24 of my BST cats survived and are in the chrysalis stage now. Yippee! I've searched the links and on the internet and am still not clear how long it will be before they emerge as butterflies. I found that if it's fall, they will stay this way until spring. I don't think that applies as it's way too summery! I found other info, not BST specific, that mentioned about 10 days. Is that correct? This is my first time trying to raise these guys and I don't want to miss the big event!
How Long Before I Have Butterflies?
I find most swallowtails emerge within 10-14 days. It can vary a bit depending on temperature and such, but you'll be able to tell the day before because you'll see the butterfly through the chrysalis. I think it's still way too early for them to overwinter, but sometimes you get one that just doesn't want to come out. My boss at MOSI had a Tiger ST in a chrysalis for 11 months! I've got three zebra STs that made their chrysalises in March and are still hanging out. I'm pretty sure they're still alive because about a month ago I had some caterpillars in their cage crawling over them and two of the chrysalises responded by moving around. Can't wait to see your pictures when they come out!
Melanie
Oh thank you for the info! I really am so excited about this! Glad I'll be able to tell that they're about ready. I was wondering about that too.
Here's a picture of a Polydamas I had emerge the other day. You can see the wing pattern through the chrysalis. You can generally see the eyes and there might be a line down the middle which would be the proboscis. This chrysalis was pure green and then turned darker and darker. When it looks like this one, it won't be long until you have a butterfly!
That is unbelievably cool! I had no idea you could actually see the wing markings! I'm so happy I impulsively scooped up these guys and jumped on here to see what to do! You're great!
Aww...thanks! I'm on vacation next week, but there are many other experts here at DG. Feel free to jump into the daily butterflies thread. We all congregate there.
Melanie
24!.....wow! That is fantastic!....good for you:)
that is great Chat,
did you take pics ? Would love to see them as they progress.
Elaine
Great numbers you are putting up Chat!! Good to know you are helping them out.
Pictures, *sigh*. Guess I'll have to break down and figure out how to get them posted :)
If you have them saved to your c drive, it's easy. Click browse and find the pic in your file and click preview. If it is the one you want click send only once. It will download your pic and post it.
yep. and we LOVE pictures.
Elaine
Chatnoir, how long did you have the cats before they went to the chrysalis (I just brought in my cats today).
Sorry, been away from here. Mrs. Ed, I had the cats for 7-10 days before they went to the next stage. Some were just 'bird poop' when I got them and some others were pretty fat and sassy big stripey guys. I found most on my dill and only a couple on the carrots. I tried switching everyone to carrot, but they weren't having it! Had to run around and buy dill bunches because I totally demolished my own few plants LOL! Note to self, plant 3x as much dill next year!
So far 5 of my 'babies' have emerged and flown away. I feel just like a little kid! This is so amazing! I had no idea how cool this was gonna be. I almost feel a little silly about being so happy -- nature does this all the time without me, right?!
I have been taking photos and promise to load some as soon as I can.
Ooooh and I found one more little cat on a different scraggly dill plant destined for the compost pile. Glad I have a soft heart and stuck it in the ground instead!
Been seeing some monarchs around in the last couple of days. Will be checking my milkweeds religiously for those little cats! Not losing them this year!
chat...
Nature does do it without our help, but only about 2% are healthy BFs that go on to mate and lay eggs. They fall prey to a variety of insects, birds, and lizards, frogs, etc. The main one is the Chalcid wasp that lays it's eggs under the skin of the caterpillar. They grow to the larval stage, eating the insides of the cat. If the cat makes it to the chrysalis stage, hundreds of the maturing wasp emerge instead of the butterfly.
Here is a link that was on the sticky at the top of this forum. http://www.butterfliesetc.com/chalcid1.php
Many of them succumb to the butterfly diseases also. Butterflies and cats don't really have an immune system and don't build up any immunity, from what I understand.
Just a quick update. Of the original 24 cats, I've released 22 butterflies! One chrysalis turned brown and gooey and one is black and soft. The gooey one exploded when I touched it. I've left the black one alone to see if anything will happen but I don't have high hopes. And I do have one more new cat that is in its chrysalis stage. Sounds like I got lucky with such a high release rate!
And one more of the new releases...
Nice! I hope mine do as well.
Great odds Chat!! You are doing something good!
Wonderful, Chat (Aka butterfly mom)
Elaine
Thank you. But truly the credit belongs to everyone on here. The sticky is the only thing that gave me the info and encouragement to try this!