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Butterfly Garden

Thank you, Mama!

16 years ago

I finally got a female ZLW to lay a couple of nice clusters of eggs on my Passionvine. Usually by now, I would have released probably a hunderd or so ZLWs but not this year. I have three in chrysalis now from an earlier female laying but those were the only eggs I could find. This gal laid some yesterday but this morning I have found two clusters, each with about a dozen eggs. Now if they only hatch, I will be back in business with raising ZLWs to release.

My Polys are quite numerous now and the Gulf Frits are definitely in greater numbers than I have ever seen.

Although I haven't seen but solitary females every once in a while, I am loaded with Eastern Black caterpillars of all stages. So far with the help of a friend who has an organic garden business, I have been able to feed them with his carrot tops. They sure do grow fast on them! But I counted at least 2 dozen more on my plants and there may not be enough carrot tops for them left.

I think I found about a half dozen Pipevine eggs. They are an inbetween yellow and orange color so will have to wait to see which they are.

As far as Monarchs, I found 3 pretty large ones near my totally leafless Milkweed. I don't know how they got as big as they did but I brought them in and let them finish off a plant I had inside. They are now safely in chrysalis and I just found two more tiny babies outside on the leafless plants. Poor things, guess I will be off to find more tomorrow for them to eat.

Still waiting for the Spicebush Swallowtails and Giants to come around long enough to lay some eggs. But overall I am feeling better, just to see some variety in my yard. Hope everyone else is seeing them too.

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Comments (6)

tdogmom
16 years ago
WOW! You are busy, for sure. :) Soon, your yard will be so aflutter with colour!
MissSherry
16 years ago
Congrats, congrats, Mary! I'm sure glad to hear that you've gotten ZLW eggs, as well as all the other butterflies and cats/eggs you're finding!
MissSherry
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susanlynne48
16 years ago
Congratulations, Mary on all your eggs and younguns! I keep hoping I get the ZLWs here because the Myriad Botanical Gardens downtown (I'm within about 5 miles of them) has them and they are always escaping.

It's really nice to have a variety, isn't it?

Susan
mboston_gw
Original Author
16 years ago
Well, the eggs are hatching and as of this morning I counted 40+ cats and still had another couple of clusters that hadn't hatched. Then later in the morning, I saw a lady laying more eggs and I collected two more clusters so I probably have another 2 dozen+ eggs to hatch.

I did release 2 ZLWs from my three eggs that I collected a while back. One damaged its abdomen as it emerged and did not make it. The other two took off. Later in the day I saw one around my Passionvine. I don't know if one of those laid the eggs I found today or if it was the same one who left me all the others. Even so, she was one fertile Mama.

I am going to watch these closely and do everything to see that they make it through safely to being butterflies. got to get my yard established again as a home for them.

Just doing that happy dance!
MissSherry
16 years ago
I'm SO happy to hear about all your zebra longwings - I was getting a bit worried about them.
I wish I'd get a visit from one like I did about 3 or 4 years ago, and I wish I had had a camera then!
MissSherry
gwynne2006
16 years ago
That is wonderful that you are finally getting ZLW eggs. The monarchs showed up later in the area this year then they did last year, so I am thinking maybe the same thing happened with your ZLWs.

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?what to do with this little guy?

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