I am trying to get a Pixie Blue plant,and any other colors of the Pixie plant,if it comes in other colors? Also looking for Fly type violets and Wasp types as well. I have little to trade, but will be happy to take care of shipping costs,to get any of these violets. Finding I like these violets, nearly as much as the fantasy ones that I really love as well. Anyone have any of these, and will to trade/sell/any of them? Especially he Pixie Blue violet,and any other colors that plant might come in.

You have one really great setup for rearing them! When you bury water bottles do you just put large stems of milkweed in bottles? That along with putting homemade cage over entire setup seems to be great way to rear a number of them even when not on vacation. If one has as many in different stages as you've got you'd have to make a few cages to separate them as you already have. I'm not flush with Monarch cats so don't think I'd need as many cages. I found one yesterday and brought it inside but saw another today on same plant. Was running around all day so didn't bring it in but your setup could work for raising more cats of like stages in outdoor setting. This sparked my interest because I had to stay at my father's to raise a few BSTs since that's where the butterfly garden is. Cleaning couple times a day, feeding and sheltering from direct sun/rain kept me tied down but a setup like yours would allow me to raise them and get home more often like a "normal" person...all relative, of course! Thanks for what I think is great alternative rearing arrangement. Don't think my milkweed is as healthy as yours. I've got 3 incarnata milkweed and bottom leaves keep yellowing and falling off. 3 Tuberosa milkweed are new and kind of small but would do in a pinch if I run out of incarnata which is where I found 2 cats so far. I've fed and keep watered the incarnata but leaves still yellow and drop. First year growing anything as well as trying to rear these little guys so not very astute about identifying and correcting plant problems.

The insects are really small- smaller than a housefly though I'm sure there many types of little flies. They don't seem to have antennae though. All I know is there's a marked difference in damage this year, so whatever is different I'm very glad and also glad to hear molie is also having a good year. I hope it is predators and not just a weather thing or something else temporary. I know URI is taking larvae samples for testing which may be the best way to ID if you have this tiny insect. You just mail them and they let you know the results.

Phew! I'm glad I didn't smoosh him!! Before borrowing "Garden Insects of North America" by Whitney Cranshaw from the library, I'd never heard of parasitic wasps, so it woulda' been a goner! I looked up the difference between "parasitic" and "parasitoid" real quick since I hadn't heard of "parasitoid": "The main difference between parasites and parasitoids is that parasites may not kill their hosts but parasitoids do. Parasitoids play a key role in the biological control of insect pests." I used the macro on my camera which is a Canon Powershot 5 mega pixel Elph. Nothing fancy... I just got really lucky that the wasp wasn't moving. I had to crouch down and hold myself and the leaf *perfectly* still! After all the pics I've been taking in/of my garden, I may need to upgrade LOL. Oh! The first image I also cropped, and the program automatically zoomed in... Thanks for your help, jean001.