Continued from: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/837359/
The other thread was getting long so let's start a new one! This skipper was enjoying the one echinacea I have that's blooming. It's got three flowers on it and another couple on the way so he had plenty to enjoy. He also hopped over to the blanket flowers and got some of that, too.
I saw this huge moth on the patio screen. Someone will have to tell me what it is. I couldn't believe the size of it - easily the size of a Fritillary or a sulphur, but the body was really fat!
The underside had red stripes - it was really pretty.
I saw a Swallowtail fly by today but I couldn't tell which one. I only happened to look up because our hawks were flying around. Mom released a Gulf Frit today and a Zebra Swallowtail yesterday. Ever since I showed Dad the Cassius Blue cats he said he's going to feel bad now about trimming the plumbagos. I assured him I would check for caterpillars before he pruned.
Other than that, I brought in a few Monarch cats today. That's the report from Tampa!
Melanie
BST eggs abound!
I was out checking the yard yesterday afternoon and counted 24 Black Swallowtail eggs on two of my large rue (ruta graveolens) plants.
I haven't seen a single butterfly in my yard for the past couple of weeks!!! Of course, I've been working days so guess by the time I get home they've moved elsewhere to settle in for the evening. Still nice to know they sneak in and leave little presents :o)
Am planning on turning over the potted rue plants to my neighbor (the one whose son is into raising butterflies) since I'll be out of town for a while. He'll be thrilled to see the eggs as he has only raised butterflies from caterpillars. He's going to be a busy little beaver watching over all those BSTs :o)
Was able to get a semi-decent photo of two eggs close by. They are sprinkled throughout the plants and I wanted to take more photos but the mosquitoes are vicious out in my back yard!!!
~ Cat
Cat, I hear ya about being being at work when the butterflies are out. Mom loves reporting to me about all the bfs she sees flying around. And of course, Dad the mailman sees them all day long; today he had to avoid stepping on a Dainty Sulphur. I was at the doctor's today discussing my bloodwork and apparently I have a Vitamin D and B12 deficiency. The doc talked about lowering my stress and getting some sun. Therefore, I've decided it is medically necessary for me to sit outside and watch the butterflies.
Melanie
Mellie...that's good advice from your doctor!!! Did you ever find out what kind of moth that is? I like the red stripes on the underside...reminds me of those from the catalpa (sp?) family.
On another good note...my neighbor told me yesterday that the Giant Swallowtail chrysalis I'd given his son a few weeks ago eclosed during the week. I'd forgotten all about that one. It was one that had been in the chrysalis stage since October of last year!!! Talk about taking lots of swee time! I like to think that 'overwintering' means about six months...not eight! Really seems unheard of for our warm winters and hot summers.
They were truly excited to see such a huge butterfly come out of that chrysalis :o) Wish I could've seen their faces!!!
~ Cat
Love that moth. Wonder what it is. Melanie, you're getting some great shots with that new camera.
Cat, congrats on all the BST!
I'm embarrassed to share this photo b/c of the dog hair. It was right by the doggie door and well, there's just always dog hair there even five minutes after I vacuum. Anyway, my door gets stuck sometimes and doesn't quite close all the way. This Snout accidentally found his way in the house. I was able to carry him outside. He seemed floppy, so I hope he's OK.
I wouldn't worry about the dog hair...your dog works hard at keeping the dog hair around the pet door. I think it's a territorial thing, myself. Maybe to keep other dogs out? Nice snout! I'm always frustrated with the BFs (like the snout)that won't open their wings...usually their upper wings are the prettiest part and I want to see, but they make it really hard. Melanie, didn't your doctor give you any supplement? I have to take calcium citrate because of osteopenia myself.
The doc is letting me "Google the heck out of everything" and decide what option I want to take. I called my insurance and apaprently they cover the B12 shot (doc wasn't sure about that) so I made an appointment to get one next week. I'm going to try to soak up the Vitamin D and eat some Vitamin D enriched foods first, and then see what my bloodwork looks like in a few weeks. I'm just glad I have an answer for why I've been so tired the last few months. My garden needs me!
My doc was saying how she's been attending a lot of conferences because she's seeing more and more young people (I'm only 28) with conditions only older people should have and she's sure poor eating habits are part of it. I told her I started my first vegetable garden this year; in fact, I ate my first green beans last night!
Melanie
This Polydamas is laying its eggs on the wrong plant! The dutchman's pipe has made its way up this plant and I've been meaning to cut it back, but this poly missed the pipevine and layed eggs on whatever this plant is. (It's not a banana but it has leaves like one only stronger. Bought years ago at home depot as an office plant.) Maybe when they hatch, I can help them to find the right plant. I'd love it if they pruned back that vine.
Melanie, sounds like you need some milk and cheese too. B12 only comes from animal products, but I'm sure you read that in your googling. Hope you're full of energy soon!
Melanie, have you heard of Dr. Oz, who has been on Oprah a lot? I like his green drink! There are variations of it all over, but this one is from Oprah's site.
http://www2.oprah.com/health/oz/slide/20071105/oz_20071105_350_111.jhtml
Maybe after the eggs are hardened, you can cut around the eggs and glue the piece of leaf to the correct plant.
That is a good idea. I was think that I'd bring some of the vine over there, but then they would have to find it. Your way is better. Thanks!
Thanks everyone! I eat enough B12 stuff but apparently my body isn't wanting to absorb it. I'm going to write a list of questions for the doc based on everything I'm reading.
I noticed the Cassius Blue cat was getting a little bigger so I took him out to play - and to take pictures of course. He kind of stretches his neck out of his body; it was very odd to watch. You can see in relation to my thumb just how small he is!
Forgot to say that Elphaba that is an awesome picture! Please add it to the Bug Files!
This message was edited May 16, 2008 6:49 PM
I think this is my moth. http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/1070/ It's definitely an underwing moth of some kind. Oddly enough, last night before bed I was reading a book about how to attract butterflies and hummingbirds and in it was a picture of my moth!
It's been really busy here in the last 24 hours! Last night while sitting here it suddenly occurred to me that I should check the eggs I got from the pipevine. Lo and behold, they were in the midst of hatching. I think they're Polydamas cats. You can see the eggs are more yellow, while the orange ones in the background are Pipevine STs (I think). We'll find out, for now I'm just enjoying them. I got to see two of them hatch which was just so cool.
Today I went to my favorite local nursery, Hollie's. They always have tons of butterflies flying around and lots of caterpillars. It's good to buy local, and I appreciate a nursery that doesn't spray everything with pesticides. By the way, studies suggest that each dollar you spend at a local business is circulated up to three times more in your community than if you had spent that dollar at a chain store. So support a local business - it's good for the whole community!
I bought several kinds of sage, some cardinal flower, yellow gaillardias, and red pentas. Mom stood and watched a Polydamas ST fly around the pipevine. You can see it at the very top of this photo; it never stopped moving!
On another pipevine they have, there were about a dozen cats munching away at the top of the vine. They were sooo chubby; I told them they better become butterflies soon!
There were Monarchs flying around - and then I saw these two lovebirds, er, love butterflies. The owner saw me pick them up and asked what I had found. I said there were two Monarchs making baby Monarchs and then I set them in one of the potted plants so they wouldn't get stepped on. When we left, they were still in that plant!
Once I got home and ate, I went out to collect some leaves for my cats. I was over by the milkweed when something caught my eye on the plumbago. I found two Cassius Blues making babies! I couldn't believe my luck - two pairs of lovers in one day. Looks like I'll have plenty of Cassius Blues through the summer.
Melanie
Melanie that Cassius Blues mating pic is just amazing! WOW! They're all great. I will add my photo to the bug files although I'm a bit intimidated by the great photos already there many of which you took!
Anyway, I went to the Brazos Bend State Park yesterday and happened upon a trail with lots of butterflies. Mostly Satyrs flitting across the path begging to be stepped on! I made a seperate thread showing them that I invite you all to enjoy. Here it is:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/849932/
Here's one of the pics from the trail. A Gemmed Satyr.
This is the 6th RSP I've found around here!
I've dubbed them the RSP 6 (anyone who watches LOST will know why I had to find the 6th cat first). This RSP cat is the largest of the cats. See the horns? I think it's a Texan!
Oops! That was an older one from last year! This is the largest cat I've got now.
Oooh, I'm still so jealous! But I'm going on vacation in July so maybe I'll get to see some RSPs then. That's one nice thing about being a butterfly watcher - no matter where you are you can never be bored. Last summer during the family reunion we had to take grandma to the hospital (UTI from the catheter she had in her a few days before). But instead of being bored in the waiting room I wandered in the field past the parking lot. I found a little creek and some native milkweed, and I saw my first Red Admiral. Grandma was feeling bad she made everyone wait, but I told her I had a great time - and showed her the pictures to prove it!
Off to view Elphaba's satyrs...
Melanie
Have a really good time in July, Melanie! Hope you see lots of butterflies! You know, I was just thinking. Back when I hadn't been raising cats very long, every time I'd run low on foliage for some kind of cats I had, I'd tell DH that I wanted to find caterpillars that used the black cherry trees (which are numerous here). Back then I couldn't find any cats or eggs on them. But now I have cats that use it and I literally never run low on foliage for those cats!
You know, sometimes I think if it weren't for the duskywings I wouldn't have any butterflies. They're very reliable. Here's one enjoying my blanket flowers, as they often do.
I was thinking today about how the sulphurs are about the only butterflies I see on my neighbor's firecracker fern. I had read that sulphurs have a proportionally long proboscis and so they can nectar at flowers other butterflies can't. Then, I see a Zebra Longwing today all over it! I guess they like them, too.
As I was driving home I saw a sulphur (coincidentally, on a reddish tubular flower - I think it was honeysuckle). I hadn't seen any sulphurs for the past two weeks or so, and Mom reported there were fewer of them. I'm sure there's a bunch of sulphur cats out there just waiting to become butterflies. Also saw a Monarch fly over my car; I found four more eggs on my milkweed Saturday.
Melanie
Not a whole lot of action in my garden yet...I am hoping it picks up now that it is warming up. I saw a Monarch and a black swallowtail fly through today but couldn't get a pic of either. The swallowtail loved the verbena bonariensis but the monarch was favoring the yellow butterfly bush. I did manage to catch some pics over the last week though. Not sure what this one is, but it also loved the verbena.
Here is a monarch from a few days ago...disappointingly it never even came close to all the milkweed I have. Maybe it's a boy?
Butterfly season is just starting for me. This is my first Swallowtail in my yard. : D
My Cassius Blue made a tiny little chrysalis. I can also see a super tiny silk thread around him.
LOL! It looks like a pinto bean Melanie! But it will be a beautiful butterfly I know.
I am enjoying everyones pics, just been too busy to say so. I will have more time in a couple weeks. There will be more butterflies then too!! I do have some BSTs but that is about all that is going on here. Keep up the good work with those cameras and rescue missions!!
It's about half the size of a pinto bean! It's so tiny. I can't wait to see it come out!
That is the way I felt about the first Silver Checkerspot that I brought inside last year. The chrysalis was so tiny! But I don't think it was as small as the CB you have.
Mellie,
Don't you mean the size of a grain of rice? The Mallow Scrub Hairstreaks and Ceraunus Blues were like that.
~ Cat
No, he's a little bigger than that. Maybe like a few grains that got stuck together. Maybe I have a fat butterfly!
I saw these skippers on a Texas Thistle today...cool!
One of the Red-Spotted Purple cats is getting big and probably won't be long until it's ready to pupate.
