Great Josephine!
Yep this is going to be really fun. I am tossing around at least 3 choices of hosts. I have an Ash tree with lots of foliage, but it is in a large pot and might not be enough to feed many without total defoliation. So a couple on that..
I have a huge Silverleaf Maple... anyone know how well that might do? The lists so far aren't clear except for mentioning the Acer/Maple as a species.
Then my neighbor has a 40' Sweet Gum tree in her back yard, and will share whatever I need from it.
I have read that Elderberry and other fruit trees do very well. The person in the link I posted a few posts back was using Pear... (prunus spp.) Didn't say which one. I only have a small amount of Elderberry foliage.
In all cases (from what I've read), they say it is not wise to switch hosts in midstream as there is a high mortality rate in doing that. So, that is why I am being so meticulous at this point.
Given my choices, what would you do Donna?
:-)
Anyone else is welcome to give their thoughts too.
DAILY BUTTERFLIES Page 60
Sweet Gum is what I would use Deb since to will have access to a huge quanity
O.K. I am excited. I found the Sweet Bay Magnolia tree for my cats so I feel like giveing away a host plant.
Who ever can guess how many eggs my 1 female Cecropia moth laid will win a well rooted Aristolochia Trilobata for the Pipevine Swallowtail 2nd closest will win some fresh Aristolochia fimbriata seed I will harvest today.
Deb, Shelia, and Josephine I was wrong about how many eggs she laid. looks are very deceiving lol
Pictured is not all the eggs
You get 1 guess each. If no winner by Monday morning you can take a second guess
This message was edited May 1, 2009 1:52 PM
547 eggs! Just randomly guessing, counting on my lucky stars. lol.
110 eggs, I know my polyphemus laid at least that many, those girls are prolific.
Josephine please D-mail me how many eggs I sent you
Still need to hear from Dale
Congrats on finding the SBMag, I have one and it's just now putting on some good growth. How big is the one you found Donna?
Kim, LOL!!
I am going to guess, though I visibly see around 94 in the picture, I know some may be hidden.. and as you said "Pictured is not all the eggs". I am tempted to ask if they are not all pictured because they are in a pile, or because some were already sent out... *?*
For the sake of the game I will just give a "good sport" guess...
154
Debnes
This message was edited May 1, 2009 3:18 PM
What's the rule of the guessing game? The larger the number, the better chances one gets? LOL. Anything more than 155 eggs goes to me right? lol.
well some are hidden in the pile and I didn't put them all in my hand. No more clues lol.
Kim if I have good success with mine I will send you some cocoons to hatch out yourself. They won't hatch until next April
oh sorry Deb the SB Magnolia was very small but I know I have a big one somewhere because I have seen it. Thought it was in the yard . Found the little one just a few feet down the trail in the woods DH made so that must be where the big one is too.
That's cool Donna,
I am just always curious how other hunters like myself come upon the plants they need... Many times, right under our noses, or down a trail like you and DH did. What a great plant to just *find*.
Mine isn't old enough to bloom yet, but when it does I know I will truely appreciate it.
I have 4.56 acres. 1/3 or more of it is wooded. Well I figure if the moth comes to my porch light there is a host plant somewhere near by
This message was edited May 1, 2009 7:38 PM
Brilliant deduction, my dear donna, lol!
Oh Donna, I'd like the pleasure of raising them little cats. too. I've lots and lots of sweetgums, willows, cherry and sassafras.
I brought in a couple of little cats from my mallow plants and I'll watch them to see what they look like later. I can't help but remember that I cut one mallow back days before I noticed these cats. Hope I didn't overlook some cats on those branches I cut back. Also found what looks like a tiny GST on my Hop Tree.
I will venture a guess of ......133.
Kim it is to late to ship eggs to you. I was going to give to you when you came down. But I will gladly give you cocoons if they hatch and make it. If they are fertile they should hatch between Sunday and Thursday 10 to 14 days. I don't remember exactly how long it was for the ones I raised last year.
Had to show this guy who came today.. Perched in the Privet for about an hour this morning.
Dorsal view...
Here is a bit more of his ventral angle.
Pipevine Swallowtail
Here is my pipevine which I hope the above male will lead all the ladies to..
Aristolochia tomentosa
Over in the right of this picture stands my neighbor's Sweet Gum tree.
Ohhh, I can almost smell the fragrant from those pics. there deb! Beautiful PVS! I've the Gigantea Pipevine for 3 consecutive years, but last winter must have done it in. Never have I seen any cats. on those though. :((
Donna, thanks for the thought. I'll wait 'til next brood (or however long, lol). Hope to see you again sometime this year on one of our get together.
Thanks Kim,
I have to say the "fragrance" from this Privet is so noxious it is deafening.. Yep it is that s-t-r-o-n-g. I have to hold my nose out there or I get a whopping headache, lol!
The butterflies and birdies love it so much... and it draws lots and lots of bees. So it is a keeper against all kinds of negative critisizm recieved.
I have seen too many amazing creatures in this Privet not to keep it.
Deb, that Aristolochia tomentosaisreally something, could you please root me a cutting?
I am sorry about the privet controversy, I wish it had never happened.
Josephine.
I saw a monarch in my yard two days ago. Today I watched it laying eggs on the tiny sprouts of my butterfly weed bushes. The sprouts are only about 2 or 3 inches out of the ground. This just seems REALLY early for PA. Does anyone know if this is common for this far north?
That gave me such a chuckle Josephine, please don't feel bad at all. I understand a severe concern for such an invasive plant, and I truly appreciated that. It is a "runway" and I am just crazy enough to see the positive qualities.
A brood of 2 White-winged Dove babies just fledged from it's branches this week. They were well sheltered in it's branches. Plus it is lower to the ground than most of the other trees, so the babies that are raised in it always survive.
On another note, regarding the moth eggs... When I looked up host plants for Cecropia, I saw that Persimmon was also a host. (Your tree is so huge and lovely.) I am thinking you knew about it being a host for these moths, but it was worth the mention.
I will attempt a rooting of the A tomentosa.
Deb, beautiful PVS! And that A. tomentosa looks so healthy! I may have to get one of those one of these days!
suscwbuff~
Congrats! If you saw one, (it may seem early.. but not to "that" one. There have already been sightings in PA. They are heading up to Canada, jus following the span of the sun across the sky. Look for more to come, and keep your camera handy. Feel free to share anything you see right here if you like.
This link might help answer your question as well.
http://www.learner.org/cgi-bin/jnorth/jn-query-byday
:-)
This message was edited May 2, 2009 4:02 PM
Thanks Linda!
I have waited for this kind of growth for about 3 years now. Last year it bloomed a bit, but this year the rains have really given it a boost. It was worth the wait.
And the Skeleton plant seeds you sent have had success in germination! I have a few small pots (of 12) that "took". One small pot has 3 little sprigs about 3 or so inches high. I will take a picture later and put it in the wildflower thread we are in over at the TX forum.
Maybe you guys can tell me whether I should 'thin' them or leave them to place in the ground without disturbing them at all.
Well Deb, it depends on which one is easier to reach, also I have a Sweetgum and the Ash, so i have lots of choices. Of course we will have to see if the eggs hatch first.
Thank you for trying to root the vine, I have yet to have PVS lay eggs on mine, so I keep trying.
Thanks for sending me the website. Very interesting! I was able to take photos last year of the whole cycle of the monarchs from egg to chrysalis but that was in July and August when my asclepsia, don't think I spelled that correctly, was full grown. This monarch is the ONLY butterfly that is flitting around my garden and I guess that's one of the reason I was surprised to see it laying eggs. I could tell that the monarch was looking pretty worn and not brilliant like when they first leave the chrysalis.
come on you all take a guess if you want a Aristolochia Trilobata for the Pipevine & Polydamus Swallowtail. Not going to cost you a thing.
Clue:
Kim go lower. Everyone else go higher
Everyone guess again
O.K. I will guess again, 250 eggs.
Josephine.
I brought in about 4 more cats from my mallows and one is big enough to know for sure...now I know they're Texas Powdered Skipper cats! Oh wow...haven't had any of those since year before last! Wish I'd seen the mama butterfly!
Okay, Donna, I'll put in a guess....300 eggs. It's kind of like being on the Price Is Right!
262 then.
ok, :-) ........280.........
lower
185
225 eggs.
Josephine.
188
y'all are getting much closer from both directions