Butterflies were on egg laying missions today!!! Had Black Swallowtail make use of fennel, dill and the rue in my yard. Right alongside was a Gulf Frit. Lawd, I have way too many GFs already! A while later I spotted a Red Admiral laying eggs on the florida pellitory. Was able to get some photos of the eggs again. Am not raising those again - they are pigs and I had to clean out their cage every day...no break whatsoever :o)
Had four Red Admirals eclose today so add those to the one I released earlier today that had eclosed yesterday. They are still hanging around my yard. Way cool!!! Also released a Common Sootywing.
Spent the morning cleaning out cages and adding fresh cuttings. Set the cages out in the sunlight for about fifteen minutes then back onto the back porch they went. It got hot quickly!
Saw a Texan Crescent flitting around too - it was nectaring on shrubby blue sage bush so I grabbed the only pot of acanthus wrightii I have and moved it closer to the bush hoping it might be a female and it would lay eggs. Well....when I moved the pot of acanthus I noticed several skeletonized leaves - upon a closer inspection...CATS!!!! YIPPEE!!! A butterfly must have laid eggs on it about two weeks ago because the caterpillars were about 2nd instars. WOOHOO!!! Am thinking they are Texan Crescents - time will tell.
All in all it turned out to be a wonderful Sunday!!!
Linda...think they are Texan Crescents?
