I don't know about the rest of the US but there are many obstacles to raise butterflies and caterpillars here in So California. I had a Black Phoebe bird a couple of months ago that sat in a place and would spot insects from ten feet away. He would sweep down on the insect and then return to the same exact place to eat the insect caught and find another insect. I lost eight Gulf Fritallary(sp?) butterflies from this guy in a half an hour. They were feeding themselves without concern on the Scabiosa columbariae (Butterflly Blue Pincushion Flowers) nectar. Thank the Lord, we haven't seen this bird since.
Have a good growing season!!!
Chuck
Obstacles for Butterflies and Caterpillars
Then there's the wasps! The patrol the yard just about all day....caterpillars are their favorites! That's one reason I am raising the cats in containers.
I didn't know that wasps will eat caterpillars. We have had wasps ever since we moved in this house in 1989. I am thinking about calling a pest control company just to get rid of the wasps. It just seems like the wasps that we have are too small to eat a cat but if they do, they're on their way out. We must have ten active wasp nests in our eaves.
Thanks,
Chuck
Chuck, the wasps harm our cats. by laying eggs on the cats, and the wasp larvae eventually feed on the cats... I was fascinated to see some of the pics. of nature life cycle. But, I too am looking out to find cats. to raise them indoor.
Kim
Dear Kim,
Do I have the same kind of wasps as you do? The wasps that are in my yard have nests in the eaves of the house. How do the larvae get from the cats to the nest?
Thanks,
Chuck
Dear Chuck,
Check this thread out. It's a hawkmoth caterpillar that I tried to keep safe. But safe it isn't!
Kim
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/868373/