My first Eastern Black Swallowtails was released today, what a beautiful butterfly.
Ms Swallowtail flew off before I could get my camera , have 8 more, still sleeping.
There is lots of dill and parsley for her to feed on.
Question, will she lay more eggs ?
On my Finnel
And today I caught one 'Ready to hit the Road'
Now back to pealing my peaches ^_^
Congratulations rentman!!! What a beauty!!!
You've asked "Will she lay more eggs?" I don't know about your zone, but let me share my observation; My first brood was several weeks ago. I discovered a number of them lovely cats. on my parsley, they several days afterward most of them went missing. I hope they have wandered off somewhere to pupate? The good news is: yesterday I saw the mamma flittering about the area of the parsley. And guess what??? This morning I found close to a dozen eggs on my parsley!!! Yippy!!! Horay!!!
I think I will leave the top off the cat cage and let them fly when the 'hatch'
I planted more parsley yesterday when the first 'flew'
They (the cats.) will also eat Fennel, I happened on some organic seeds of Fennels, I'll sow some today too. I'm so happy for your success. Thank you, for sharing your experience.
I believe these are the 3 tinsy little bitsy eggs of the EBST?
I'll check mine closer.
Tada! Indeed those are BST's eggs! Look! I found 1st instars on the parsleys this morning. I hope our weather will cooperate and that these offsprings will fair well here. Geez, they're really tiny.
The eggs are easy to find, when they hatch and eat the egg, that is when they are hard to spot.
I can't find it know, but did someone tell me the Eastern Black Swallowtails may take a year to hatch ?
I have 6 of them that have over wintered in the garage ... when do you think they will 'hatch'
Two on the other side.
This message was edited Mar 26, 2009 1:07 PM
Rentman...I don't know about a year, but they will definately over winter. As the temps in your area get more spring like, they should be about ready. Try spritzing them with water once a week too (it works just like the rain would). Gives them moisture and softens the chrysalis so they can emerge. You might also try putting them in an area where they get light, but not in direct sunlight.
Thanks Sheila, I'll try that.
We shall see.
I just found this forum, and I am so happy I have. Thought I was the only one who planted for caterpillars. So many people plant for butterflies, and then squish the "worms" for messing up their plants. I have enjoyed reading your thread. Don't mean to get off topic.
Hi Stars, Last year I too squished then, then I saw a Monarch hatch (outside) and was hooked. This was all new to me until I made this post last year. I never thought I would be keeping caterpillars over winter. So keep reading.
Dwight
Welcome SS! I have just started on my third year and I can tell you both it just gets better!!
Well Lookee here....Eastern Black Swallowtails
Two hatched today, 4 more to go...
And number Two
I want to again to Thanks very much for the info I've received here.
Congrats!!! I'm so excited for you.
Got my milkweed and other flowers coming on so I should be set for this season.
I just found this post. Last year I raised my first monarchs and I'm hooked too! This year I planted dill, parsley, and lots of extra milkweed. I'm checking often for eggs. When hubby gets time, he's going to build me a cage to keep them in. This is such a fun thing to share with my grandkids. My granddaughter (9 years old) was SOOO excited to get to release one of the monarchs last summer :-}
I'm wondering if I'll even see Monarchs in my yard this spring! It just doesn't happen some years. Very few have even come through the greater San Antonio area so far. I even got them an extra milkweed plant thinking they'd be here.
I've only seen a few Monarchs so far. I've seen several other varieties but not many Monarchs yet. I've seen LOT'S of butterflies at our hunting camp. I took pictures of a Luna Moth this afternoon--it was sleeping in one of my shrubs. This is the third Luna I've seen in my yard so far this year. I think they are so beautiful.
Wooohoooo, please keep those good news of butterflies, moths coming!
Report on the 6 Eastern Black Swallowtails I over wintered in the garage...They started 'popping out' the end of March.
This AM I had 2 chrysalis left, then one emerged , now only one left, maybe tomorrow ?
Sheila_FW , recommended spraying the with water (over winter)..funny thing, some of them would move.
I guess the water was too cold ^_^
This message was edited May 5, 2009 3:00 PM
LOL!! They didn't hear the thunder before the rain came! Glad you had such good sucess!!
I'm happy you've success!!!
The last one also flew away this evening so I will start looking for more cat.
Yes I am Hooked. Will post what I find.
Thanks everyone for all the info.
If you released that many, they may have hung around and layed eggs.
i noticed someone showed fennel earlier in this thread--i have lots of fennel growing --is that good for attracting the catapillars or butterflies?
Fennel, bronze or other is one of the host plants for the Black Swallowtail butterfly. This is a picture of the caterpillar so you know what to watch for. They are only about a quarter inch when they come out of the eggs. The eggs btw are round and cream colored about the size of a pin head.
