I've Got Sulphur Eggs!

13 years ago

Don't ask me which one. Yes, I saw/watched her lay eggs on my Senna hebecarpa, saw her nectaring on the dandelions but I'm having a hard time deciding if it is a large Sleepy Orange, the size of a Cloudless Sulphur, a Cloudless Sulphur with some orange coloration on the outer wings and a black bar on the edges of the upper wings (least likely), or an Orange Barred Sulphur! Now, I have yet to see an Orange Barred Sulphur here, but there's always a first time. These are the only butterflies that I know of here that use Sennas as a host plant. My Senna is not up very tall yet either, but I'm sure there's enough food for these cats.

She was a lemony yellow with orange shading on the outer wings. Of course, good luck ever seeing the upper wings of a sulphur. I could see thru the wings enough to note the black edge on the upper wings. She would probably have about a 2.5" wing spread or a bit larger. That's what leads me to think it is NOT a Sleepy Orange. On the other hand, I have not seen a Cloudless with the orange shade or the black bar. If this is actually a Orange Barred Sulphur, it will be quite the find for me.

Guess I'll have to wait and see when the eggs hatch.

I don't like cutting the S. hebecarpa because it does not stay fresh for long at all. I do have some florist foam now to use so I may try a few eggs that way. Otherwise, I am afraid the wasp patrol, the ants, or other predacious creepies will consume the eggs or tiny hatchlings.

So, what do you guys think?

Susan

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Comments (5)

bananasinohio
13 years ago
Yeah, ants really like the senna. I wonder if the little nodules give something off for them. Anyhow, I have not tried it but I do know that some people try rolling the eggs off. They do this with monarchs to wash them. I read a good tip the other day. Use paint strainers. They are basically like mesh sleeves. They sell them, I think, 10 per pack at Lowes or Home Depot. Very economical. I haven't checked them out yet. So, you could sleeve them till they hatch. Good luck, I am so jealous! I planted several senna last year and am waiting to see what happens.
Cheers,
Elisabeth
MissSherry
13 years ago
Well, I've never used florist's foam, but if it works, you might go for it. Wasps just LOVE to feed sulphur cats to their babies - I've witnessed them rolling up the cats and flying off with them. They didn't do this with hatchlings or real early instar cats, though, so you've got some time.
Congrats, congrats, Susan!!
Sherry
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susanlynne48
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for the tip, Elisabeth. I need more potting soil, too, so I can check them out.

Oh, MissSherry, I've seen those wasps carry off full size caterpillars, too!

The sulphur female was back again, but I didn't see if she was ovipositing or not. At the time, she was nectaring on the Nicotiana I picked up recently - white with a pink tint to the base and calyxes of the flowers.

I'm kinda worn slick tonight. Kenna was here today and we had a good time. We have a new stray cat, Lady George (cuz she looks identical to my indoor cat, George) that is very friendly and was obviously feeding wee cats somewhere. She decided she wanted us to try to find them, so we hunted high and low, and she finally found them in a basement next door! She was thrilled and now has in mind to ween and tame them. Oh, my.....

I did get to pot up some seedlings of Asclepias viridis and Salvia 'Forest Fire'. I think I'm really going to like this Salvia. It is fire engine red with black calyces - sounds stunning! I've got so many seedlings to pot up, and I'm not going to do this any more in the future, so I'm feeling very obligated to pot up as many of my seedlings as possible, and either give them away to a couple friends here, and probably to Sandy if she wants some, too. I am growing the red flowering Tecoma for the first time, and I think it will look very pretty, too. The Flame Acanthus that I didn't think would come up w/o stratification is coming up well. Note to self: Don't believe everything you read! Have lots of Silene regia (might be good for your meadow, if native in MS as well) to pot up. Lots to keep me busy for a good while anyway. Sorry to ramble on....

Susan
butterflymomok
13 years ago
That's exciting, Susan. I'm not sure about the Orange-barred Sulfur, as they are really yellow orange in flight--no lemon yellow. I had lots of Sleepy Oranges today. Your size is pretty big for a SO. It will be interesting to see what hatches!

Keep a lookout for the OBS's as they should make it up to your area.

Sandy
susanlynne48
Original Author
13 years ago
I am really bad with colors, Sandy, and I remember thinking at the time that it was really a Gold color more than lemon-yellow. If it wasn't on the Senna, I would have ID'd it as an Orange Sulphur, but the females are kinda like the Cloudless aren't they, more white or at least a very pale yellow??? Also, they don't use Senna as a host I don't believe......

As you can see, this butterfly has me twisted in all kinds of direction. Had I been by myself today, I might have had more time to look closely at the exact colors and other identifying characteristics. But, with Kenna here, everything is kind of fast moving and erratic and they are not done on MY schedule, but hers. Heehee!

Susan

I've Got Sulphur Eggs!

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