Ann -- I have no local experience, but do study a lot. And I am a member of the Monarch Watch email list-serve, so I get to read a lot about Monarchs with reports from all over North America.

It is my understanding that yes indeed there are a lot of Monarchs that hang around In Florida, but is in the Southern part of the state. The North part gets too cold for them.

nativeplantlover said:Gramma Char

The amount of Queens on your Mist flowers makes it look like you have a butterfly house! I love that one photo with them, a Sulphur that looks like it's just floating, and the other one nearby, I think it's a Snout? I had just one here a few months ago, Don't you get flocks of them? (or whatever else you call it?)

You have a good eye, Cheryl. Yes, there are "swarms" of American Snout butterflies moving through the area. Long lines of autos at the car washes to remove the casualties encountered on the roads and highways. I don't know what a big migration of butterflies is called either (Melanie probably does), but it's gearing up in Central Texas now and will culminate in October with the Butterfly Festival in Mission, Texas on the border.
Great time of year to have plants like mist flowers, liatris, and flame acanthus to help the butterflies on their way.

American Snout

I found a new Monarch yesterday.

Also gave a friend a Fringe Tree and unbeknownst ? to me, I gave away a Chrysalis that eclosed yesterday.

Anyone know how with this new format (didn't see that coming) you find your watched threads?

DavidLMO said:I found a new Monarch yesterday.

Also gave a friend a Fringe Tree and unbeknownst ? to me, I gave away a Chrysalis that eclosed yesterday.

Anyone know how with this new format (didn't see that coming) you find your watched threads?

On the homepage just scroll down until you see them.

krobra said:I am thankful I have a carport I can release any butterflies in , I can even move a few potted nectar plants in there too if need be.

I have a carport but didn't think about that.

if you want to move customize where they are David

Go to Home page
Scroll to the bottom and click on » Customize your homepage
There you see a series of boxes: Find the one called 'Watcher Notifications' (left side)
Hold you mouse over it that Watcher Notification and while left clicking and holding, drag it to the very top left box and drop it in there (by releasing the mouse)
Now take the other feature that is in the top left box and drag and drop it in the box you just vacated.

Now your watched threads are at the very top

Today was all about celebrating the Skippers:











And this little guy:

From today's weekend section of the Tampa Bay Times:

I've been asleep most of the day and then I had to customize my homepage here so I could find the things I wanted! Here are some pictures I took yesterday. Hopefully, the ability to "arrow" through them will come back soon.

Found the remains of some Pipevine ST eggs.



But I only found one caterpillar.



Can you find the Orange-Barred Sulphur caterpillar?



Closer...and then I picked him and brought him inside.



And here's my Spicebush Swallowtail chrysalis.

looks like some fine additions to your "lab"

I look forward to seeing the Orange-Barred Sulphur upon release

nativeplantlover said:
Claudia so sorry about your SWT
Christine what is that pinky purplish plant that your sulphur is on?

No need to be sorry! I believe it went off to make its chrysalis. I had just hoped to catch it after it changed colors & before it left. I was neat see how it had attached 2 leaves together to make a home as Melanie said. I hope I maybe find more next year to watch!

Well, one of my Tiger Swallowtail eggs hatched last night so we can all watch it grow up together. How's that sound? I took some pictures of it, but I'll post them later. I'm waiting for the caffeine to kick in. Have a bit of a headache, too, but the Advil is helping.

FYI, on the way to Starbucks it looked like I was getting egg-bombed by an Orange-Barred Sulphur. So maybe I'll have some more of those in the future.

@mellielong, I need your expertise!
This morning I spotted (for the very first time) what I *think* might be a White-striped Longtail Skipper. Problem is, it doesn't have a 'long tail'. Can you give me an identity (after you've had your coffee )?

Sure looks like it! http://www.butterfliesandmoths...

FYI, the Long-Tailed Skippers, like Swallowtails, and Hairstreaks, lose their "tails" all the time. I've even knocked a couple off accidentally when I've released them! So to see one without tails is no surprise. That's a beautiful Skipper. I'm so jealous!

mellielong said:Sure looks like it! http://www.butterfliesandmoths...

That's a beautiful Skipper. I'm so jealous!

Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee TOO! Gorgeous Char!

I think I'm getting egg bombed by a female Monarch on my milkweed as I type! I was looking out the kitchen window with the binoculars & it sure looks like what I think it looks like. Will check later.
Too funny after I said what I said right? Life is like that. So let's see.......
I never get bundles of cash in the mail.

I think the odds are greater that you will get many more monarchs then cash.

and if I got bundles of cash in the mail , I would be worried drugs dealers would come looking for their misplaced loot.

ok , BST in captivity update

right top screen - 3 cats and 8 chrysalises .................. left top screen - 4 chrysalises

.............

inside - 2 chrysalises , 2 climbing cats and 5 munching cats



bottom front screen - 1 cat , 1 chrysalis



and I still have one small BST cat out in the lovage patch

I also separated the two frit chrysalises last night. each has it's own container now ,
so I do not have to worry about disturbing one while trying to release the other.

Ann!

Boy were there lots of skippers zipping around today!







They're having a party on the Bidens!!