skip to main content

Butterfly Garden

Help what to feed???!!!

16 years ago

Surprise...middle of the winter and the first time I have attempted this.

A beautiful swallowtail has just emerged. It's February in Ontario, can't let it out so what do I feed the little guy/girl?

Probably the other two will emerge before long as well. I kept them inside in cool basement, maybe not the right thing to have done, but....what to do now?

By the way we had a foot of snow yesterday!!!

Will post pics when my batteries charge up.

Thanks for the assistance

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

jmcat
16 years ago
First of all, don't panic. BFs often go for a day before they eat anything. You can feed it a sugar-water solution made from:
1 cup water
1 Tbsp sugar (NOT honey or a sugar substitute)

Mix these together and put some in a container with a piece of clean sponge (I use the lid to an apple juice container). If the sponge is new, make sure you wash it well until you no longer see any soapy bubbles coming out.

Since it doesn't sound like you'll be able to release it anytime soon, you can keep it in an enclosure in your house (most BFs live for about 2 weeks). It is rather nice to be able to watch a butterfly in your house. The enclosure you use should be made of mesh or something else that will not hurt your BF's wings. I don't know if you have something like this already or not, but if you don't, you can probably make one. Hopefully, some other people on this forum will post ideas about enclosures. I hope your BF does fine!

Do you know what kind it is?

-Jmcat
mary_anne55
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks Jmcat
I have the Black Swallowtail in an enclosure with the others that have not emerged. When I put the enclosure into my Dining Room which is very cool (separate enclosed room) the BS went to the top and has stayed there ever since. I am wondering if I should just put the whole thing into the sunny livingroom, also enclosed, and let the BS out to fly free in there. It will be safe in there. I will put some flowering plants and some nectar out for it, or them, should the others decide to come along!
Do you think it may go into hibernation in the cooler room? Should I leave it there?
Related Discussions
Need Help Figuring Out What to Feed My Plants!
Q
Comments (12)
Thank you everyone for your advice! I looked up osmocote and it does look similar to what I remember. I don't think it was osmocote exactly though. Maybe I'm focusing too much on fertizlizer. It's easier to believe that the only problem is fertilizer, but maybe it's something else. Also, I agree that this would be 1,000 times easier if I knew what the plants were, but I don't! I never had a chance to ask the rental service before the office closed. I'm going to put some more effort into finding out exactly what they are. Someone above mentioned plant books, so I think that is where I'll start. So whats some general advice for dying houseplants? It seems like I should lay off of watering for a little bit, to make sure I'm not overdoing it. This might be the problem actually. I have the same pots that the plants were in, in the office and the way it's set up theres a smaller pot inside a bigger one. The rental service always filled the second one with water, and then the plants would just soak up what they needed. Maybe this isn't the best approach? Maybe theres TOO much water around them. I'm certain the service just did this so they wouldn't have to visit the office too often. Come to think of it, the one plant I have from the office that isn't in a set up like this is doing fine. So maybe I'll change this. Also, there was one plant that was doing fine, but started wilting recently, I think because I gave it miracle grow. How do I help it recover? Does it just take time? Also, thank you again to everyone offering advice. I'm really new at this and you've all been very patient with my newbie questions!
...See More
Need your help! Progress report &Fertilize/feeding babies?
Q
Comments (2)
Leave them be until after they bloom, all they need now is water. Once they bloom, you can start giving them a light dose of fish emulsion (half-strength) or other water-soluble (quarter-strength) every other week until mid-August. That's it for this year. Next year, you can apply an organic or organic-based fertilizer like Espoma Rose-tone (or Holly-tone) once a month, April - August. That should be good enough. I know nothing about this variety, so I don't know if it is disease resistant. I suspect not, but hopefully someone else who ishas grown it can let you know.
...See More
Miracle Gro---what is a Foliar leaf feeding houseplant HELP
Q
Comments (2)
oh wow thx Green, also i have big time problem w/white flies do you now to get rid of them i been spraying soap water on plants don't work and i have the thingys you plug into the wall outlet work for while i think? thx
...See More
Help! Last minute vegetarian!
Q
Comments (20)
Thank you all so much! This was so helpful. A lot of the great ideas had to be ruled out right away, however, because there was no chance for a trip to the store. The sink backed up the night before, so I had to have a plumber in - oh, and the builder was already there to re-anchor the dishwasher so we could use it. I couldn't cook while they were working, obviously, so I cleaned the house -- the housecleaner had called at 9:00 a.m. and cancelled because her uncle died -- and set the table then. As soon as they left, I had to go across town to get my laptop fixed. One of those days! Good thing I'd done most of the cooking already. Luckily, I had a box of Trader Joe corn & roasted pepper soup in the pantry, and it was parve. So I just heated it in the MW and gave her that when we had matzo ball soup. I didn't put out anything extra for her while we were standing around having chopped liver, and that was fine -- the other girls weren't much interested in it anyway. The evening was a success, and I didn't feel like a bad hostess or as if this drew focus. Thank you all so so so much for rallying to my aid and giving me confidence. I always feel like you are right there with me!
...See More
jmcat
16 years ago
If you have another enclosure, I would put the BST in it in the living room. You would want to make sure that it didn't beat itself to death trying to get out, though. I do not really think that letting it fly around free in there would be a good idea, though. The reason that I wouldn't put the current cage in there is that the sunlight might harm and/or cause the other chrysalises to eclose. I doubt that it will go into hibernation in a colder place. As far as I know, Swallowtails do not overwinter at all as adults.
-Jmcat

Related Stories

KITCHEN DESIGN 8 Fireplaces to Feed Your Kitchen's Style

By The Inman Company

It's easy to find good kitchen help these days — these fireplaces help you cook, provide focal points and create delicious warmth

HOME TECH To Feed and Protect: Care for Your Pet From Afar With New Devices

You might miss the nuzzles, but your dog or cat won't miss food, water or monitoring with these high-tech feeders and cameras

GARDENING GUIDES 8 Native Shrubs for Year-Round Bird Feeding

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

It’s not just about berries. These plants provide insects for birds and seasonal interest for gardeners

GARDENING GUIDES 15 Native Flowers That Feed Native Bees

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

These perennials offer superfood to hundreds of bees and are gorgeous in their own right

GARDENING FOR BIRDS Feed the Birds: 6 Plants for Abundant Winter Berries

By Therese Ciesinski

Be kind to your fair feathered friends during lean food times by planting a shrub or tree loaded with nutritious snacks

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Feed Wildlife With Flowering Currant

Blossoms and berries make this plant irresistible to birds, bees and other critters — and a treat for the eyes too

STUDIOS AND WORKSHOPS Your Space Can Help You Get Down to Work. Here's How

By Laura Gaskill

Feed your creativity and reduce distractions with the right work surfaces, the right chair, and a good balance of sights and sounds

GARDENING GUIDES Sand Wasps Keep True Bugs in Check and Help Pollinate Summer Flowers

By Pollination Press LLC

Look for these solitary wasps nesting in sandy sites and foraging on flowers in July and August

FLOWERS AND PLANTS Help Monarchs and Other Butterflies by Planting Common Milkweed

By Pollination Press LLC

Summer-blooming Asclepias syriaca is an important larval host plant for the monarch butterfly and attracts a number of pollinating insects

PETS How to Help Your Dog Be a Good Neighbor

By Alison Hodgson

Good fences certainly help, but be sure to introduce your pup to the neighbors and check in from time to time

Sponsored

Landscape Management Group

29 Reviews

High Quality Landscaping Services in Columbus

More Discussions

?what to do with this little guy?

3