Let me continue to catch up. FYI, the past week I've felt really bad. You guys know I have chronic fatigue, which I compare to having mono all the time, but this was bad even for me. I finally made it to the movies yesterday, and that was a big accomplishment. But I'm feeling better, for me anyhow, so I can post again. You may see me post on the other threads, but it's mostly just pictures. I like to explain things on here so my posts take a little more time.
Let's start with my unreasonable amount of Pipevine Swallowtails! You know, I'm up early, I could go take them to MOSI in a bit. I also have to wait for a day when most of them aren't molting so I can move them from one container to another.
Remember, these guys are more than happy to eat the stems of the plant.
Long-Tailed Skipper lost its tails - but not its life!
I haven't been seeing as many Sulphurs, but that's likely due to ripping out my old Senna ligustrina plants. The little ones I transplanted are doing well, though! Leafing out and everything! Even in full Florida sun. I'll have my caterpillars back soon enough. In the meantime, this Orange-Barred Sulphur graced me with its presence. It's been my experience that Sulphurs have a strong attraction to red flowers. Sometimes, I think they think they're hummingbirds.
Male Spicebush is missing a few pieces, but ain't no big thing!
Speaking of the Spicebush, my caterpillars had some kind of epidemic run through them. I had several that failed to molt correctly. I could tell because they were dead but I could see where the head capsule had separated in preparation to molt. I suspect a bacterial infection in the others. I had one that was molting and it was wet (which is not normal) and left some brown stuff on the leaf (also not normal), but it molted so I left it alone. I knew I should have isolated it, and that's my fault. So I lost most of my caterpillars. I took the remaining ones, cleaned a new container, and moved them into it. Got to disinfect that other one.
So when a Spicebush molts into their green form, they start out more camo green and turn grass green over a day or two. That reddish stain you see on the side - not normal! Hence, the disinfecting.
Gulf Frits continue to flirt with each other in the yard. This one got so annoying, I chased him off to give the female a break. We gals have to stick together, right? He clearly wasn't getting the message that she just wasn't interested.
Where am I? The butterfly bar scene?
I've started seeing White Peacocks around, but this is the first one I can recall in my yard this season.
Mom feels the need to tell me whatever butterfly is outside and she told me the Polydamas was out there, so out I went. They move very fast. They flutter their wings almost constantly and very quickly. But I went out there to humor her. There were actually two of them fighting over the Jatropha. So far, no eggs, so they must be male. I don't have enough Pipevine to raise Polydamas! They eat like Monarchs!
Found another Tersa Sphinx Moth caterpillar! That leaf has such an obvious caterpillar-eating pattern that I knew he had to be on the flip side.
Meanwhile, the Tersas inside are molting and earning their spots. The first few I ever raised were nearly full grown and had the typical spots all down their sides. So when I found one like this for the first time, I had to Google it to make sure it was just an early instar. Caterpillars can change quite a bit as they molt so it's important to know what they look like throughout their life.
That evening, I was outside watering the plants when I saw one of the most tore-up butterflies ever. This is a Spicebush, but it's missing a lot of wing! Luckily, I saw it before I sprayed it with the hose.
Okay, here's a shot of the Pipevine Swallowtail cats on Tuesday. The ones on the side and lid were mostly molting. I wanted to show you how they "skeletonize" a leaf, leaving only the veins of the plant.
Why do we check our host plants again and again? Because we find more eggs! These are Spicebush eggs on Spicebush.
And that brings us to yesterday. I may have been headed to the movies, but there's always action outside my front door. This Pipevine male would not pose and I was in a hurry, so only one bad pic.
The White Peacock was behaving much better.
The Polydamas was back at the Jatropha, but looking a little ragged.
So I came home and fed the cats and checked the host plants. I've been keeping an eye on the Rue because it's weird nothing has laid eggs on it. Until yesterday. But it's still weird. They're Black ST eggs because they're cream colored; Giant ST eggs are orange. But I only found five of them and usually Black STs will go crazy on your plants. Maybe she was running out? Or maybe a predator interrupted? Whatever the case, you know I'll be checking them often.
Found more Spicebush eggs, too!
Most of the Spicebush cats have turned green. When I look through all my photos, I'm pretty sure the Spicebush is my most-photographed caterpillar. They're so darn cute!
