Hey guys,
I "rescued" a swallowtail caterpillar off of my rue yesterday before heavy storms were supposed to arrive. I didn't have much time to prepare a cage so I put him in a plastic critter keeper. I don't know how familiar anyone is with these but it is a plastic container about 6" wide by 12" long and 8" tall with a grated plastic top. I lined it with paper towels and used wet florist foam wrapped in saran wrap and put the rue into it. I emptied out the frass this morning and changed out the paper towels and added more rue since "he" had consumed most of it. This afternoon I was going to consider putting him into something more appropriate after I researched what that might be, when I noticed he was at the top of the container on the lid and there was runny frass down the side of the container. What I have read seems to indicate that this is the clearing of the gut and he is getting ready to pupate and should not be disturbed. My question is, is it okay to leave him in this container? After he pupates, I was thinking that I could move the lid into a mesh reptarium that I have. Would this be okay? Thanks,
Annie
swallowtail getting ready to pupate
Annie, you're doing everything perfectly! I use critter keepers for all of my butterflies and I just leave the chrysalis in there until they emerge. The butterflies like to hang from the grated top when they come out.
Melanie
Indeed Annie, you are doing exactly what it needed, like Melanie said! Please don't move it until the chrysalis is hardened. It is best to leave it right where it is and in about 10-14 days it should be ready to emerge.
You didn't say if it was a Black ST or a Great Swallowtail. Did you take a picture or had you already checked the link for identifying those?
Congrats!!
edited...forgot about the pic. These are the two shapes (ignore colors) in case you didn't ID before, but it sounded like you did. I was going to delete the pic, but forgot.
This message was edited Aug 17, 2008 1:22 AM
Thanks guys. The little guy is a Black ST. This morning he is in a J position so it looks like things are proceeding nicely. Both of you have recommended that I leave it where it is. Is the container size that I stated above adequate for a butterfly to emerge and move around? Would it hurt for me to move the container lid once he pupates and hardens in about 5 days to the larger mesh repatrium that I mentioned?
No, that would be fine to move it with it still on the lid. Make sure when you do that the lid is attached flat against the side of the larger cage so that it doesn't blow over on top of the bf. Or that it gets trapped behind it.
Your container size would also work. Just remove everything except paper towel, that way it won't injure a wing. Tilt it a little so that it can crawl up the side if it dropped to the bottom.
Don't forget to take pictures and share them!
This message was edited Aug 17, 2008 6:55 PM
I have those same size critter keepers and they're big enough. The butterfly will just hang from the top and flex its wings. They usually don't try flying around in it. : )
Can I ask where you guys get those Critter Keepers at? I sure could use a couple. I have used aquariums before, with screen tops, but I don't have them anymore, and I am starting to find some cats again.
Thanks,
PiggyPoo :0)
I was using the large tall container (top right in pic) but it is too hard to clean. I use the 2 1/2 cup size Gladware plastic containers now. I buy them at Wal-Mart pretty cheap, and cut the top leaving about an inch all round. Glue a fine tight weave mesh square to the lid just at the corners. I use the bottom of a water bottle or pudding cup to hold the wet floral foam. Wet it and cover with Glad press'n seal. I poke holes for the leaves / stems each time I put in fresh; replenish water as needed too using a spray bottle. I turn the cage on it's end and sit the host plant on a square of paper towel .
I use small containers on side because: (1) to allow a taller plant than using them flat (2) so the larva will use the top of the cage to make it's chrysalis instead of the fabric. It is easier to scrape off there. (3) Clean up is easy without disturbing the cats. Dump frass, replace foliage, pull old pieces unless being used....done.
This is what my end of the wood shop looked like this year with 35 BST cats at various stages.
Wow, Sheila, you are one organized woman!! That is a great system. One question. You say you use a spray bottle to add water as needed. Are you trying to add humidity to the container or are you using it to spray the holes in the floral foam.
PiggyPoo - Critter Keepers can be found at most pet stores such as Petsmart.
Annie
I do spray with a fine mist inside on the chrysalis once a week if they don't emerge after two weeks. But never spray the cats, they get plenty moisture from the plants. The floral foam as it is used day after day and more holes are made, gets dry. I just put the nozzle to a hole and rehydrate it. One usually last all the way to chrysalis, then I tear out the foam wash it and off we go again.
Note: I no longer use sticks, they made the cup tip over sometime.
