We came from here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/941311/
The other thread was getting long and I have a new photo to share! Look who decided to come into the world today after being in his chrysalis since last March!
DAILY BUTTERFLIES Page 58
I don't know why this one came out today. That cold front is coming through and it's raining right now. I think butterflies can sense the barometric pressure. Anyway, I was sitting here and heard this weird scratching which at first I thought was the Monarch cats doing that thing where they open their jaws against the plastic side of the cage (what's that about?). But then I realized the sound was coming from another cage and sure enough there were these little legs trying to grasp something and get out of the chrysalis. Naturally, I helped free him.
To continue the thought about how long butterflies stay in their chrysalis, it can really vary. The Swallowtails all live on their own timetable. I have seriously had three chrysalids since March. They all clustered together so it's been easy to track them, and I know they were the first set of caterpillars I got last year. The one today was one of the three. My boss at the museum had a Tiger ST that eclosed after eleven months. Really, as long as they're not turning funny colors or leaking, I would just let them hang out as they're probably still viable.
Here's my wrinkled up Zebra ST right after he came out.
melanie
oh my! since MARCH. Too cool.
I saw a black butterfly outside, a swallowtail! Not a BST...I think it was a PVS. Last night was 27.5°, not a good swallowtail temp.
I have a Monarch cat that in my opinion, has some of the longest antenna thingies I've seen. I named him "Wiggles". Here he is exploring my hand.
Melanie
Wiggles is really cute!
Nice to see something come out that has been in capsulated so long! I don't have any cats, chrysalis, or butterflies right now. So it is good to see your pictures of hope.
mjs...... After the cat hangs in "j" for a day then it will begin to wilt of sorts, the antenna will droop and the skin dull in color and just look funny. Then usually the evening of the second night or the next morning it will have formed it's chrysalis. Counting from the first morning you see the chrysalis you should only have to wait 10 days maximum. The coloring will start changing slightly on the day. So look for it to happen on or before Feb 1st. Start checking for changes now though.
This message was edited Jan 29, 2009 11:33 PM
Beautiful Zebra ST, Melanie. Congratulations. March was a long time ago. Hey, I love the name Wiggles. You are right, he has extremely long antennae.
Msj, I tried to look under the benches as best I could. My GH is too small to overturn the benches to see under. Besides, I have plants on the benches. I am resigned that Patty did not make it. It's been two days, and she depended on me to lift her up to her food. It breaks my heart.
It's cool that you saw so many sulphurs and Zebra LWs. Wish your camera had been with you. You Florida folks are just about the only ones left with active bf's now.
I do have one GF chrysalid left in the garage. I'm not worried about it eclosing, though, because I understand GF's go into diapause throughout the winter. Is that correct, Sheila? I can't take parenting another bf in my GH right now.
Yes, Marna, I await your spring release! God speed!
Martha
As for the GFs Martha, They are real cold hardy. I still had cats on my PW tho only a couple, and they were alive after the thaw. I have seen several GFs come through here when the temps get in the 50-60s. So I would release that one if it emerges, especially in your area. They will find some early weed blooms to feed on and be dormant in the cold weather.
One of my early heartbreaks was one I kept indoors because of the cold. I felt it was best at that time because a cold front was on the way. I gathered some flowers before the freeze got them (pic). It only lived for a week. I know now that they are real cold hardy and would have made it outside more than likely.
Just what I hoped for, Sheila. Thanks. Beautiful photo. Look at those perfect antennae.
Martha
Fist Monarch of the day. I've had two females emerge and one more that should come out any second now.
Melanie
Mellie, congratulations on your 2nd Monarch emergence. Don't you love how perfectly formed they are at first, as in your pic!
Martha
Yup, the third one was another female. Today I had a boy come out! I took two of the females to the museum today. It was my first day back since my surgery. The boss left a message for us to cut back the milkweed forest so my partner and I got busy. As I was trimming them up I found about eight Monarch cats! I don't know what would have happened to them if I hadn't brought them in. Most of them were on bare sticks! I also had to bring in five caterpillars from home because I'm out of food. Luckily, the museum had some in the shade house and they made it through the cold just fine.
Melanie
Good thing you were the one doing the trimming Melanie! Glad to see you are well enough to get back to the MOSI.
Melanie, it's nice you have the museum to help you out with your children! You are saving a lot of lives. A few of ya'll, including you and Sheila, are making a difference in the bf population. That must be a terrific feeling.
My bad luck continues. My GF did a partial eclosure last night, and then died. It came out deformed. I finally decided it was the chrysalis. Something went awire and didn't form all the way. I hated it, but not nearly as upset as I was over Patty. It's all survival of the fittest. Humans can go to the doctor or hospital for help when something is wrong. Nature's way is crueler. It has no mercy. It's just the way things are. I suppose humanity is the only guardian of the helpless ones.-- rather, those who care. In any event, I will have lots of healthy ones when the winter ends, like I did last summer. And I can't wait.
Martha
I think two of my monarchs are getting ready to emerge (eclose?). At first I thought they were rotting! but I can see the pattern of the wings thru the chrysalis. This is a terrible time for them to come out!! Unless they want to live in my extra bedroom w/ all the plants that have been brought in because of the hard freezes we are expecting the next two nights!! and Friday it's still supposed to go down into the upper 30's. Holy cow..what are they going to eat?.well I have a Red Trailing Verbinum (?) in there...and a few blooms on one milkweed plant.......I have impatiens blooming, they are tucked away out at the barn, I guess I could bring them into the bedroom.
Monarch butterflies can tolerate mild freezes just fine, but can stay inside a little while if you want to do it. After a day they can take food. Some gatorade on a little piece of clean sponge or on a cotton ball can be used.
Mom's released about ten Monarchs in the last two days. They can take freezing temps - it gets to freezing in Mexico, too. The important part is keeping themselves dry or else ice crystals will form in their wings. Don't worry about nectar - there are plenty of weeds around. Also, aren't you getting the wonderful smell of citrus blooms yet? I was walking around my fave nursery last week and walked by some orange trees in bloom; it was so nice!
Martha, don't worry too much about the Gulf Frit. They can be really tricky to raise in captivity. At the museum, we mostly leave them on the plants in the garden. We only set up a tank when we have nothing else to place in the window.
Melanie
Well, one came out this afternoon. I put her (him?) in the extra bedroom w/ some impatiens, verbena and milkweed that has some blooms on it. I'll get the gatorade. Mellie, no citrus blooming here!! Probably all frozen!!
We've had 4 hard freezes on this side of the state. My lemon tree is probably gone. Tonight it's supposed to go to 26 here, 28 tomorrow night and 38 Friday night...then 40's/50's...which I won't worry about so much.
I took pics but haven't uploaded yet...picking up the son and grandson for dinner.
maybe I worry to much but just don't like to think of putting them out in this weather. I haven't seen a butterfly since last week.
Monarchs were up in my area last year laying eggs about mid March. I wouldn't worry. Just make sure you release them where they can sit in the sun and warm before taking off. They don't migrate in the fall until temps fall in the 50s, so they can handle a lot cooler weather that we realize.
Florida is getting some unusually cold weather, is it not? What happened to global warming!! Msj, your bedroom sounds like a super place to release the Monarchs, especially since you do have some flowers. Linda, I did not know about Gatorade. You all are an endless source of info for me.
Martha
Florida is indeed getting some unusually cold weather!! Normally we might get one or may two "freezes" in Central Florida...we are going on 8 here in Deland. And I don't know how many "hard" frosts. Lots of nights in the upper 30's low 40's. Many things will come back, but some won't. The wild yellow jasmine was still blooming the other day, but looking out the window I don't see any of the little yellow flowers that were there. It's also been very windy. I brought the big pot of impatiens in and a basket of red verbena and a potted milkweed ( on of my original as I don't trust the newer ones don't still have some sort of pesticide on them).
Also got some gatorade and soaked on a cottonball. So here's a picture of the new kid....if she/he hangs in there till the weekend till Saturday I can let it go feeling better about the weather conditions. For now, it's got a room of it's own w/ lots of plants and places to hang out.
Oh so sweet. Already enjoying the impatiens. Lucky Monarch!
Martha
i had DREAMS last night about butterflies I might see in the spring! I'm going a little crazy up here!!
Those of you who know our little butterfly friend Danny might find it amusing that he told me to build a greenhouse so I could have them all year! too cute.
WELL....Shortly he/she will have company, another one is eclosing now...11:30 am...........
Oh my,MSJ, I hope you don't have octuplets!
Marna, build and they shall come!
Martha
As soon as the lottery gods smile upon me.
No..just all 3 now........they were so beautiful. All hanging out on the plants in the extra bedroom. I think I'll probably release them tomorrow. Temps ARE SUPPOSED to be hight 30/low 40's overnight tomorrow night and in the 70's Saturday and 80's Sunday. So I THINK they will be ok..........they are so sweet, will crawl right up on your hand. I am hooked.................line and sinker...............
Surely you have gotten some pictures by now!! Maybe wait until Sat. am for release to be sure that they get a good start.
Got the pics........all three are out now.......will post a little later......right now dealing w/ hard frost....it looks like it snowed here!! I pot a pic of that too! gotta run, back in a bit.
Well , here they are....all 3 hanging out on the petunia.
Went down to 22 here last night, I've got a busted water pipe in my little barn...big barn seemed ok....had to deice all the water's for the horses...just came in to have breakfast and warm up...
Here's the back pasture this morning.......YES....This is Central FLORIDA!
one more pic...the last one to eclose....then I gotta get back outside.
I hate my new photo software...HP PhotoEssentials doesn't let me resize for uploading. My old HP Image zone did on my old computer...couldn't use it on this cause it's Vista, and when I ordered the upgrade this is what I got.......
will have to get something else........cheap!! cause i can't afford and expensive one.
Awww Mj, look at your babies all grown up! Wow, it sure looks like it was cold there last night...yikes!
Hopefully that will be the last of it for you guys!
I hope so too!!!!!! or I'm gonna have to move farther south!!!!!!!! I don't do cold...........
Awwwh, mjs, your babies are precious. They are as loveable as any pet! Congratulatins, Momma!
msj, I have Vista too. You can download "Picasa" for free. It has a great photo shop I think you will like. It's my favorite. I also have "PhotoScape. " It's free too. It does a few things that Picasa doesn't do and vice versa. I also have" Kodak EasyShare" which I use only for downloading my photos. I don't like it's editing manager. Next, you probably have "Wndows Photo Gallery." I use it solely to store and file my photos. Not a good editor.
Hey, we go up to 70° tomorrow, and it will stay up for a few days. I am totally excited.
Martha
I let the other Two-tailed Tiger go today. Not surprising...it's been pretty warm lately. It was perfect, except its tails were kind of crooked. Such a pretty sight, seeing it go flying away, almost like it had flown before! Would have taken a pic, but it was ready and outsmarted me when I lifted the lid and reached for it. Oh well! I wonder when the TSTs are going to emerge. I still think they should wait until their host plants leaf out!
We let the "kids" go Saturday. Took them out and placed them on the hanging basket of petunias. One took off almost immediately and flew up into the oak trees and found a sunny spot to sit. One sat there for a bit longer, took off and then flew around and landed on me!! It sat there awhile so walked over to the oak the other was on and ticked it and it flew up there also. I got busy moving plants back outside and not sure when the other took off or where it went. I saw them a few times during the day, but haven't seen them since. It went back down to 34 Sat. night, and I was hoping they were ok. I've seen several Sulfurs every day since but not my 3 Monarchs. I hope they are ok. Not alot blooming, but I do have all my potted impatiens, petunias and a few potted salvia's. The Yellow Jasmine has a few blooms on it also..so hopefully they are finding food.
Sigh...am still working in Del Rio. Was hoping I'd get to see some butterflies but by the time I get off work the afternoon is cooling down quickly or the wind had picked up. The area is quite pretty with lots of rolling hill covered with Tamaulipan scrub but I don't see much of anything blooming...very desert-like terrain. Most of the city landscaping is decorative grass or shrubbery that has no blooms.
I've driven out to Amistad Lake several times but have only seen deer...and an assortment of roadkill. Lots of scat on the trails around the lake but not even one little measly butterfly on scat!
There was an awful dust storm yesterday - I could hardly see 100 yards in front of me in the city - it was a good thing I wasn't out in the country with out all that gravel and sand. My nephew works here on the Border Patrol horse patrol. I laughed and told him he was lucky he could see the horse he was sitting on!!!
I can't wait to get back to south Texas!!!
~ Cat