Butterfly population down?

Good new, Lin. Maybe there's hope.

Martha

I'm starting to do some research now on this subject for a DG article. I JUST saw my first monarch this week. There were a good number of eastern tiger swallowtails around last month, but other than that, I'm mostly seeing just cabbage whites. SO if anyone runs across any information on somwthing that might be going on, please let me know.

I saw my first honey bees about 2 weeks ago when my Brugs started blooming. I really don't see them on my other plants thou??

i've been seeing honeybees on my asclepia tuberosa!!

I brought in a Monarch cat that I'm raising inside. I found it on my asclepias tuberosa in front of our shop. Found another one this a.m. (same place) and tried to bring it in too but it just went nuts (actually escaped on me one time!) so I took it back outside and will keep a close eye on it. I just went out and checked my asclepias tuberosa in my butterfly bed and it has 8 eggs on it. I will probably bring those inside to raise since they are so close to the bird feeder. I've seen several swallowtails flitting around but I haven't seen nearly the number of butterflies I normally see. Maybe it will pick up. I had a real slow start on the hummers too but I see now that I have at least a couple dozen at a time at the feeders. I'm guessing it might be because the flowers are beginning to slow down on their blooming.

NatureLover - a couple dozen hummers at your feeders?! That's so not fair! I've
had 2 feeders up since April, changed 'em out every few days - NOT ONE
HUMMER! All kind of red plants & stuff. Wha's up?

I seem to have just lucked up on the hummers. When we first moved into our current house, I hung out a feeder (4 years ago) and I only had a few. Then I started planting flowers and vines that they seem to like. Also, I'm sure my population keeps building because they bring their young of the year to the feeder with them. And I think the same hummers come back every year. Last year I had so many hummers coming in to the feeders in July we couldn't count them. I was refilling the feeders twice a day. My hummers just started picking up at the feeders probably because, as I said above, the flowers are starting to wane because of the heat. I still have flowers but not their favorite kind. I'm starting to see a few more butterflies too. Saw some Zebras at the butterfly bush and some black STs and big yellow STs. I just love watching all these little critters.

NatureLover, I am soooo happy to hear you report this about your population of hummers. This is my fifth year at this house. When I moved here there were maybe two plants in the back yard and those just looked like something someone missed when they got rid of all the rest (one dark iris and one ditch lily). I've been slowly adding plants for hummingbirds and butterflies. I have HBs now. I've had 3 all year, none since May. For the past three years though, I've had 3 weeks of heavy HB activity in September, the migration back south. Still, nothing in the summer. I thought I read once that it can take up to 5 years to establish a hummingbird population and perhaps your experience supports that. This year I have lots and lots of HB plants, but still no takers, even at my big trumpet vine.

And are you ready for this? Someone on the Birdwatching forum had 40 at her feeders one night!

I'm hoping the butterflies are just "behind" just like this crazy weather. Took us forever to get into this summer pattern.

Oddly, here is an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail that had just emerged from a chrysalis (location unknown) and was crawling up the side of the garage! That was several weeks ago and not much to report since.

I usually have at least one or two hummers come by in the morning and late afternoon these days. A few days ago one came to the Flame Acanthus while I was there close by and didn't seem to know I was there for a minute. That was nice, seeing it up close. The only butterflies I've seen in the last two days was a GF I've seen a couple of times and a hairstreak. Not at all normal for July. But there's a couple of GF cats I spotted on the passies and a few moth cats on my Queen's Delight plants. My RSP cat and the GST cat have both pupated, so that's all for now.

hey hey!!! After days and weeks of looking, I finally have a cat!

Great shot of the little guy Mrs Ed!! They are really hard to find at that stage. Most of the eggs are laid on the seed heads if the plants have them. They get over looked for a while.

Hey-great Mrs_Ed! At least you'll have a butterfly! I spoke too soon--I'm up to filling hummer feeders twice a day. I don't know how your friend counted hers. When I have what I estimate to be at least three dozen at one time out there, it's impossible to count them. Those little jokers are FAST! My 8-year old granddaughter was out there with me one day and I honestly wish I could have videoed here trying to count them--she was hilarious! The chairs on my porch are just a few feet from the feeders and they are so used to us they don't pay us any mind at all. Every so often, one will come over and hover in front of us to check us out (especially if we're wearing bright colors). We just love watching them. You keep planting those flowers and you'll have a whole flock of them before you know it.

Yes, they sure are fun, and so beautiful.

That is cute! yes, get your grand daughter one of those single test tube like feeders so she can start to hand feed them!! Last year on the birdwatching forum, a woman was hand feeding them from a red cap in her hand!!!

Thanks about the Cat. It's so funny,. I'm out there every day checking out all my host plants. I had no idea how many flies like dill! And all kinds of tiny bees.

And then these cute honeybees on the butterfly weed.

In case your not already, watch your butterfly weed closely. That's where I found the two monarch cats (in my front flowerbed) and I have 8 eggs on the ones in my BF bed around by my patio. I'm quite sure I had more cats on the plant in the front but birds or something found them before I did :-(

haha. YES, I go out every day at least twice and check. considering I just saw my first monarch last week, I understand why I have not found anything. I'm a bit concerned because the petals from this first BF weed bloom are starting to fall off and I can't remember how long it takes for the rebloom. So those babies better get to laying eggs soon!!

I'm considering building a cat cage, but really the only thing I know about raising them is from what I've learned here on the BF forum.

I'm just experiencing my first time raising a monarch cat. I used to just leave them on the host plants but now I have too many birds and wasps so I decided to try raising them on my own. I just asked questions on here and got plenty of help. Also, have you read through the "sticky" at the top of the forum? My first cat is in it's final stage so I'm looking forward to a brand new butterfly in about 14 days! Don't worry about the flowers on your BF weed--it's the leaves they eat anyway.

I understand about the leaves, but if they lay eggs in the flowers and I don't have any flowers, what then!

I have a couple of common milkweed on the other side of the yard, but it is not blooming yet either.

I have perused the sticky, but not in much depth. I'll have to do that today!

Edited to add that I could kick myself for giving away an old aquarium that would have been perfect for cat raising!

rats.





This message was edited Jul 13, 2008 12:07 PM

Upon further inspection I found four more teeny tiny cats on the dill. Guess who's building a cat cage today!

Monarchs lay their eggs on the underside of leaves. So blooms aren't necessary. They will nectar from them of course if they are blooming. Great to hear you have babies too!

Everyone,wonderful to hear your bf and cat news. I have a beautiful bf garden with no bf's to enjoy. I have parsley, fennel, dill, oragano, milkweed, zinnias, coneflowers, crocosmia, plaintain, Joe Pye weed, salvia of all kinds, rudbeckia, roses, russian sage, dalias, hibiscus, verbena, datura, brugmansia, honeysuckle, rangoon creeper, french hollyhock, and more. Oh yes, I have a huge glass flower atop a tall stand where I place butterfly brew. (Recipe given me by Debnes of TX).

What more could a butterful want? I have had one lone Silver-Spotted Skipper that has hung out for a few days. Boohoo.

Martha

Hi Martha,
The BFs are just beginning to show up over here in Vicksburg so maybe you'll have some soon. It's really been a slow summer. I had LOT'S of butterflies by this time last year. I hope we get lot's more before the end of the summer--I just love watching them.

Well, mwperry, I can't imagine what else a butterfly would want! Your offereings seem to cover the gamut of their needs and wants...the only thing I can think of is that someone is spraying pesticides nearby, or something like that...

If it's any consolation, we haven't had a lot of BF visitors, either. I hope things pick up!

Thanks, tabasco. This week I will try to contact MSU or some appropriate organization to gather any info I can on the bf population this year.

Martha

A, that's great Martha. I'd love to know what you find out for my Article. I haven't started the research yet.

Well, you asked the question, here is somewhat of an answer to the population question. Read today's entry (7/18/08)

http://monarchwatch.org/blog/

All I know for sure is that the butterflies this month are just not THERE, for the most part. July is a good month for butterflies...and yet I go out looking for them and it's really spooky. This past week I've only had a solitary GF (instead of the many I usually have) and I've seen a Juniper Hairstreak nectaring on a late-blooming wild parsley. And I found 5 PVST eggs, which have hatched and the cats seem fine so far...I have them inside. From the light damage I see on the passies I suspect that some GF cats aren't surviving long...I see parts that are munched on recently and yet can't find the cats. The Queens should be around this month, but aren't. I saw some Queens flying along roads earlier, but none ever appeared in my yard that I saw. I found a little bit of cat damage on the milkweed, but no cats were found. It's just not normal, that's all.

Same here, Linda.

Mrs._Ed, here is another, more alarming, article of interest on Monarch population.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1996981/posts

Martha

Yet another article:

http://monarchwatch.org/blog/2008/01/29/new-tree-nursery-near-cerro-pelon/

I am trying to find scientific literature regarding the dwindling population of butterflies other than just Monarchs. I fear deforestation, crop "Round Up" and roadside sprays are to be the causes. If true, we, as lepidoptera enthusiasts, really need to spread the word of the plight of this species we love so much. I don't know what else we can do.

Thank you, Mrs_Ed, for your efforts and your article in progress. I'll keep searching for answers.

Martha

Here is an article on Canadian butterflies that contributes declining population to urban sprawl, unusually cool season, and spraying for the gypsy moth.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/victorianews/news/21586349.html

Martha

thanks martha. I have several on the Mexico stuff, but that Canadian one is really good.

I saw my first Queen of the season today!! Several other bfs are flitting around too but busy outside without a camera.
Good to see some returning though.

Way to go, Sheila!!!!

M_Ed, I e-mailed a respected Mississippi horticulturist, Felder Rushing, about the butterfly population. Felder has written many magazine articles, including for "Horticulture Magazine" and "Mississippi Gardener." He has also published several books. Since retirement he hosts an MPB Radio show and podcast, "The Gestalt Gardener."

I feel certain you will be able to use his e-mail reply (which came today) in your article, but I feel I should first ask permission. Accordingly, I e-mailed him back today, asking permission to post on Dave's Garden. I will keep you advised.

Edited for P.S. I saw my first Giant Swallowtail today! He was just too fast for this amateur to photograph.

Martha

This message was edited Jul 23, 2008 12:26 AM

Martha, thanks! That's great. (on both pieces of news).

Mrs_Ed, below is a string of e-mails between Felder Rushing and me. Felder has given his permission for us to post his e-mails on Dave's Garden. I believe his information will enrich your article. It is an excellent way for us to spread the word among our fellow-gardeners whose membership is 391,687. As of May 2008, 1.86 million visitors came to our website. Think what a difference we can make!

Thanks for posting that Martha. I am trying to do my part in planting host plants. My friends' yards may have a lot more blooms than I do, but I can point to a long list of host plants and know that I am helping the environment and our bf friends so much more.
One site that has been extremely helpful to me to recognize host plants in my area is this one.
http://www.dallasbutterflies.com/
Under ‘Butterfly Gardening’ they have host plant lists sorted several ways. I would encourage everyone to print out a copy and share it when ever you can. The list I printed is 26 pages long to give you some idea of how detailed it is.

Wonderful!! This is pretty much the tone of my article too.

This message was edited Jul 24, 2008 7:09 AM

Sheila, thank you very much for the link. It will help me plan my garden for next year. There are many host plants listed that I never heard of. Nonetheless, there are many listed which are quite common in Mississippi. I have bookmarked the site and added it to my "Favorites" so that I can attach it to my e-mails to gardening friends.

Business is picking up. Today I saw an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, a Black Swallowtail, and a Yellow Sulpher! Yahooo! I've searched and searched for eggs and/or cats. Nothing. Perhaps its the birds. They swarm my backyard. In fact, a mother Mockingbird taught her children to visit my butterfly brew station. The brew has fermented for a couple of months now. The Mocks LOVE it. I can't help but wonder if they are getting high! LOL.

Mrs_Ed, what will your article be titled, and when will you publish it? I want my Mid-South forum friends to read it. Good luck!

Martha

hmmmmmm, Right now i think it will be "Got Milkweed?" I hope to have it in about a week. RIght now my primary job is keeping me hopping!!! I'll post it here when it is to be published.

Or got "brew"? :-)