I am new to butterfly gardening, put my bed in this spring. I have questions about the cats on my plants. Will they survive in my bed? Will they turn into butterlies out there?
It would seem from reading some posts on this site that some people raise the cats in a controlled environment.
If so ....... what is the controlled environment made out of and so forth?
any info greatly appreciated..............
cats everywhere ( help )
Hey congrats on your cats. First year and already getting action. Isn't it amazing. There is a wonderful thread at the top of the page with a sticky. Everyone has tried to put every bit of information needed to raise the cats if you want to. Some of us are raising the cats in cages because they are so prone to predators when left outside. It is not as hard as it looks, just a little time consuming but well worth it when you see a lovely butterfly come out of its chrysalid and then you get to release it back into the world, hoping it comes back to visit sometimes. There are links in that thread for cat cages, what to keep the cats in while they are growing, identifying the cats and what butterflies they will turn into, how long from egg to eclosure information. I think everything you need will be in there. And I hope you decide to give raising some of them a try. I think you will enjoy it and you will be saving some of the most beautiful creatures on God's green earth. I suggest you read the thread and then decide whether you want to go into raising them. Good luck to you and congrats on getting so much action for your first year.
Leslie
thanks for the response ......... yes I have gone to the top thread and found enough info to keep me busy for awhile : )
thanks again.
Enjoy your new hobby. It is a blast.
Leslie
yeah and it looks like it could keep me really busy as well..... : )
I am thinking about maybe starting a cat terrarium, I wish that I had an old aquarium that I could convert.
Old aquariums do work well. If you are interested a site called Live Monarch sells cat cages just for the purpose of raising them. They have several sizes. I have bought several and they have come in very handy. Nothing can get in with the cats but you can still see what is going on inside. They are pretty nifty. I am thinking of purchasing another one in hopes for some Monarch babies come October. Even if I do not get the Monarchs I am sure I will get something next year. I have a big one that my gulf frit cats are in now and when one ecloses I put it in the smaller cage to take outside and let go. It works out pretty darned good. Anyway, I did not think they were too expensive and I tell ya, they ship fast. I always get them in great time. They also sell small plants of milkweed if you need any for Monarch cats. I get them, plant them in pots and wait and hope for some Monarchs to come by.
Again, enjoy your new hobby. I hope you find something to use so you can get started.
Leslie
where did you get the cat cages from that you are talking about ......... that sounds like maybe what I might do .........was there somewhere online that you ordered from?
thanks for the help !!
Yup the site is LiveMonarch (sorry not sure what the rules are about putting a site up). But just put in LiveMonarch on Google and that should get you there. They have the best cages I think. A lot of people use a lot of different things and they all work great. It is just easier for me to buy one, have it delivered and I am ready to roll. Again they have different sizes. I started with the small one which is good for about 5 cats probably. But I noticed that when they eclosed they do not have much room to move around to dry their wings. So I went with the next bigger size. It was much better. Of course I had like 15 cats in there and the poor little butterflies that came out first did not have much room to move around still but it is getting better as they all eclose and go free. I could probably use an even bigger one but not sure where I would put it. This one fits nicely on an end table or bedside table. I have it in the guest/junk bedroom. They also have these sock type things which are really neat. You place the sock over the part of the plant that has the cats on it and tighten up the bottom. It should keep out predators, not 100% sure it will, but it should. That way you can leave them outside if you feel uncomfortable at first but have them protected at the same time. Kind of gives you a warming up period. I don't know how far they can get in the sock though, not sure they could eclose in there or if there is enough room. I know there is enough room to protect the worms and the chrysalids. I guess if you did that once they were chrysalids you could take it off. I am really not sure about that part. Maybe someone will help with that. But try them, I think the cages are reasonably priced and someone else on here is the one who was talking about them so I cannot take credit. But I am glad she did because they are great.
Let us know how it goes.
Leslie
Leslie,
If you put up a tomato cage over the plant and put the sock over that, it's easier to establish a "roof" for them to pupate on.
Maggie
Awesome Margaran. I would have never thought of that. Thanks so much.
Leslie
Your welcome.
Maggie
James,
I tried an aquarium once and the cats died. Besides if they eclosed in there, they couldn't climb on the glass as butterflies. Live Monarch (like Leslie said), are the most excellent. The tiny predators can get into the smallest openings. I lost some very important cats to the Chalcid wasps.
Wet floral foam works good for keeping the cuttings fresh, but it needs to be wrapped to keep it from dehydrating too fast. I cut it into small blocks and wrap it in foil and duct tape to keep the water in. I have lots of things that work finally.
Let us know what you come up with. :-)
I agree that the cages from Live Monarch are great. I have 8 of them - 4 large and 4 small. I also bought the sock. I tried using it on a parsley plant with BST cats on it. I used a bamboo trellis (u shaped) to keep it off the plant. That part worked well, but a day or so after I set it up and went out to check on the cats I found a lizard in the sock with the cats. So, I snatched it off and tossed the lizard into the yard. I then brought the cats into a cage with a potted parsley.
Good luck with your first time on raising butterflies. You'll get addicted. Believe me.... I've been doing it for 3 years now and I still get so excited. I'm down to 20 pupas from 70 BST cats.
Terrie
Yep terrie, Your really cooking now! You made a great point there about the openings. Predators are hunting for them as food, so it has to be tight. Otherwise we are trapping them into danger, and it defeats the whole purpose of conservation.
I wouldn't call it an addiction, lol. It is a healthy occupation driven by love that gives back to the conserver 10 fold for all the efforts. (Addictions only drain a person of freedom and life.) Hanging out with these guys is good humble company, and they are creatures that show us what freedm is.
We have an important job in this world!
That's true, debnes.
It's a very important job. If we left them out in "nature" they'd all be eaten by the lizards and frogs.
Besides.... they bring such joy to our lives. I even have neighbors asking if they can come and release one.
8*D
I will share it with anyone who is interrested. Even taking my updated presentation to the school when the class gets to the insect world. Not just for my sons class either. :-) With what we can learn and add to our own documentations in here, it is a perfect opportunity to share such a thing. And oh the winter birds that visit in gardens like we have in the south. All the insect bits left over from summer are a feast to them.
It's so fly!