Love the Buckeyes! I haven't seen one in quite a while.

Gray Hairstreak and Silver spotted Skipper

Sad news and two pieces of Good news.

Sad News - I had 9 Monarch cats on my Swan milkweed. My count had gone from 5 to 7 to 9. I counted them from a couple of views. That was yesterday morning. Last evening we had a horrendous rain storm - winds were not that bad but we did have a Tornado warning. Sirens and all. Anyway, we got a bit over 3 inches of rain in about 20 minutes. So I went out today and checked. Only found 4. Counted couple of times and checked all over. None were quite ready to make a chrysalis. So I assume the others got washed away.

On happier news - I found a buckeye in my greenhouse. Carefully caught him and set him free. Closest I have ever been to one.

Even happier news. I found a Variegated Fritillary (strange the site does not like that spelling. weird) cat. I was laying down some additional mulch on my new native plant bed. Was ripping out some violets when I saw the cat eating some violet leaves. There was not much left of the plant, nor a lot in that particular area, so I moved him to a larger plant that had lots of leaves. I checked ~ 1/2 dozen sites to ID him. I have observed the adults several times on some Butterfly Bush here.

No pics of anything as cameras are all borken.

Wow Ronnie! Spectacular photos!

Aw David, I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of the monarch cats. Yay for the buckeye and an even larger yay over the Variegated Fritillary!

Aww shucks, David. Hope you get your cameras fixed as would love to see some photos! Stay safe in the stormy weather!

Here are my babies! The largest ones:


The infant:

Oh Ann, those little caterpillars are just so adorable!!!!! You are an excellent caregiver!!!

Look at them all

GrammaChar said:Oh Ann, those little caterpillars are just so adorable!!!!! You are an excellent caregiver!!!

Awwwwwwwwwwww, thanks.
I'm trying. I'm a newbie at this you know but I'm going to give them the best shot I can. They're all asleep right now. They go to bed pretty early; it seems by around 7 they're all tuckered out. I was surprised at that. They don't eat nearly as much as I thought they would -- that is, not yet anyway. See, I'm learning a lot already.

DavidLMO said:Sad news and two pieces of Good news.

Sad News - I had 9 Monarch cats on my Swan milkweed. My count had gone from 5 to 7 to 9. I counted them from a couple of views. That was yesterday morning. Last evening we had a horrendous rain storm - winds were not that bad but we did have a Tornado warning. Sirens and all. Anyway, we got a bit over 3 inches of rain in about 20 minutes. So I went out today and checked. Only found 4. Counted couple of times and checked all over. None were quite ready to make a chrysalis. So I assume the others got washed away.

On happier news - I found a buckeye in my greenhouse. Carefully caught him and set him free. Closest I have ever been to one.

Even happier news. I found a Variegated Fritillary (strange the site does not like that spelling. weird) cat. I was laying down some additional mulch on my new native plant bed. Was ripping out some violets when I saw the cat eating some violet leaves. There was not much left of the plant, nor a lot in that particular area, so I moved him to a larger plant that had lots of leaves. I checked ~ 1/2 dozen sites to ID him. I have observed the adults several times on some Butterfly Bush here.

No pics of anything as cameras are all borken.

So sorry about your Monarchs David, and you'd worked so hard to attract them and waited so long to get them! I have never found a living Buckeye, you're very lucky! Just a dead one:

Since then I've not weeded ANY plantain if it's in the flower beds


So, I've posted pic of my frit cats on violets recently, Were yours looking like this?:
<--Taken last week
<-- last year

This is one of the gardens where I allow the violets to grow for the frits. I posted this on the Multi plant photos a few days ago, hopefully to encourage other gardeners to plant primarily for the benefit of wildlife.

Just wait until they're all monsters the size of your baby finger, Ann. You'll be running to the grocery store again. Then, just when you think you've got them all the food they need, they'll pupate . . . life's like that. You're doing a great job.

flaflwrgrl said:

Awwwwwwwwwwww, thanks.
I'm trying. I'm a newbie at this you know but I'm going to give them the best shot I can. They're all asleep right now. They go to bed pretty early; it seems by around 7 they're all tuckered out. I was surprised at that. They don't eat nearly as much as I thought they would -- that is, not yet anyway. See, I'm learning a lot already.

Haha Ann---just wait till the morning when you go have a look. I was stupefied! They'll be three times the size they were when you tucked them in. If you get up to go the bathroom or something, have a look, they nibble all night off and on.

I watch these posts with great interest. The Trials and Tribulations of Raising Caterpillars. Hats off to all of you who have taken up the cause
I feed the birds, and do good to put out fresh water and fill the dog dish with kibble twice a day. That's about my limit.
But I support your good deeds and am with you in spirit. Keep up the good work! And for your efforts.

nativeplantlover said:
So, I've posted pic of my frit cats on violets recently, Were yours looking like this?:
<--Taken last week

Yep. Just like that.

Thank you and all the others for the kind comments.

It just ticked me off the rain came as a deluge. We actually got more rain earlier in the week but it was spread over days and hours - not just minutes and seconds.

I tend to be a very passionate person - particularly so with the Monarchs - they are a big part of my life now 10 - 30 hours a week about 50 % loss - like the Mexico storm.

Pearl Crescent - should be Skipper









Silver Spotted Skipper -

@Deby
Excellent photos of that Pearl Crescent!
That second photo in particular is amazing!

Good catch on the skipper.

Okay, you guys talked a LOT while I was asleep. Thanks to Jack for the acorn!

Glad to know I have other caterpillar farmers who can help out when I'm not around. Good advice from everyone.

Deby, great pictures, but that's not a Crescent, it's a kind of Skipper. Might be Peck's Skipper. What do you guys think? A couple of you have posted pictures of them recently. Also, I'm super jealous of your Silver-Spotted Skippers. I only get them maybe every other year if I'm lucky.

Off to get breakfast and then when it's light enough, I have to release this male Back Swallowtail that emerged while I was asleep. Nothing like waking up to a beautiful butterfly!

Great photos, @Deby. Cute little skipper.
And those blue flowers on the duranta look positively electric!!!

I would agree on the Peck's Skipper!
Great shots Deby

Oh gosh, I should have picked up on that skipper. At 6:20am I'm not very "on the ball".


I also meant to mention Cheryl's photos. I'm sorry about the buckeye but maybe it died a natural death form old age. I didn't know plantain was a host plant for them. I learned something new.

Oh, I know! That's why I said -- "at least not yet". I know they're going to suddenly go nuts! They've grown so much already since last night. I think there are quite a few in their skinny jeans. There were quite a number of them molting this morning too. The infant is still alive.
I am seeing fights break out. Sometimes it's like head butting. One will rear back real far & then BANG! Then other times it's sparring, "I'll bite you!" "Oh yeah, you bite me & I'll bite you back!".

Deby said:Pearl Crescent

Cool pics. What is the lovely blue flower?