Drove out to the ranch today and puttered around the back fields in the golf cart. I was sitting back enjoying some butterflies nectaring when a leafwing came into the picture and started laying eggs on the native croton. I was able to get some photos :o) Woohoo!!!
~ Cat
Here's the Leafwing laying an egg
...and another
~ Cat
What she left behind. An egg!!!
~ Cat
...and another!!!
~ Cat
...also found a Leafwing caterpillar rolled up in a leaf nest.
~ Cat
This message was edited Aug 25, 2007 8:35 PM
...here it is again.
~ Cat
Once again awesome shots Cat. Any idea what kind of caterpillar that is? Is it the Leafwing also? So you going to raise the cats? Sounds like you have a lot of space out there, I guess you cannot raise every cat you see or your house would be overwhelmed, huh?
Thanks for sharing the great pics. Those eggs are perfect aren't they?
Leslie
Yes Leslie, it's a leafwing caterpillar. I've edited my previous post - sorry I neglected to say that.
Not sure if I'll raise the cats. I have to do some traveling next month and don't want to leave caterpillars in cages - I'll be gone for a week. For now, I've left them on the native croton and will check on them each weekend. I also dug up some croton and transplanted it into pots and brought them to my house. If the plants survive I might collect some cats before I leave and put them on my plants.
I've tagged one of the plants...the one with eggs and a cat. I saw that leafwing laying eggs on several other nearby plants. The back fields are covered with native croton...so am sure they'll be plenty of cats for me to raise when I get back.
And you are so right...there are so many different species of butterflies out there that use the native plants...which unfortunately do not do well in gardens (probably because I over-water them - and they are used to drought conditions). Can't raise every caterpillar or egg I find due to my work schedule...but I do try to locate the last instar caterpillars (the ones ready to go into the chrysalis stage) and baby sit those :o)
~ Cat
This message was edited Aug 25, 2007 8:44 PM
Cat, that Leafwing is so neat! You are so lucky to see such a variety!
I am so jealous of all the butterflies/cats you have out at the Ranch. So many I have never seen
Cat, that's super! I haven't seen any more leafwings around here. But seems like they often turn up at some undeveloped land in town where I like to look around from time to time. I even thought about taking one of the crotons I have in pots up there and just leaving it there a few days to see if they'll lay eggs on it.
This message was edited Aug 26, 2007 4:23 AM
Linda,
That sounds like a good idea...and set out some butterfly brew on the nearby trees if possible. That should attract them to the area.
After a while there's sure to be some males perched up in the higher branches of trees guarding the territory and scouting for females. So if the croton is close by the females coming to bait should find it easily enough.
Am thinking with all the croton out in the back fields out at the ranch...and all the leafwings I saw today (at least 15 on just the road) there's going to be a lot of caterpillars in a couple of weeks.
~ Cat
Ahh, another great find Cat! Keep us updated. How about getting a pic of that Leafwing with it's wings open?
Funny Linda....have you ever tried to get a photo of one with its wings open? Those buggers like to perch with their wings closed. Quite camouflaged!!! I just never get up early enough to drive out to the ranch to try to see them catching the early morning sunshine to warm up but have seen males perched on high branches watching over their territory...of course with their wings opened...but alas, much to high for me to photograph properly.
One of these days...I might get lucky.
~ Cat
Cat, even when those I raised were newly eclosed, I could not catch one with its wings opened. I did catch very brief glimpses when they'd barely start to open the wings...but then the wings would snap shut! But from the glimpses, I knew how very beautiful they are on their top wings. It's strange, the world pretty much sees the drabber side, while they hide those lovely orangish wings practically all the time.
Sorry, I was really tired yesterday and said pupated insteaded of eclosed.
This message was edited Aug 28, 2007 11:19 PM
But Cat, I thought you were the perfect person to ask to do that! :) I don't see them here and most pictures are always of their wings closed shut. Can't blame a girl for trying! lol
Ha! Ha! I've seen them with their wings open on the grills of trucks (awwwwww).
Guess that's why they call 'em leafwings...they blend in so well with the branches they are on. Must say those brief flashes of bright orange do catch one's eye.
Will keep tabs on the cats at the ranch and bring the last instars home to raise. Perhaps then I can get some open wing shots when they first eclose.
~ Cat
You hit the nail on the head Linda. I noticed that with the GF frits I am raising. I see them with their wings open and yes they are beautiful but look like some other BF's. But when they close up the wings and you see the underside with the almost silver spots and such, it is amazing, truly amazing. I am happy to report I let one go today that had eclosed late yesterday afternoon. He was a feisty one. I was so glad. But seeing him in the cage I got to see all the beautiful sides of him/her. Then when I took him out to let him go he took off like a rocked and did not even say goodbye. I think he was really ready to get out into the world. Then later in the day I saw one flitting around what is left of my poor passion vines which is not much thanks to the cats. I don't know if it was my guy/girl or not because it looked like she may have been laying more eggs (good grief) but I like to think it was mine come back to see me again.
Anyways, cat, in the picture of the caterpillar (leafwing) when I asked if it was a leafwing, the cat is next to the plant. I found it interesting the plants look fuzzy and so does the cat. To me the cat blends in well with the plant. Amazing you found the little guy. And I do understand that you cannot raise every cat you see. I learned that just from the gulf frits. Everytime I went out to get food I found more cats. I think I actually got them all into the cage but I was starting to think I would have to leave some out there. I hate to do it but I just was a little overwhelmed. And raising more than one kind at a time would be extremely difficult I would think.
Leslie
