BSTs not eclosing

gwynne2006

15 years ago

I found 1 BST caterpillar early in the season and it pupated, eclosed, did everything normal.

Then I found 24 BSTs on dill. I noticed in the fourth instar they had a lot of black on them. I vaguely remember a discussion on here a couple of years ago about whether this was just a variation.

Someone said that they didnt have much luck with the ones that had a lot of black on them.

I did add four other caterpillars to the group I was raising. I found them when going out to get more food.

So far I have had four BSTs eclose and I get the feeling they were the ones I added into the group. Mine normally eclose in 11 days. It is way to early in the season for them to be overwintering.

But they are not eclosing and it has been over two weeks for most of them. Is there something wrong with the ones that turn predominately black in the fourth instar?

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Comments (3)

tdogmom
15 years ago
Gwynne,
Don't worry. Swallowtails are rather interesting and some may overwinter (go into diapause) so it is just one of those things! Don't squish them to 'feel' if they're alive or anything either but just let them. I have a Pipevine and an Anise Swallowtail that are pupae and have been for quite some time. I just give them time. Once I had a pupa that was in diapause for 14 months. Then, a beautiful butterfly eclosed. All in good time...patience, my dear, patience!
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tracey_nj6
15 years ago
If you search this forum for BST, I had a thread about my overwintered chrysalid. Someone had one pupate in June and eclose the following May, I believe.
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gwynne2006
Original Author
15 years ago
I am afraid I didnt explain the situation correctly. Most BST caterpillars are predominately green or yellow, cant remember which, in the fourth instar. I had a batch of 24 and their primary color was black in the fourth instar. They did have the yellow and green to a lesser degree.

I remember a conversation about caterpillars like this on this forum in the end of 2006, but can not locate it now.

One person said it was just a variation. A second person said they didnt have much luck with this type of caterpillar surviving to butterflyhood. I believe MissSherry was one of the people in the conversation.

I am trying to find out any information on the variation of the BST that turns predominately black in the fourth instar. I have had three butterflies eclose, but I had also added in four caterpillars that had the normal pattern.

Thanks for any help anyone can give me.
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BSTs not eclosing

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tdogmom

tracey_nj6

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BSTs not eclosing

Comments (3)

tdogmom

tracey_nj6

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gwynne2006
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