DAILY BUTTERFLIES Page 18

Continued from >
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/767695/
I am so enjoying all your posts and pictures.. We watched Sheila release some beauties, we're still keeping an eye on Linda's TSTs, Lily has some very hansome BST chrysalids we might see eclose this week still... and then some might hibernate. Mellie has some Zebras ... Lots of great things still up in the air. Thanks everybody for continuing to share, and for those of you who are just stopping by, Welcome!

Oh well, I love it when I'm wrong, LOL! Just saying yesterday how I thought the Monarchs were slowing down here and preparing to go south. That part is true, but maybe not as soon as I thought. Otherwise why would this guy be spending so much time in the MW chasing off all the other butterflies from that area?? Patrolling is what we call it, lol. He's so obvious!

Debnes

How many milkweed plants do you think I may need for next year, Deb, Sheila, Rox, Chris, or anyone else that raises Monarchs? I really thought I would have had plenty planted. There has been a bumper crop of females laying eggs in my neck of the woods. I do think it is a good idea to have at least 5 plants growing close together. Also, I feel having groups scattered in different places keeps the predators from congragating in one spot.

Deborah

I haven't gotten any recent photos :( ,,,,,,,,,,been real busy at work : ( .........but here's one from my archive !!!!!!!!!!!

Deborah, I one had 3 plants of A curassavica that I grew from seed in Feb. It was enough to sustain the Monarchs that I raised but I was starting to worry that if all those new females started a new batch of babies, that there wouldnt be enough. The plants have made a comeback in the last few weeks but I am going to add 4 more plants in the corner of the yard were they can blow seed and I dont have to worry. I am also planting a bunch at my brothers house for a food reserve if I ever need it.

Picture is the inside of the rolled cana leaves. What do ya think. Are they skippers?

chris

Great pics debnes, , james, and chris. I released a GF yesterday. It was my fourth. I was so happy to do so after the trauma I had with my last chrysalid dying pretty much right before my eyes. The other three chrysalids look great and should all eclose pretty close together now. And I still have three cats in about the middle stage. This has been a much longer process than I thought but so worth it. When I let that little guy go. And he was little. One thing I have noticed is that the chrysalid that died was a pretty good sized one, the rest are all much smaller. And the little guy I let go yesterday was pretty small too. But what a beauty. Don't know why he was so small but since I have seen a small one on here before I am assuming that is okay.

Update on the cat I found on my Lantana that was never able to be identified because my pics were so bad. He has cocooned himself in a leaf. And I say cocoon because he is all wrapped up in silk inside of a leaf that is curled in a little. You could not see him if you weren't looking. So, still don't know what he is but he is out for awhile. I hope he does not come out some deadly killer moth or something. LOL. Should be interesting to see.

Leslie

Congrats on your 4th frit, Leslie! Hopefully you don't have a deadly killer moth. LOL!! That was funny.

Beautiful picture, James!

I had another BST pupate late last night (after midnight -- green again), and another one is just about to start pupating, so that'll be 3 so far with 4 more to go. Maybe I'll just turn my plant/cat room into a butterfly room this winter. Have butterfly bushes, lantana, etc., growing and let the butterflies just fly around in that room. That would be pretty festive. :) Ok, just kidding! Besides, people would really think I've lost my mind then! I was just thinking of a way to brighten up the cold winter ahead!

I like the picture of that in my mind, Indiana! LOL

Proud of you Leslie, I knew you'd fall in love with raising them once you got your feet wet.

Chris, I don't understand how you released so many with only three mature plants! How did you done it. That's marvalous! I've released less than 25 Monarchs so far, using probably close to 30 plants. I had been snipping off leafed out stems about 8" or so to put in the cages. I've had to do this over and over again. I've also added just leaves too, to the cages. I've rooted the stems I've taken out of the cages which also have leafed out and I've robbed those leaves too. Still without full grown leaves to speak of.

Jat, that picture reminds me of a Japanese fan! Great pic.

Deb, these are the 3 plants that have been feeding the troops. You werent able to see through the plants before I started stripping the leaves. I only put leaves in the cages, about 80 a day the last 3 days before pupate, thats why the plants are so bare on the bottom. Now that I have tried to root cuttings from the top, I realize that the original plants will make many new branches where I cut it.

If I had cut the tops off when they were smaller they probably would be much bushier plants and not be 6-7 foot tall and need to be tied back with that green garden tape so they dont fall over.

This link is the stow-away cat that I didnt realize I was raising with the monarchs.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=3891981

Well I guess it is an underground pupater (bare with me, if I dont know the words to something I just make them up as I go) because he dug himself a hole into the green floral foam and became this cocoon. He is the last thing left in my cage. Probably a moth, but I hope he is cool looking.

One thing is for sure, Chris; you've worn that piece of foam out, gf! LOL
Maybe someone can id the cocoon. What else eats milkweed besides Monarchs and Queens, I wonder? My courosity is up. Be sure to post a pic with it emerges.

How cool, (and funny) Chris!
I have seen some strange things, an this is right in there with them, ROFL!

BTW, I have been meaning to say If anyone posts a new thread about any of your butterflies, etc.. Please post the link in here for me if you get a chance. This way I can make a point to see at the time they are posted. I get so busy with this thread, and out in the garden, that I sometimes miss them when they are fresh. I am genuinely interested!
Thank you!! Debnes

I have a ton of things to pull on in the garden today while it's cool.. Will check back after while.

:-S

Chris, that's quite a stand of milkweed! Mine tend to lose many of the lower leaves and just have a few at the top. I'm starting to think they don't like a lot of water.

I'm curious about that cocoon too, at least we know it's a moth. LOL

I have those little cats on my Rock Rose and I think they are the Brazilion Skipper cats, they have that weird, clear body.

Deborah, I believe you can never have enough mw, the more you have, the more cats you will see, and then, the more you will have to try and feed. So, I try to just have as many as I can fit in the space I have for them.

This pic turned out kind of funny

Your Tiger Swallowtail is so svelte! What kind of weight loss program is she on? ;)
Cute pic!

She liked the Pentas...maybe they're lo-cal! lol

Oh Roxanne, I love that pic! It looks kinda dreamy.:-)


LOL Lily!

Rox, your picture reminds me of those pics seen through a view-master that used a film disk. Mine was a red one; funny how butterflies can bring back old memories. I suppose y'all are all too young to remember those things . LOL Lovely picture of the TST!

I'm YOUNG and remember view masters!

Well just an update. Let another GF go last night. That is two nights in a row. This one was so ready to go. He sat on my finger for about 30 seconds and then flew around my head twice and took off but did stay in the yard for a few minutes. Never landed on anything. I had a great night in the yard last night. First I let that beautiful baby go and hope he finds a mate soon. Then I recently planted some Russian sage, pretty big plant, and my brother-in-law noticed the hummer was on it last night. I don't know how he sees those hummers better than me when he is not even wearing his glasses. But anyway, the hummer went to the sage three or four times, just eating it up. Then would go to the feeder. So I stayed out a little while longer and I saw him sneak into my flower garden for a minute and fly off. I kept watching and he came back and tried my firecracker plant (not sure the real name), then my phlox for a sec and then my coral nymph salvia. I was so thrilled. First time he has shown any interest in my plants. I finally went inside and happened to look out the window and he was at the sage again tearing it up and as I was standing there two BF's frolicked past my window right in front of my eyes. Since most of you know I have not had much action in the yard this was really a thrilling night for me. Although of course the birds are always a constant. My neighbors make fun of me because I have about 60 to 70 birds in my yard at feeding time. So I always have them to watch. They are so spoiled and really get to griping at you if they are not fed at a certain time. LOL. Anyway, I was happy last night and it was certainly a new experience for me.

So as for the GF's two more chrysalids and two cats to go. Won't be much longer I guess. And of course the unknown killer moth. LOL.

Leslie

Deborah & Debilu.. I also remember view masters, (had em) and never plan to get old, :-)

Leslie , Sounds like a great night.. When you say night, what time did you mean, before dark or after? Did the hummer sit on anything? Or did it fly and hover constantly?

Years ago I used to wait by my moonvines at night to catch the hummingbird moths nectaring. At first I thought they were hummingbirds, but soon realized that they were huge moths when I got a blurry picture, lol.

I had a lot of hummer action yesterday. Just for the time I was out there I was able to take 10 fairly good pictures. The younger one has finally decided to share the yard. Last time it chased off an older ruby throat, only the RT came back... I was thinking it should have been more hospitable, suppose a lesson was learned?

There is plenty to go around.

Here, having some Vitex nectar, the orange blur is a Gulf Fritillary passing by>

I am not going to post all 10 pics here, only a few.

Here the golden sun was just coming across the back yard before going down.

Only a little new growth back on the Hercules Club..(Z. clava), and she's already laying again...

Giant ST>

Alread 3 babies hatched the other day.. The three of these will eat all of the new growth if I don't take them in. I have plenty of citrus leaves to feed them.

There was a GF chrysalis on the amorpha... and several stinkbugs were making a meal of it. 2 of them were inside. :-

Gorgeous shots, Debnes!!

My two juvie hummers are still around, thank goodness. Seems they left earlier last year.... maybe I'll get lucky and these will stay around for a bit longer, unless I can persuade them to stay for the winter with jazzed up food. :)

Glad you had such a great night, Leslie. That's what it's all about, isn't it? Enjoying the hummers and flutterbyes and your surroundings that bring such enjoyment.

I too had a view master, thank you very much! AND, they still make them, because some of the attorneys at work got some a few years ago (no clue what that was about), and gave them to Cori. So, even a 10 year old is familiar with them, which makes none of us "old." :)

Thanks Debnes. Actually it was about 6:45 when I went out to let the GF go and so I stayed out about 20 to 30 minutes after that. It was not dark yet but the sun was not shining if you know what I mean. I can pretty much clock the little hummer, he usually shows up in the mornings (I only get to see him on weekends) when I go out about 7:30 to 8:00. He may be up earlier than that but I'm sure not. Then again about 6:30 on for a little while I can be sure to see him. Last night he just stayed around and took advantage of some plants which I had never seen before. I love that time of night as the cardinals also come to feed and they so rarely come that is always a treat.

leslie

I know, I love sitting on my deck early morning and early evening - with all the fluttering friends

Well, here's the link for my skipper thread...they're coming along good, but the legume cat population is really getting ridiculous:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/770301/

Here is the unknown floral foam pupating moth...

He/She is cool looking, kinda like a tapestry. She was happily sent on her way this morning.

chris

That's a very pretty stow away, I mean moth, Chris. She does look like tapestry, doesn't she?

Ok, here's my chrysalis that is due to eclose any time now until the 15th. Dramatic color change today. Are we still ok here?

Very nice chrysalis. I think I can see her wing. Sounds like it could be a tomorrow eclose. Yea! :)

Ok, I know ya'll have seen this a gazillion times, but this is my very first time. Look at the chrysalis now as compared to it at 6:15 when I last posted.

This is sooooo exciting!!! :)

Its gonna be a pretty one for sure. Cant wait to see pictures of the new baby.

chris

Definately very soon, it may not wait until daylight! Are you pacing the floor yet?? LOL!

it's funny, this is the first I've tried raising bf's, and only had 3 monarchs, I released 5 days ago. I miss them. Nuts ha?

I have what seems will be my last two BSTs in about 4th instar and 2 Monarchs, the rest are all chrysalis. :-( I will miss them too I can tell that already.

Chris, if you get an id, you can post your cat, pupa, and the adult on Bug Files!

Ok icf, do we have a bf yet??? LOL! I know your watching it!

ok ...............here are my pics of the day .........

james t : )

and another ...........

one more ......... !!!!!!!!!!


and of course some aphids as well !!