DAILY BUTTERFLIES Page 35

Mellie, That's just great! I love how the kids can "pet" the cats. :)) Everyone seems to know this already, but are you studying to be a teacher?

Today I saw my first Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. It was yellow and BIG! But there is nothing much here (blooming) for it to nectar on!

Hummers are still elusive, meaning if they are here, I sure havne't seen any.

Do Passionvines come up late by any chance? I do not see how I could have killed mine. It was really big last year, well, I got it as a rooted cutting from ASA, and it grew really well, so it wasn't big-big. I know it was healthy and everything. I can't imagine it not making it over the winter, and am hopijng it is just a spring slowpoke.

Suzy

My maypop (p. incarnata) just "popped" about two weeks ago. And considering how much further north you are I wouldn't worry about it. My p. lutea only recently came up as well.

I get mistaken for a teacher quite often, but I'm actually an accountant. I work for my county's department of Aging Services where I handle $8 million in grant money. I have a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania (yeah, I'm proud to be an Ivy Leaguer). But I have many varied interests and nature is just one of them. I always liked plants, but I never liked science very much when I was in school. I did like earth science - rocks, planets, soil, etc. Never got to study it much though. Also, kids make me nervous. I actually have social anxiety disorder so the idea of talking in front of a bunch ok kids got me really nervous (I took an extra Zoloft, lol)! I don't really have much experience with kids being the youngest and not having younger cousins or anything, but several of my co-workers told me I did a good job yesterday so that was nice.

Melanie

LOL! For some reason I thought you were a student. I probably read where you had to give a report or presentation or speech or somehting and figured it was for a class.

Good to hear about the Passionvine!!! Thanks!

Suzy

Melanie, I don't do well with OPC (other people's children), but put me in a position of talking about something I am passionate & knowledgable about and I can hold my own and enjoy it. You were caught up in the experience and trying to share it and the nerves went out the window. Good job, and great fun for them and you!

Jo in answer to your question:

It's a 2 qt rectangular Glad container
Yes it is large enough for them to spread their wings. I have had as many as 4 Monarchs eclose in that size box... They attach just fine with their sticky silk right on to the plastic. Always put folded paper towel in the bottom after the chrysalids are formed. Mark your date and then close it up and wait. Monarchs and Gulf Fritillaries take about 7 days, and Swallowtails take about 10-12 days here in Texas.

The other picture with the larger cage is one of 8 I bought at www.amazingbutterflies.com for $8 each.... Call them and buy a few or a lot, but call to place the order instead of ordering online. The price still says $10 on the web page.

Meanwhile the Gladwares work great and they are cheap and easy to whip up . Just make sure the fabric you use is very fine like chiffon.. the tulle is not fine enough to keep parasitoids out.

Here here! Great job Mel!!

Suzy .. Passionvines are actually tropical plants. The only one I know of that is hardy enough for Indiana would be the P. caerulea. Even with the snow we had, mine stayed green. It is what you'd call an evergreen passionvine, though you might need to cover it up in winter there with a clear plastic tarp, it probably would live through the cold and start early in spring.

I have at least one that has taken root, would you like me to send it to you?

Just say the word.

Hi Deb, and thanks, but I'll wait. The native passion vine here is P. incarnata, or something like that. Not much to look at flower-0wise, esp compared to the kinds yo guys in the south have. It should be hardy, and in addition, I planted it next to a nice red brick wall that holds a lot of heat. I can't help but think it's basically a weed and should be taking over!

I have wooly pipevine (A. tomentosa) seedlings and also A. fimbriata. I wanted to make 100& sure that these are the good ones for cats before I plant them out..

On the subject of hostplant vines. My Maypop (p. incarnata) is just now barely "popping" out the ground even as far South as I am. I often associate this native vine with its name Maypops, thus pops out in May? The Caerulea (blue passi. as Deb. has posted pic. above) is also hardy here in my zone. I didn't know that so in years past I lugged those heavy pots in and out of the gh, then year before last I overlooked one, and low and behold the vine weathered the winter and it was in a smaller pot to boost! So now my Blue passi. stayed out period, and they're making buds abundantly at this time while Maypop just barely poking through in various area. The shaddier spot in the garden, they didn't even wake up yet.

As far as various pipevines as hostplant for Polydamas? I've Gigantea and Alata pipevines for several years but either I couldn't identify the butterflies? Or I missed their visit? I haven't the pleasure of finding the cats. either. So I'm looking for other species pipevines that are known to be host to those lovely cats. Unless I can purchase some cats. from elsewhere and help them established in my garden? Any input is appreciated here.

Found this Eastern Tiger Swallowtail which got trapped in my pond's netting. I helped the 'purdy' out so she/he is happily back in the garden now. ^_^
Kim

Well, I got so interested in seeing the photos up closer, I knocked my cup over...it's because of things like that that I have a keyboard cover (DH doesn't like them, but he really should use them also).
I have more cats now...on black cherry, texas ash and hop tree...see my thread for pics! Drop by and look sometime.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/838373/

Not a butterfly, but ya'll will love it.

Luna moth in my sedum this morning

another view

Wow! I would love to see one of those.

I saw one several days ago, the picture taken by cellphone thus isn't worth to post. But those beauties are by far surpasses others big moths they have seen in person. Wonderful pics. Thanks you for sharing.

A Bordered Patch....at least I got a chance to take a photo of ONE of the butterflies that were all over the place today.

Monarch.

What kind of moth?

it's a Sphinx of some kind. Possibly a Tersa.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/1429/

Just lovely butterflies and moths. Mellie I know you enjoyed showing the kids your cats. You probably inspired some of them to become butterfly protectors.
Here is a cat I rescued the other day. He cocooned the next day. I had offered him all kinds of host plants, but he was not interested. Going to search and see what kind. The cocoon is white cottony looking.

another pic. off to search

Hello again everyone! Today Mom and I volunteered with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program planting native plants along the shoreline of a lake. I saw a Gulf Fritillary, an orange sulphur, and several of these White Peacocks.

Besides planting, our job was to watch out for these guys! This one was small (maybe 5 feet) and only came over after we were all done and sitting there eating lunch. I guess he wanted to check out all the changes we had made. The White Peacocks were already enjoying perching on the new plants. We planted iris, sawgrass, spike rush, canna lillies, and pickerelweed. It should be beautiful next year about this time.

In other news, I picked two eggs off the passion vine when I was hiking last weekend. At first I thought they were Gulf Frit eggs, but they look like they're starting to change color so I think I may have Zebra Longwings! I'll keep you posted as they grow. Meanwhile, the Zebra STs and the Gulf Frits and one confirmed Zebra LW are still munching away.

Funny story, so far this spring the Zebra STs haven't been bad at all with their final gut purge. Some of them I can't even tell. I was wondering if it was a seasonal thing like how they are a little smaller in the spring. Well, when I took them to work I had my first really messy gut purge (of course). I always have tissues on my desk (allergies) so I cleaned up after the little guy but he wasn't quite finished so I had to repeat a few times. I was looking at the tissues in my trash and thinking, "What are the cleaning people going to think I've been doing?" It looked pretty bad!

Melanie

I was just checking the cats before I went to bed and my Zebra LW is in its J position! I use cheesecloth to cover the lids and keep the cats from escaping, but they also seem to like hanging from it. This is my first ZLW so I'm super excited to watch it!

Melanie

Woke up this afternoon (yup, afternoon) and the Zebra Longwing looked like it had just pupated as it was still very light in color and hadn't hardened yet. They're a lot like my Frits, they stay on the bottom eating and only crawl to the top to pupate. But like all caterpillars, they seem to appreciate the cheesecloth. It's soft, and they can hook themselves into it pretty easily. Also, some of my Monarchs hatched today. Here's a pic of the ZLW.

Neat pic of the ZLW Mel. I hope to have one this year. I did spot then flying through the yard last year but never saw a cat.

Mellie...have you notice the gold markings on the ZLW chrysalids? They are awesome.

But will tell you with all those spiky and jagged edges and those antler/horn-like protrusions I'd hate to be driving around the back forty and come across a six foot long one hanging from a tree!!! They truly look like something out of a sci-fi movie!!!

~ Cat

Six foot long chrysalid. LOL : ) Cat, you are a riot. lol
I'd be getting the heck out of there, also.
~Lucy

That is one UGLY chrysalid! I think I'll stick to monarchs! :)

Jo

Thanks Melody for the ID. Here is a Longwing from today.

This message was edited Apr 28, 2008 8:53 PM

Now, now everyone - it's like I told the kids. The caterpillar that they all thought was ugly (Giant ST) turned into a beautiful butterfly that they all went "Oooh" when they saw. Nature has its reasons for being ugly at certain times and beautiful at others. I refrained from telling them how one day they will look back at pictures of themselves and go, "What was I thinking?" I'll just let them experience that joy on their own, LOL!

Gardenpom, I'd save that ZLW pic for the next photo contest!

Melanie

Nice pic GP!

Great document ofthe ZLW Mellie.

LOL Cat!!

Yes they are awesome, and btw the Julia also has gold specks on their chrysalids. Makes ya wonder where the gold comes from... so real looking, so sparkly.

Elaine~ I am certain the cat you have will become a moth, haven't looked up which one yet. Did you find it?

Besides the 3 Gulf Fritillary chrysalids I have in a box, several Silver-spotted Skipper cats out in the garden, and surely more I just haven't found yet.....
Here are 3 cages with, (r - l) Brazilian Skipper cats, Cabbage White cats, and about 4 Giant Swallowtail eggs. Magnes told me someone was laying eggs out there last week, he just wasn't sure if it was a TST or a GST. (She was flitting close to both the Hercules and the Hop.)
My son had a few of his friends over to see all the cats and plants, and one of the twins found an egg on the H. clava. I checked the other Hercules (hirsutum) and found a total of 4. :-)

The Silver-spotted Skippers do better when I just leave them outside on the plant. See how they tuck themselves inside...

I figured you guys could appreciate this...

Here's a new moth for me.
I believe it is a Nessus sphinx moth - Amphion floridensis

It's wings were constantly fluttering, even though the moth was sitting very still.
It was obviously filling up on Orange Juice.

( Please confirm, and I'll add it to the Bug files - thanks )

Paul

This message was edited Apr 28, 2008 5:21 PM

I'm wondering about the spring Monarch migration through Texas. Where I am...not many were seen. Compared to last year, just a world of difference! I'm wondering. Maybe if it's really dry around here, they find other routes or just go through quicker. I've got eleven cats. Other than one egg, I haven't seen any other eggs or cats on roadside milkweeds. My way of checking whether the Monarchs are stopping and laying eggs.

Funny cartoon Mellie!!! Love it!!!

Deb - I haven't raised Julia's yet. Have had one lone butterfly in my yard show up each year...so am hoping the variety of passion flowers I have growing now will entice a female over. By the looks of all those cages you have been busy!!!

I'll be flying to Georgia again near the end of next month for five weeks so I've turned over my GF cats to the young neighbor. He comes by to get fresh passion vine leaves and to show me how well they are growing :o) I gave him a copy of the Kaufman Focus Guide today. Figured that way he'll get his dad to help out too.

Our training center is situated in the middle of a national forest so am hoping I'll be able to see and photograph some different butterflies and moths while I'm there. Depending on how the training and free time goes I might end up renting a car and checking out parts of Florida too :o)

~ Cat





This message was edited Apr 28, 2008 8:35 PM

Found these as soon as I saw a Sulfur Butterfly around my Cassia.

Along with a Sulfur Cat.

Cat 2.

All right! I have one unhatched egg on my and can't wait until it starts munching!

How absolutely beautiful is that luna moth..! Wow!

back to my lurking.

kj