritillary/fritillary2.html
Thanks Sheila, I bookmarked that page for future reference. : )
~Lucy
I just ordered the "large" cage from Monarch Live and will soon try my newbie hand at giving cats a better shot at surviving to butterfly-hood. I plan to leave the cage in a spot in the flowerbeds, where it will be mostly shielded from the harsher elements. I know I need to keep the food fresh and clean the cage frequently. Are there any other things that I must'nt forget?
Carla
Carla,
You don't want to bring your babies closer? I love to watch them eat and change....But if not then as long as it's secure,clean and well supplied with food....you're good!
Adrienne
Thanks Adrienne. I will try raising the Cats in their own environment first. Bringing them into the house would mean having to find a way to keep my 5 feline cats away from the cats -- a disaster I don't even want to contemplate. My cats' inquisitiveness is matched only by their tenacity and determination!
Carla
Since putting the cats in the cat cage (and there are lots of cats!) I have 2 already pupating! They just went to the top of the mesh and are hanging. I think they will have plenty of room to grow and dry there when they come out so next week I should already have a couple to release. This has been so much fun for me.
Yay Delisa! They'll be quick...7-10 days.
Carla,
Not in the house...just maybe the porch! :) I've got 3 cats myself!
Adrienne
