BST Success a Second Time Around

Finally, three BST eclosed this morning. I haven't yet determined if these three are from the original 5 chrysalis or not. If you remember my ordeal with these five, one elcosed crippled after only pupating 6 days. There were four chrysalis from June 28th that I've been waiting on to eclose. Now in the cage are many, many chrysalis. I'll have to count again. Seems every time I count I get a new number. Oh well, what counts the most are how many that are released healthy.

Here are several pictures of the three newly emerged Eastern Black Swallowtails.

Here's a picture of them with their wings spread out. Aren't they pretty!

And another.

Two of the three.

WTG Deborah!...they are beautiful!

So, are the chrysalids reproducing? LOL

Oh great job Deborah! Congrats on this successful batch of BSTs! May they come back to your yard and bless you two-fold! :-)

Yeepee, another emerged, for total of four now! LOL fly_girl!
I hope so Becky!

It's going to be a heavy down pour of rain this afternoon. Should I wait before I release these bfs?
One got out but couldn't fly when I opened the cage oput a little dish of gaterade soaked cotton balls inside their cage. I immediately put him back inside the cage.

I would wait, even though they know what to do instinctively, I still like to give them an edge when I release.....perfect weather, no wind, no birds or predators close.....I wish!

Be sure and make a wish when you release....it's an old Native American tradition.

Ok will do!

Deborah - They will do just fine in a cage with no food for about 24 hours after they eclose, so yours should be fine and hopefully tomorrow will be a good day to release them. Even with rain, they find nice big leaves to perch under and wait for the weather to clear. If you still can't release tomorrow, re-introduce the gatorade. It will be thirsty for sure by then!

And Rox is right .... a wonderful Native American tradition! :-)

They are beautiful, indeed. I didn't know about the tradition. I hope I haven't jinxed the Gulf Frit butterflies I've been releasing.

Carla

The NAs believe if you make a wish when you release a butterfly, it will take the wish up to the Great Spirit in the sky and it will be granted.

Carla, I'm sure you haven't jinxed them, you just missed out on some wishes!

Congrats!!!

Had no idea about making a wish when you release a butterfly. Man oh man, I could be dancing on the moon by now considering those gazillion Bordered Patches I released a couple of months ago :o) ROLF!!!

~ Cat

Many congratulations and many more to come I hope. Beautiful BF's, no doubt about it. How exciting for you. Hope you get many wishes when you set them free.

Leslie

Cat, I think there are limits in the wish granting business........I don't know if taking you to the moon to dance would be one of them! LOL

I'm wishing the same wish on each bf I release. Gotta get my 26 year old out of college some how! LOL

Haha, good luck Deborah!

26 and in college...hmmm...sounds like my neice. She eventually graduated and is doing well with a computer firm...but we still like to tease her because for a while there we thought she was getting a major in Underwater Basket Weaving :o) ROLF!!!

~ Cat

Great news on your releases Cdawg! You mentioned you didn't know which ones they were, so I thought I would share my method. I had the same idenity problem, so I started to mark each chrysalis when I took them out of the tubs. Most of mine are pupating on the pencil size sticks I add to the tubs, so I just take a small piece of paper write BST ..etc., and the date and glue it to the stick. That way when the release cage starts getting full, I can sit out a few on a table to wait their turn. Then add them back in as others eclose. Plus it is going to give me a time line as to how long each takes. Helping me learn more how to better care for the next group.

Love the wish legend too Fly, got to start doing that.

Yep Cat, we've been teasing my son too especially about him changing his major so many times. There's just a limit on how many ways you can weave a basket ROFL!
I'm glad Rox mentioned the NA legend. There's still hope!

Becky, that's a comfort to know. So far there's three males and one female!

Sheila, I was wondering how I could keep them seperate. That's a good idea! A little numbered flag on the stick will work fine.

Thank you Leslie! I found some Monarch eggs too. So I'll keep ya'll updated on these little fellows too.

Thank you gang for your support! I can't get over how much these bf cats can eat!


Deborah

Would love any info you have on the Monarchs Deborah. Thanks.

Leslie

Here ya go, Leslie. Straight from the Monach site.
I'm having to review it too. I've got eggs on dried up leaves. So I've got to put fresh leaves in their little carton just as soon as they hatch.
http://www.monarchwatch.org/rear/index.htm