DAILY BUTTERFLIES Page 20

Here's a pic of my big guy that won't stop eating and become a butterfly. As for the conversation...a few months ago some kind of native eupatorium was blooming and while I was hiking I saw many different species of butterfly on it. I found my second hornworm today after never seeing one before (I don't use much pesticide - mostly because I'm lazy). After one nearly ate my datura into oblivion, I was surprised to find one today eating my beautyberry.

When I bought my pipevine last month I got free (Polydamus ST) caterpillars with it, and the people let me take a few off of their pipevine. So go ahead and ask! The lady was also fretting over the dill and parsley that had eggs all over it; "they were fine yesterday", she exclaimed! I have to say I like going to nurseries where I see cats and butterflies because I know they don't use a lot of pesticides. Go to some of the "big box" nurseries and it's sort of weird how you won't see any cats - even on plants that should be covered in them. I understand they're trying to sell plants, but I think there are better ways than killing all the bugs (especially the beneficial ones).

There's my two cents...I hope everyone enters their best pictures into the photo contest (but don't be sad when I win, LOL)!

Melanie

Oh sorry - those are my Zebra Swallowtails!

Lucky you!, Melanie. I don't see any of those around here either. They are mapped for my area though, just not in my yard.

I read yesterday that the Monarch are going to be slow in arriving here this month. Then I happened to think about the FW Botanic Gdn is having a bf tagging at their plant sale next Sat. 13th. So I contacted the lady in charge of it and told her that I had about 12 Monarch chrysalis that would begin eclosing on the 10th an wondered if she might need them for the exibition. She emailed me back saying she would definately take me up on it. So my babies are going to be tagged and released to head south!

Sorry.....failed to comment on the great pics pford, Cdawg, & Melanie have going there. Hope you do well in the photo contest Melanie!

The Zinnias are beautiful this year. I didn't plant any and have so regretted it!

Well, Shelia, I'm just amazed at all I learn on this thread. Seems like I read something new everyday, either a picture of a butterfly I've never seen in my yard or a new host plant etc. Now tagging Monarchs. I've heard of tagging hummers, but butterflies? Amazing!

I can't say I actually see the ZST in my yard...let's just say I like to go hiking in the preserves in my neighborhood, and there happen to be a lot of pawpaws that grow there. Coincidentally, I acquired some pawpaw seed this year and have little seedlings growing. I also managed to come by some ZST caterpillars. Of course, taking anything from a preserve would be unlawful and should not be done. : )

Hopefully, next year I'll have some pawpaw seeds to share. The ones that grow here are little shrubs; we don't get the big trees (asimina triloba) this far south. Here's a pic I took when they were in bloom last year. I used to think we only had one species (asimina reticulata) but now I'm beginning to think otherwise. Most of the ones I see bloom in February, but when I was out hiking this week I saw a few that were in bloom right now. I had also thought that some of the leaves looked different, but I had attributed it to older vs. newer plants. I tried to buy some from local nurseries but was told "they're so hard to germinate, transplant, etc." so they don't carry them. At the USF butterfly festival this year there was a man selling soursop as a larval food for the ZST; apparently, it's in the same family.

Great Mellie!
Looks like you're finally going to get some ZSTs! Good job!

Great shots pford! My zinnias got tall too.. I had to trim them good last week, they were all over the place.

I am also entering a some pics in the contest...:-S!


debnes

ok everyone ........... I have a new sighting in my yard this morning ......... and it was one of the prettiest butterflies that I have seen !!

what is this bf? .........I am fairly sure that it is a Swallowtail ......... is it a Zebra ?

yesterday and today the milkweed has averaged at any given time at least 8 Queens on it ....... yesterday at one time I counted ten wityh four on one bloom pod!!

this morning I have seen of course the Queens, GST, PVST and then this new sighting!!

james t

awesome butterfly ........

Oh I got this one! Tiger Swallowtail! YEA!

Just a note:

I had 9 blackswallowtails enclose, here while back. One didn't come out, so I waited and waited, and finally figured he had died.

I sat the cage over in the corner of the garage, cause I couldn't bare to pull him down to clean the cage, just in case. Well, yesterday I was fixing to pull in my garage and I noticed 3 butterflies around the cage. I thought, look, the guys wanna stay close to where they were born.

Nope, 15 days after the others enclosed...here comes slow-poke. She was a girl and alot bigger than the others, and they were waiting on her. : ) (approx. 25 days)

I let her out because she was ready to go, and the whole herd was right behind her,...I doubt she got to far. : )

Soooooo, never give up on those crystalis, if they still look good. : )

~Lucy

I have several also, since there isn't any apparent damage to them, they just might. Sure enough the other day, just like your's here comes one out of the blue! I looked at my date tag when I removed the old chrysalis and it was 8/28! Didn't figure up the days but it was at least a month.
I went out and checked my parsley the other day and I had one ready to pupate, closer look, and found three more cats to bring inside. I had given up on the BST, and was concentrating on the Monarchs. Close by was two of those little flies and a frog. I brought them inside.

James....Awsome pictures of the TST!!! Super that the Monarchs are blessing you with the eggs too.

Way to go Lucy! That's happened with me too Giant STs and BSTs...Always save the ones that look fine. your right!

Glad you're still getting butterflies to raise Sheila!:-)

Nice pics of the Tiger ST James.. It's a female. The males are black on the top of the lower wing where she is a beautiful powder blue there..

debnes

thanks everyone .......... she was beautiful ....... she hung around for quite awhile feeding on the lantana ............. flew up around my head and would then settle back down to feed some more !!

james t

Aren't the TSTs like the supermodels of the butterfly world? So showy. I myself got a picture of this Palamedes Swallowtail. Again, note the diagonal yellow line that runs parallel to the body - it's a great way to tell it's a Palamedes.

Well, this morning I went out to acquire some food for the Zebra STs and ended up bringing about 15 more of them home. One was really big, but all the others were first or second instar. I put all the small ones in the butterfly house and the big ones are in the critter keeper. I've already had some cannibalism so I'm just trying to keep them separate. While I was out there a Zebra Longwing flew around me, and just as I was leaving I saw a Zebra Swallowtail, so it looks like they might be laying some more eggs.

I think the butterflies must be returning or eclosing because I saw a bunch while gardening and driving around the neighborhood today. I saw many Gulf Frits, including three in my neighbor's yard; I hadn't seen any for a few weeks so I was a little worried. I also saw two White Peacocks, the ZLW that lives in my yard, and the usual sulphurs.

Melanie

Sadly, that Palamedes got hit by a car minutes after I took that picture. But on to happier news...the ZST cats have been fascinating me. I had two hanging near the chrysalis (see photo in previous post) and I thought they might be molting. Sure enough, last night the smallest one popped his head off, wriggled free of his skin, then turned around and ate them! Well, he sat for a few minutes before he started to move because I watched his head go from fleshy color to dark brown. It was so weird; I showed Mom and we were both enraptured. The slightly larger cat from the photo took a little longer; he molted today when I was napping during the USF game. Mom and I both agreed it's weird how much larger he is. I like that his stripes are showing more, but we both wonder when he'll turn green.

And for fun, here's another picture of the chrysalis. When I hold up the cage with a lamp behind it, I can see a dark blob inside. I was thinking today I'll release most of the bfs back into the preserve. I want them to be able to find a mate and keep the cycle going. Even if I let them go at my house, the preserve isn't very far as the crow - or butterfly - flies. Still, I'd feel better knowing they're in a place that has friends and host plants. My host plant pawpaws are still tiny seedlings!

Melanie, You are gonna have to get some signs to put out.
SLOW..Butterfly Crossing

Sorry to hear about the Palamedes. It's in butterfly heaven.
~Lucy

More eggs on the milkweed, again (sigh!). While the milkweed foliage was pretty much gone, egg-laying died down and butterflies took off. The plant I brought home to feed the small cats I had left I kept in the house. You should have seen a Queen trying to oviposit one day! There wasn't enough new growth for her to hold onto anything while trying to lay an egg...finally flew off. But there's quite a bit of new growth now. I have Queens all over the place now! And have released more Monarchs and Queens, of course.

Gorgeous, James!! I'll trade my BST's for your TST's!!

I'm sorry about your Palamedes, Melanie. But, it's awfully cool that you have ZST's!! I think I've seen one this entire year, and I wish there was some way to attract them here, because there is a Pawpaw tree in my neighbor's back yard.

This guy defies all logic, Debnes. Maybe he partied too much Friday night, or maybe the fall butterflies simply eclose later in the day. In any event, he did not eclose until about 12:30 yesterday afternoon. We've got two more that look like they are going to eclose today -- more late bloomers, I guess. :)

Anyhoo, here's the "butterfly whisperer" with our guy from yesterday.... (picture one of three)

here's the second picture....

and last picture.... she was waiting all afternoon for our guy, but he was just not very motivated to get out and about, so she gave up and flew away (can you see the blue on her abdomen?) ....

I understand that Black SwallowTail crystalis may take their time eloseing, but what about Monarchs? Will Monarchs take a long time too? I've got an 8 QT container with about 5 that have been there for over a month.

What color are they Deborah? If they get dark and do not eclose soon after, they are probably gonners. I had a couple do that.

One of my Monarchs eclosed this morning, she was a clingy one, lol.

Wasn't interested in socializing, :-. Just clinging on.

So I took her to the new Porterweed and she stayed there for a while before flying off. SHe came right back and went straight for the MW.

debnes

Well, seeing more kinds of butterflies every day! The Queens are still flocking around the Gregg's Mistflower. This morning I saw what looked like a large satyr...couldn't ID it, never saw the upper wings. Then for some reason an orange butterfly caught my eye. I'm so used to going out and there's a dozen GFs flying around and I don't pay any attention to them. But for some reason I took a look at this one, then a second look, then ran inside for the camera. Ah, got back too late...foiled again. I looked at all the orange ones the rest of the day, but I didn't see it again. But I know a Julia when I really look at it...and that one was female! And...I think I have a couple of tiny Julia cats! And some eggs to keep an eye on just in case. This is getting very INTERESTING!

Great to hear Linda!!

Mellie, Your butterfly season is just now getting started. you will be covered with cats of all kinds very soon, lol. (In other words, you ain't seen nuthin' yet.) Maybe more than one person can deal with.. good thing your Mom and Dad are around and helping so much.
Maybe Becky will have more soon too.

We will be getting our first cold front of fall in the next couple days.

debnes

I think I'm already covered in caterpillars! I went to pick some more leaves today, hoping to get enough to last through Friday. I went to a different area; I'm trying to minimize my impact. I found a few more refugees and saw a Mommy ZST flying around. There were some pawpaws that were just stripped bare, but most of the ones I saw were pretty full. I guess the bfs hadn't fully used that area yet. My chubby cat is finally going to become a bf. He was hanging on one side of the cage all day long. Then, just a few minutes ago he let out one massive poo. Mom had to come over and look, but Dad and brother were both, "Ewww...we're eating!" Now, the cat is wandering around looking for a good place I presume. The other cat pooed a massive quantity before he went into the chrysalis; but he must have moved because the poo and his chrysalis are in two different locations. And here I was blaming the other caterpillar for all that poo! This one was pretty nasty; I can't believe these cats have me trained so well to clean up after them.

By the way, have any of you seen caterpillars drink? I was spraying mine a few days ago and then I watched them roam around, and they were sucking up the water droplets off the side of the cage. It was very cool. I thought they got all their water from the plants they eat.

Oh, I also braved my nose and showed Mom the little "stink horns" the cats have. She hadn't seen them before so when those little yellow things came out and waved around she thought it was so cool (it really is). FYI, since that massive poo, my cat looks more transparent. The area between his head and the stripes on his back is more see-through. These guys go through so many changes - it sure seems tough being a caterpillar.

Melanie

Felicia - Great shots of your beautiful Swallowtail!!! Looks very healthy and ready to go venture out on it's own! Good job raising cats this year!

Deb - As always .... you and Cat rule with the caterpillars and butterflies! You both must live right in the path of all the migrating butterflies because you both get such a wonderful selection in your gardens/on your property!!

I've been enjoying the butterflies through each of you. I saw a Sulphur today that was probably laying eggs on my Cassia bushes (which are getting quite large now!). And I did see a Monarch cruising around my milkweed plants. The milkweed is everywhere in my yard now. :-) The white peacocks must live in my yard because I always see them every day that I am out in the garden. Yesterday I caught sight of 2 amazing Tiger Swallowtails gliding around together through my yard. Only stopped to nectar. They looked like they were in love and on a honeymoon trip! ♥

It's been raining a lot here lately. My bogless garden is looking a little more like a bog garden. Luckily all the wet soil doesn't seem to be bothering what is growing in the beds. Fall is officially here with a tad bit cooler weather. I've been enjoying growing Morning Glories for the past 2 months. I added photos in my garden diary of all of them. Deb - Take a look at all the pretty blooms! You'll enjoy them. What cultivars do you grow?

I have been babysitting 2 Queen chrysalises that both emerged this weekend. I released one on Saturday and will release the other one tomorrow. :-)
'

Thanks much, Becky! Don't you just love the Tiger Swallowtails? You made them sound soo romantic, too. :) Maybe you'll get lucky and find some eggs on your milkweed? Do they stay in your area during the winter, or do they move further south? Lucky you with the Queens!

Well, we had two eclose this afternoon. One around 4:00 and the other around 6:00. I guess the fall babies close later than the others? Since they eclosed so late in the day, we decided to keep them in their bin with some lantana and butterfly bush blooms until tomorrow morning.

In any event, this is sorta cool with the two together. Meet "Shaggy" and "Scooby." :)

I am impressed with the tiger swallow tails ..........don't know how rare the sightings will be, but I will be waiting until I can see it again !!

Here here Felicia! Super job this year with the butterflies!

James, It eems once they start coming through the others can sniff the beaten path out with their very sensitive olfactory system in their antennae. Some days I have seen several in the yard at once. Still I think it is a magnificent sight! Great pics!

Ah Beckyyy!! I love your selection of MGs! Especially the Hatsu_JMG! That royal blue is amazing. If you can, save me a couple seeds of it. I had Hatsu Arashti it was a lighter blue. The porcelain ones are gorgeous. I have some Granpa Ott, Heavenly Blue, and Crimson Rambler that came up voluntarily, lol. I have Scarlet O'hara and Moonvine. Oh and I have some native wild MG too. I like Pearly Gates a lot too!

Yep Mellie! They loose all unnecessary gunk before pupating.. the bigger the cat, the bigger the mess. LOL!

debnes

Here's Shaggy & Scooby this morning. It's still too dark to release them, but we'll be able to release them before we leave for work/school. They are pretty guys, aren't they?

Sweet picture Lily. Looks like they are enjoying a early breakfast buffet.

Thank you, Sheila. Aren't they sweet? These were the friendliest guys -- they perferred our hands to the Lantana we finally put them on outside. I hope it wasn't too cold for them when we released them, though. It was sunny and 70 (5 degrees cooler than in the house), but they remained on the lantana until after we left. I certainly hope they are ok.

Here's how we left them this morning. When we came home they were gone, and no signs of "foul play." Whew!

Is there a way to kill all the yellow aphids on the milkweed without hurting the monarch cats that are starting again? There are soooo many aphids that I get them all over me when I go to get food leaves for the cats that I brought into my daughters school.

chris