There's a clip of a wasp eating a monarch on this, you may have to scroll to find it on the right:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNPiJbHJ5_E&NR=1
Butterfly population down?
ewwww. I'll have to watch that one in the morning. I guess I was wondering which ones lay the eggs.
Chalcid wasps are very tiny and can get into tule if you keep the cats outside. There is another video on LeBug's link above titled:
"Parasites Killing Our Caterpillars" that show the pupa stage.
Plus I have had chrysalis that were in a cage that had a false bottom outside just for a short time one day and ants made their way in and were feasting on a live butterfly that was just starting to emerge. So even when we try and take percautions, some are not enough. I use a mesh that is strong and high thread count. I wish I could tell you what it is, but don't have a clue. I bought the last that JoAnne's Fabric by me had. The Glad containers work great for me and nothing has gotten into them with the mesh. I don't have them outside, but I do have them in a shop that has insects from time to time. Here is a picture of my set up. I cut the top out of a 2 1/2 c Glad container and hot glue the mesh with only a dot at the four corners. That holds it in place well enough to snap on the lid. The WET floral foam is in a 1/2" bottom of a pudding cup and covered with Glad Press 'n Seal. Cleaning is kept to a minumum with a piece of paper towel on the bottom. Holes for the host plant stems are made with a toothpick fresh each time I feed. After about the third instar I separate them to no more than two per container. They will make their chrysalis in the container, but it needs to be removed to a larger cage after about 1 week. I warm glue them to a piece of foam by the silk or a stem that they are on.
Now Sheila, you need to find out what that mesh is you know lol Thanks for that info., I'm going to town tomorrow evening and we have a JoAnne's Fabric here I'm pretty sure, I don't sow so can't say for sure but I do know we have a fabric place lol The dollar tree had some of those containers 2/$1 the last time I was in town so maybe they will have some more or some like it, that's a good idea you have there I was wondering what to keep the little ones in, this will be a whole new experience for me this year and I'm looking forward to it, I just need to keep telling myself I can do this and I need to do this for the butterfly population! I have a warm glue gun so that's what I'll do, put them in a bigger Rubber Maid container about a week after they make their crystal, you explained that very well, thank you!
I use paper towels on the bottom and top both with some of my containers (those that are small enough). The good paper towels, not the ones that fall apart easily. With clear-sided plastic containers. I can watch the cats through the sides.
Very smart idea Linda, the paper towel does breath and it is disposable, and you can see the cats through the sides.
You know what?? we get smarter every day.
Josephine.
I have a list:
floral foam ~ the kind you can get wet.
tulle or other neting, I'm going to check the fabirc shop out.
paper towel ~ the good kind :)
press & seal wrap
6 1/4 c. (42oz) plastic containers ~ dollar tree
I do have a RM container to put the chrysalis in, have I forgotten anything on my list?
The butterflies placed the eggs yesterday and I'm going to get the materials Fri. evening for doing all of this, I'll check Sat. morning, will the cats be hatched out by then or should I just collect eggs? How long does it take them?
Is there anything I shoud know for when I go to wash the containers out, do you use dishliquid or just wash them with plain water? I use dawn.
This message was edited Aug 7, 2008 8:24 PM
This message was edited Aug 7, 2008 8:25 PM
Ooops!! I put that size of the Glad container down wrong. It is a 42oz (6 1/4 cup) that I use. I have used some smaller ones in a pinch. I stand them on the side so the plants aren't filling up the top. That is usually where they crawl to shed their skin and to pupate.
Make sure the foam is the "wet" kind that absorbs water.
This message was edited Aug 7, 2008 7:20 PM
Thanks Sheila 8)
Lea
Hi. I just saw your thread and dropped in. I have also noticed fewer butterflies this year. We did have a very long, cold winter and now a very wet summer. Last year I had many swallowtail cats all over my fennel. This year nothing! So, you can add Northern New Mexico to your list.
You know, this week has really picked up in my yard. I have to be sure and make a blog entry so I can compare next year.
It's picking up in my yard too, I'm soo glad I was really getting worried, enough to start raising the cats LOL
I came back home around noon today and saw a Gulf Frit and Hairstreak in the front as I pulled in. It was too hot to walk around the yard but hopefully that was a good indication things are looking up!
I had a monarch searching here very seriously, I hope she found it.
OOhh you had a Monarch Josephine??? Woohoo!! I haven't seen them yet, but can't wait. I have seen a few Queens, but no cats yet. I have loads of Milkweed this year in preparation to increase the odds for next year.
Yes, lots of milkweed here too, I am prepared, now come on Monarchs!!!
You will not believe this! No sooner than I sent that post, DH hollered "a butterfly...a butterfly!!!" He is home from the hospital and in the bedroom looking out the window. LOL!! So I grabbed the camera and went out. It was a Monarch!!! It was hovering over the MW but I didn't see it lay eggs. Then she lit on a Vitex bloom and went up and down and all around the same bloom for about 2 minutes. So later I will surely have a couple pics to post out of all the ones I took!!
I can't believe this thread is still going! It will be interesting to see what happens next year with the BF's. I did see a Tiger swallowtail a couple of days ago. What is strange is that my dill, parsley, and fennel have not been touched by cats, that is really abnormal. And normally I have had several broods of SWt's on my citrus trees that they normally defoliate, but I only saw eggs early in spring, the cats were getting big and then they were gone, I think the mockingbird carried them off. She will be in for a realy surprise when I start putting netting on them.
LOL Shelia! You have him trained! My DH will do the same thing!
DATURA12, I have cardinals I think that carry my cats off along with the wasps, last year I noticed the cardinals hanging around there a lot and they are there this year, I've thought about putting netting out but that would take a lot of netting :) I haven't any cats on my fennel yet either. I had cats on my rue but haven't seen any for a while, now that I'm going to raise some cats I'll try and save the swallowtails too. I did find a monarch getting ready to attach himself to a morning glory vine this afternoon but they are few and far between in my yard too!
Sheila, I found some plastic see thru shoe boxes for 99 cents a piece at wally world, got 6, didn't know how many I would need but at that price... got everything else except the press and seal and had to get home before dark to get my dog in the pen so I'll use reg. saran wrap until I get back in town Monday. What do I use to wash the shoe boxes and the rubermaid container out with, is dawn alright? If, which I doubt, they have any more shoe boxes left when I go back Monday I'll get some more, they took too much room up in my cart or I would have gotten a few more. I have some freezer quart sized containers that my mom used to use that I'm going to use to keep the smaller cats in and maybe a few eggs if I find any there are plenty of them downstairs, I forgot about having those lol
I'm glad everyone's yards are starting to pick up a little, it's August for pete's sake it's got to pick up LOL I'm starting to get more hummers now they've been slow to come this year too!
LeBug.... Sounds like you are getting all set. Did you bring the Monarch in yet? If it is already in the "J" position, wait until the chrysalis is hardened. You can clip part of the vine and tape or pin it inside a cage. It will emerge in 10 days!
Datura..... If you are in SW Fort Worth, they were all at my house this year!! I think I released at least 45 BSTs so far! My last cat just found a place to make it's chrysalis today. Doesn't appear to be anymore eggs. Great I haven't seen any TST at my house, and only two ZSTs last year; and only one GST this year. I am increasing my host plants trying to lure those three. Sure hope you make the Arlington RU in October, would love to meet you.
Here is my first Monarch of the season spotted today.
I am curious if anyone knows what would have caused this one I saw today to have the "muddy" coloring on the dorsal side?
Edited to say.. it was on both upper wings, but as you see in the previous pic, not on the ventral side.
This message was edited Aug 8, 2008 10:20 PM
Howdy all!!!
I just went to cut some tarragon and checked the common milkweed in that area. I have EGGS!!! weeee. Lots of holes too, but i think it was from the japanese beetles on there too. No eggs on the butterfly weed though.
Sheila, I went to get the monarch and it was gone :( I looked everywhere for it but didn't see it, I saw another monarch laying eggs on some tropical milkweed that reseeded from last year but I have a question I had two types last year the silky gold and the scarlet one, if I take those eggs in I'm not sure which milkweed is will it make a difference do I need to find out which one the cat will eat, that plant is only about 7" tall so it's not blooming yet and I don't know what it is lol
I haven't had time to do my shoe boxes up yet, I have got to get that done today and take those eggs, I can't find the eggs they laid the other day I forgot which ones they put them on lol
Sheila, we may already know each other. I am a Tarrant Cty. Master Gardener and I volunteered at the Botanical Garden BF exhibit this year. Were you there, I met Debnes there?
Tell me about the RU? I know nothing about it. I assume that means Round Up...see how uninformed I am. LOL
Le Bug, I do have a pair of Cardinals in the yard, but the citrus are right next to the patio door, the Cardinals know the cats (feline kind) have a door there and they are really skiddish. Its good to know that they could be the culprit though. The Mocking Birds are really brave to come that close, or stupid, I haven't decided yet. Thanks for the infor.
Peg
LeBug, they can use either kind of A. currassavica, they are the same species. When I have a bunch of Monarch or Queen cats, I have both kinds of plants and couldn't possibly remember which cat was on which. I just go out and get whatever A. currassavica leaves I can find the easiest.
So here's a question. How far does a monarch caterpillar travel to make the chyrsalis? Like, if one's milkweed is eaten to bits, where would one look for the chrysalis?
Some will go half way across the garden. DH found one about twenty foot around the corner and at the top of the shop door last year.
It's got to be at least 20' from the milkweeds to where I saw that cat on the vine but my milkweeds don't look chewed up it may have come from some queen anne's lace maybe, I have some close. This year maybe I'll remember which are the swallowtail cats and which are the monarchs if I raise them lol
I found the eggs I saw them lay this morning so going to get them in a bit, how long does it take them to hatch? I found two crystals on my hosta too of a different insect have no idea what they are I think I'll keep them and see what they turn out to be lol
Thanks Linda now I don't have to worry about which butterfly weed leaves I use :)
I have a lot of those little black and white cats on my milkweeds, they look like they have black and white yarn sticking out all over them what are those, seems like they are a good cat but can't remember what they are, don't think I have to worry about those though they are everywhere around here.
This message was edited Aug 11, 2008 9:33 AM
Well, just thought I'd check in again and report that I've had just a few more in the last few weeks. I have finally had one Queen for a few days! Today I've seen a Painted Lady and the Queen and skippers. Yesterday I saw some sort of TINY hairstreak, a blue of some sort. I was excited but it was so small that I coud barely keep up with it. I grabbed my camera but it wasn't the one that takes good macro shots so this is all I got.
Hi Sheila & Tabasco! I have been so busy volunteering (and now working) that I haven't had much time to do anything other than lurk. Today I've been outside pulling up overzealous "verbena-on-a-stick", cutting things back and trying to clean up in hopes of fall butterflies. No pics of my yard until it looks better! eekk!!
Hmmm, okay I'll check the nearby apple tree and workshop to see what I can find.
Paige, I think that is the Ceraunus Blue/Antillean Blue.
It would be so nice to get one of those babies with their wings open! I'll be looking at every tiny little movement now. Thanks Linda!
Datura....I didn't acknowledge your mention that we worked the FWBG bf exhibit together! Sorry! Yes, I was there, as was konkreteblond (Paige). I bet we both know you. I only worked on Sat. & Sundays, since at that time I was still working. I have since retired and look forward to starting volunteering more.
Here is the link for the North TX RU in Arlington on Oct 18th. Josephine (Frostweed) is the organizer and I help where I can. Hope you can join us there.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/812775/#top
Anybody know if the BFs like both regular & bronze fennel? I bought the bronze
stuff early in the season, when I couldn't find the regular (which I found much later
& planted). The bronze is like 5ft tall! Doesn't matter, tho; I had 5 GSW cats on
my rue way early in the season, but the birds got 'em. No cats at all since, not on
anything!
I have used the bronze fennel for a couple of years and always have a lot of cats on it, except for this year...sigh! Hardly any cats in sight on anything.
I have one munching on it right now.
Oh yes, I meant to mention that I might have met Datura also. My Master Naturalist friend Sandy and I worked on Good Friday, a Sat and a Sun. That was really fun. I wish I had found all the volunteer things I'm doing when I wasn't working. But then again, I wouldn't have had as much time to spend in my own yard.
I've had both fennels but the green always did much better here. The bronze always got aphids.
Konkreteblond -
Now I know I'm having a bad season - I can't even get any aphids on my
fennel! But I was at a place called Cylburn Arboretum in Baltimore today - a lot
of swallowtails, whites & skippers. They had a huge "golden" fennel that was
covered in bees, no BFs. Then there was a way scragglier little fennel that had
a bunch of BFs & some eggs; go figure. Not one hummer, tho - in my yard or at
the Arboretum.
ROFLOL!!! I almost spit out my water! It is pretty bad when we are complaining that we don't even see aphids!!