New and Unread Tree-Mails
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Name: Sheila F Fort Worth TX (Zone 8a)              Sheila_FW Sep 1, 2011 12:35 PM CST |
| Thought I would post this text of the article Dale Clark wrote recently. "Not a day goes by that someone doesn’t ask me about this summer’s scarcity of butterflies. Gardeners have set out flowers rich in nectar and plants specifically chosen to host different species’ eggs and the hatched caterpillars, seemingly with no takers. Weather is one of the greatest influences on a butterfly’s life. The double-whammy of a drought and a record-breaking heat wave has caused native butterfly populations, in general, to tumble. While this is disappointing to gardeners who have struggled to keep their butterfly banquets green and flowering, it is a natural response of the insect to these cruel climatic conditions. Butterflies, however, have adapted numerous strategies for survival. As a species, this is not their first drought. While you may have had Eastern black swallowtail caterpillars consuming dill or parsley in your garden in early summer, you probably have noticed a drop in visitors since the mercury hit the area’s long streak of 100-plus temperatures. If conditions are too severe, a swallowtail chrysalis can go months (or even years) before a butterfly emerges, a survival technique that also applies to pipevine, giant and tiger swallowtails. The bordered patch butterfly, and other closely related species, can wait out the drought in the caterpillar stage. When the quality of their host plants (sunflowers, ragweed and cowpen daisies) begins to falter, they stop eating and go into estivation, a sort of summer hibernation, and wait until the rains rejuvenate the plants they live on. One of the most reliable butterfly host plants a gardener can cultivate is passionvine (Passiflora spp.). This is the only plant genus on which Gulf fritillary butterflies will lay their eggs. Usually by August homeowners are complaining that their vines have been stripped bare, but not this year. Trellises and fences are enveloped in lush growth and gardeners are enjoying plenty of the exotic blooms. So where are the Gulf fritillaries? The natural life history of the Gulf fritillary is that it immigrates to our area each spring and summer from more southerly locales. Instinct drives this journey because Gulf fritillaries cannot tolerate extended periods of freezing temps and because our native passionvines usually die to the ground in winter, so the insect must recolonize its range every year. However, with the popularity of butterfly gardening and the increased use of one passionvine in particular —‘Blue Crown’ (P. caerulea) — a slight wrinkle has developed. ‘Blue Crown’ is semi-evergreen in North Texas; in mild winters the orange-and-black fritillary can survive and continue breeding, withstanding brief spells of freezing temperatures and giving the butterfly a head start in spring reproduction. However, this past winter’s single-digit temperatures killed overwintering Gulf fritillaries and many ‘Blue Crown’ passionvines. That, coupled with the current drought, has greatly reduced the numbers of this particular butterfly. Once the heat wave breaks and rain occurs, the numbers of butterflies will increase. Mother Nature has done all of this before and, in the long run, butterflies know how to cope and survive. Keep tending those nectar and host plants; eventually, they will be needed and appreciated." article by Dale Clark (co-founder of the Dallas County Lepidopterist Society) His last statement is why I am continuing to water when I can....I am keeping the faith they will be here and need me.  |
Name: Trish Jacksonville, TX (Zone 8a)           |
| Great article, Shelia- thanks for sharing!! We had a bit of butterfly action very early in the spring when the Vitex bloomed the first time, but hardly one has been seen since.  Like you, I'm cultivating my plants (well, the ones that are living, at least!) in anticipation of their return. We've had a lot of hummers this year, though! NGA COO, Wife, Mom, and caretaker of 90 acres and all that dwell there. |
Name: Sandy Coffman Jacksonville, Florida       wren Sep 1, 2011 3:59 PM CST |
| My butterfly numbers are increasing. the 3rd set of Black Swallowtail cats have just hatched. The poor passion vines are being eaten alive and I am seeing more other kinds of butterflies, just wish they would stay still long enough for me to take their pictures |
Name: Sheila F Fort Worth TX (Zone 8a) Sheila_FW Sep 1, 2011 5:50 PM CST |
Dale was nice enough to send it to me. It was a great article.  Wren...Try standing or sitting in the same position, most of the time they will circle around and return to the same area they left. Monarchs take a long time before coming back, but have patience, they will get used to you being there. |
Name: Sandy Coffman Jacksonville, Florida wren Sep 1, 2011 5:57 PM CST |
| Need more nectar plants for that and a lot less bees and honey eating wasp, and that might work. |
Name: Trish Jacksonville, TX (Zone 8a) |
| *don't kill the bees* Please. NGA COO, Wife, Mom, and caretaker of 90 acres and all that dwell there. |
Name: Sandy Coffman Jacksonville, Florida wren Sep 1, 2011 7:06 PM CST |
| I have no plans to kill the bees, they are one of the main subjects for my pictures. I am sharing my pictures with a young scientist.He is doing his Dr theses(?) on native bees     |
Name: Sandy Coffman Jacksonville, Florida wren Sep 1, 2011 7:30 PM CST |
| I forget to add that I have 2 species of Carpenter Bees, Honey bees, Sweat bees, and mason bees and may have another species but have not been able to get a picture of them. My one Mason bee box is being uses. I plan on getting more boxes this winter. |
Name: Sheila F Fort Worth TX (Zone 8a) Sheila_FW Sep 1, 2011 9:44 PM CST |
| WTG Wren! Great shots! |
Name: Trish Jacksonville, TX (Zone 8a) |
 NGA COO, Wife, Mom, and caretaker of 90 acres and all that dwell there. |
Name: Sandy Coffman Jacksonville, Florida wren Sep 2, 2011 2:43 AM CST |
| Thank you |
Name: Linda Medina Co., TX (Zone 8a)        LindaTX8 Sep 5, 2011 9:49 AM CST |
| I've released one Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail in all its glory over the weekend. It was in a hurry to get going, so no pic! Sure could fly good! I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad |
Name: Mary My little patch of paradise (Zone 7b) Gardening dilettante, that's me!      fiwit Sep 5, 2011 10:09 AM CST |
| Great photos Wren! I'm going to break one of my personal rules and ask "The Question." What kind of camera do you have? (remember: I strongly believe it's the photographer, not the tool. But I'm curious) Northwest Georgia Daylily Society I'm going to retire and live off of my savings. Not sure what I'll do that second week. My yard marches to the beat of a bohemian drummer... |
Name: Trish Jacksonville, TX (Zone 8a) |
| Very Nice! Details, details! Did you find the catepillar and grow it out inside, or???  NGA COO, Wife, Mom, and caretaker of 90 acres and all that dwell there. |
Name: Linda Medina Co., TX (Zone 8a) LindaTX8 Sep 5, 2011 11:00 AM CST |
I have a bunch of chrysallises out in the shed waiting to emerge. I found eggs and caterpillars in the spring and raised them in containers inside...later put them out in a large shed after they pupated. With this very large butterfly, most wait months to emerge. One of my previously released two-tailed tigers: I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad |
Name: Mary My little patch of paradise (Zone 7b) Gardening dilettante, that's me! fiwit Sep 5, 2011 11:04 AM CST |
| So beautiful.... Northwest Georgia Daylily Society I'm going to retire and live off of my savings. Not sure what I'll do that second week. My yard marches to the beat of a bohemian drummer... |
Name: Trish Jacksonville, TX (Zone 8a) |
| NGA COO, Wife, Mom, and caretaker of 90 acres and all that dwell there. |
Name: Sandy Coffman Jacksonville, Florida wren Sep 8, 2011 8:12 PM CST |
| My Camera is a Canon EOS Rebel T3i and I am using mostly either the 50mm or the 60mm Macro lens. I have 2 other macro lens also. I went on a little trip along the Gulf Coast of the Florida Panhandle and there where butterflies everywhere!!!!! Swallowtails of a couple of kinds, a number of different sizes of Yellows and a mob of GF's and Monarchs. |
Name: Sheila F Fort Worth TX (Zone 8a) Sheila_FW Sep 8, 2011 9:31 PM CST |
| Good to know Sandy! |
Name: Linda Medina Co., TX (Zone 8a) LindaTX8 Sep 18, 2011 3:18 PM CST |
I've been releasing butterflies! Three emerged this morning and released this afternoon, one was released yesterday also! It's like someone suddenly said wake up! What this species does I call summering over. I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad |
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