Not much today -
Pearl Crescent


Monarch


There was a Buckeye, but Plato kept pulling on his leash, making a long shot impossible.

DavidLMO said:...Regarding the white cabbage moths...

The reason I asked if they were the same is that I saw this and we had been talking about the cabbage white butterflies.

@jmorth

aah, gotta cha

Moths, butterflies...that's why I try to be precise with language. We've got some new folks that have joined the thread and I'm still convinced there are lurkers out there who need to stop in and say hi. So don't feel like someone's nitpicking if they correct you. And if you use cocoon instead of chrysalis, I'll be the first one to do it! Besides, if no one ever tells you correct, how will you ever learn?

I think there are different ways to provide intelligent, competent adults with new information. Some of those ways are more effective than others.

Well, finally got a chance to clear out the butterfly habitats, inspecting every leaf, fresh or otherwise, and also dumping out the frass on the bottom.

Counted 15 Monarchs--3 chrysalises, 1 in J position, and 11 big strapping looking cats who look like they should be heading up to the top soon to pupate, instead of lounging around on the milkweed! See what I mean??



Counted 11 BST cats, including 1 chrysalis. 4 are very small early instars--at least a couple of the tiny ones are visible in the photo. Most of the others look like they should be building their slings within the next week... So it's like I have a set of bigger BST cats, and a smaller group of very early instars...



well, they do provide me with endless entertainment!!

That is so wonderful. Hey, what's that last one?

Last one a BST chrysalis ? Catmint ?
again wonderful , delightful .. Keep those beauties coming

Wow I missed a lot of fantastic photos

jimard8 said: Last one a BST chrysalis ? Catmint ?

Good Id, Jim. Of course it might have been Catmint giving us one of thos quizzes, 'which one doesn't belong?'

Woo Hoo Robin! You have a house full it seems.

wildflowers I just thought I would ask also , Those fiber chrysalis , so many look so similar it is near impossible to ID from photo .
Catmint or Melanie will tell us in a while ,

Tonight's oddity , another moth , got hit with soap , I set it up to dry ,
i don't know this one , a little bigger than an inch and a half

Well now it will be a clean moth.

flaflwrgrl If it is still completing it's life cycle , it will have a nice , clean date Of course , there are those times when it may of already laid eggs ,,
I don't like to kill any of them , the one that fell dead at my feet outside earlier this season I should of specimen bagged and sealed , but I don't usually think about it anymore ,

thanks, everyone! Definitely a full house right now--my feline cats are feeling a bit neglected now while I fuss over the other type of cats... And that is too funny about the 'which one doesn't belong' quiz!

Jim nailed it--it's a BST chrysalis! That's the guy who kept wandering around the habitat, oblivious to the *3* sticks/thick stems I now have in there for them! Well, it seems to be a nice, secure sling so I'm sure he'll be fine. Hope some of the others find the sticks, or it's going to get very crowded in the top corners!!

Jim, that is very kind of you to rescue the moth and set him/her up for a hygienic date!

Please, I have a question for those of you who are successfully raising the butterflies and/or moths indoors.

What equipment would a person need to buy/scrounge/find/repurpose to do this? I have an old glass aquarium that's not being used for anything; could that be used if I cover the top with netting/cheesecloth/screen? I'm not make out of money so I can't but brand new "butterfly pavilions".

Is it necessary to keep the different types separated, each in their own enclosure/habitat? I wouldn't want to start a butterfly war.

Sure, I could Google and search for answers but I thought I would ask here first then collect the necessary stuff and be ready for next season.

Hi Greene. I typically start my eggs and new hatchlings in Tupperware containers so I think as long as they have some well ventilated space and can crawl across the bottom and sides and find someplace to pupate they're fine! Of course Melanie probably knows more about this than I do. I also usually keep them out of direct sunlight.

Green, I was wondering that, myself!
I'm so glad you asked!

I prefer advice from people I "know" .
Sometimes they can tell you a more "workable for your situation" way than an article can.
I also am not made of money.

Oh I forgot to answer your 2nd question! Last summer when I had just a handful of each, I put the monarch and BST cats in the same habitat and they did fine. This year with more of each I've had separate habitats for them. I think as long as no one is cannibalistic or has defenses that are toxic to other caterpillar species, then whatever works best is probably fine.

Noon today