Okay guys. Since I have two sets of cats going, the black swallowtail that likes the dill and the gulf frit that likes the passion vine. What I am worrying about now is what they will pupate on. I know there have been threads about this but I just need a quicky answer or two. For the swallowtails, I was thinking of just using the biggest dill stem stuck in the cage for them to pupate on. I don't know if that is right or not. I know some pupate at the top of the cages, maybe these do. Also for the gulf frits, what do they like to pupate on, sticks, the cage, anything? Any help is appreciated. I don't think it is quite time yet but want to make sure I have what is needed when the time comes.
Thanks everybody,
Leslie
Something to pupate on???
Leslie,
I've raised both kinds of butterflies and they seem to like to just attach to the top of the cage to pupate. You could put a stick in there and see if they'd use that, but I wouldn't worry about where they will pupate. They will know where to go.
Terrie
Leslie, I can't speak for the GF but I can tell you what I'm using for the Black Swallowtails and the Monarchs. I just happen to have some wooden shiskabob screwers that I stick in the wet foam at an angle. It seems to work better than straight up since it would touch the top the 20 qt container they're in. I still have one that pupated on the top of the tulle in the container. Drat. I was hoping he wouldn't do that.
I started using old dried sticks. The ones I used were actually old milkweed stems. However, I found a spider crawl out of it and chunked it. (by the way, MW stems are hollow when all the milky sap is gone)
I don't see why Dill stems wouldn't work. Even thick Parsley stems would, I would think so.
For the Monarchs, I have some wire garden border fence. The little short kind that I always trip over and nearly break my neck. I took two sections and clipped them together to make a circle. When my Monarchs are ready, I'll use this little wire circle of a fence inside the cage.
The reason I cross my fingers and hope they use the wooden screwers is because I like to move the stick with the chrystalis to the large release cage or butterfly castle. I have so many cats If I don't move out the ones pupating, then the others mess with them and some have died because it.
My 7 GF cats just pupated. 3 on a couple of sticks, 3 on the vine stems, and one on the leaf itself. I took each one out as it finished pupating and put it in a release cage, my husband made this week.
I will show pictures tomorrow. Also, in that cage are 3 pupating Monarchs. 2 on the thin plywood top, and 1 on the milkweed itself.
I watched one Monarch finish up pupating,.....he looked like he was trying to wiggle and pull up a pair of tight pantyhose....then he popped off his head and zipped up. : )
~Lucy
Great advice folks. I just want to do the right thing. One of my gulf frits was at the top of the cage yesterday and I really think it is way too early for it to pupate but don't want to be caught with my pants down so to speak. So I should try the dill stems, maybe some skewers and maybe they will just pupate on the cage itself. I never thought about a releasing cage. Since I don't have that many that may not be necessary. However, I do have one more cage if I need it for that purpose although I am expecting more gulf frit cats anyday as momma was laying eggs like crazy over the weekend and I was planning on using that cage if I got anymore. I like it that they will pupate no matter what you do but I also like the skewer or stick method so that they can be moved.
One more question. Once they pupate and you move them to the new castle, cage or whatever that is all you do right. You don't have to make sure there is food or anything in there do you?
Thanks again,
Leslie
That's what I like about a release cage with only chrysalis inside it, Leslie. You can have a clean flooring with paper towels, no frass, no food reminance. Just the sticks of chrystalis and when they eclose, there's room for them to flap their wings to dry. The bfs could stay in the release cage for up to 24 hours if necessary without food should there be inclement weather.
Does sound like a good plan there with the extra release cage. May just have to do that. Thanks a bunch.
Leslie