Wow.. those butterflies are beautiful! Good job!

I have had visited a butterfly farm and it looks like the one you have in the photo. Awesome! Looking forward to see more pics from you.

Hey Sherry

That enclosure in the picture is on your patio, correct? Weren't you the one who one time wrote that there are certain catepillars that you shouldn't take into your house because the A/C and/or heater dries them out? I was discussing this with someone else from the forum and wanted to get it straight. Just let me know! Thanks!

Thanks for the kind words, y'all!
Nancy, when I first started raising caterpillars, I brought some in the house, I can't remember what for - maybe I thought it was too hot, or too cold? Several of them died, while the ones I had left outside on the porch continued to thrive. I have brought cats in the house a few times since then, and they never grow as fast as the ones outside, and a few even die. At a later date, a professor somewhere in California was discussing on this forum how the humidity out west wasn't high enough for the big eastern silk moths to survive - he and his group had done experiments and failed, and they determined that proper humidity was important in the cat's ability to take in oxygen. I can't remember the particulars - I'm sure it was over my head - I just remembered that proper humidity is important.
Right now, it's about 90 degrees outside, the humidity is relatively low for summer, because the wind is coming out of the north, not the usual southerly winds. I'd guess the humidity is about ?60% outside, but inside it's an incredibly dry 37%! Something about the air-conditioning takes the water out of the air in summer, just like central heating does in winter. The only time the humidity is the same inside the house as it is outside is in spring and fall (and sometimes in winter) when I leave the windows open and the natural air is in the house.
So, since humidity is apparently important for caterpillars, I assume that may be the reason my cats don't do so well inside. Extremely high humidity may very well encourage certain diseases in cats, but if you're having sauna like heat and humidity outside and then bring them inside where it's 20 degrees cooler and one third as humid, then the sudden change in conditions might kill them, also.
I live out in the country, and my house is way off the main road, so I don't mind keeping my caterpillar cages on the porch. I keep the two ceiling fans on high speed in summer in the day time, which helps keep it cooler there, plus the porch is covered, unlike an open deck. Also, my house is 3' off the ground, and my cages are on porch tables, so ants can't and don't make a line to the cages and eat my chrysalides - that can happen when you leave a container outside on the ground.
I can't say that you positively should leave yours cats outside, but if you've got a good place for them there, it's probably better - it works for me!
Sherry

Thanks Sherry!

You're welcome Nancy!
This is the fifth or sixth couple I've passed like this in the past few days - other butterflies like their privacy, but not them!
{{gwi:504040}}
Sherry

Looks like the morning after a slumber party Sherry. Fun photo. You already know what I think of your "you can always count on" close ups (simply beautiful).

Ditto to what Larry said.

I always look forward to your new posts ... I know there will be pictures. It's always such a treat.

Edna

Wow, now that's an awesome shot. I'm kind of speechless, and of course, jealous ;)

That must have been fun to release! Beautiful butterflies!

That's awesome, to have so many hatch at the same time in one frame. The Gulf's here, have been ever present lately. Still haven't seen the ZLW's since the hard freeze in January.

Don't you just love the underside of the Gulf wing? To the naked eye the white panels are very reflective, sort of holographic. It is very hard to capture on film.

I love your set-up. First rate. I have to evolve into something like that.

This is my first time. This has been strange and enchanting to begin with, but one evening 6 pupated at the same time. It was so eerie, like a zombie movie.

These 6 are go for launch approx 7/25. It would be a hoot if they all eclosed at once like your gorgeous babies.

Ooooh pretty!!!
-Elisabeth

Thanks, I've released 40-something gulf frits in the past week, and the air is teeming with them - I love it!
Sherry