Wow! Even the commonest species are fascinating!

14 years ago

Hello all. I'm pretty new to butterfly gardening; in fact, I'm more of a native-species gardener, and I'm happy with all the insects I get. But this year I was worried and sad because we had so few butterflies. Lots of cabbage whites of course, and one thrilling spring azure, but nothing else. Well, just today I saw a black swallowtail hovering around my dill. I checked after she flew away and sure enough found some eggs. As a bonus, I also found two cats, both had just shed their 2nd or 3rd instar skin, and were eating it up. Now they're munching the dill, and I couldn't be happier. I've still got my fingers crossed that my asclepias (one youngish tuberosa and one newly-sprouted incarnata) will one day attract some monarchs, and that my spicebush shrubs will get spicebush swallowtails, but I'm pleased as punch with these common little black swallowtails. Next year I'll be planting more host and nectar species. Even though I live in the city, I'm close to a park with a stream, so I think I might get a pretty good variety.

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Comments (6)

bernergrrl
14 years ago
Congrats on your BST cats! I would love to see them here--I even released several BST butterflies that overwintered but no sight of them. They actually aren't that common for many of this year. Enjoy them and discovering all of the different kinds of caterpillars and butterflies there are. Keep us posted about what you see.

It's a slow year so far for me, so I get my butterfly kicks here. :)
weed30 St. Louis
14 years ago
Hmmm...calling the BST one of the "commonest" species...that is my favorite butterfly, and I am supremely sad because I have had NONE this year. I have 3 Monarchs that will emerge in about a week. Their chrysalids are beautiful, but I really like the BST butterflies much better. They are just so pretty with their black, yellow and blue! Congrats...I'm jealous!!!!
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brindlebutt
14 years ago
Congratulations!! That is so exciting. First year BF gardener here. I have some beautiful skyscraper-like dill, but everyone seems to be ignoring it, in favor of the butterfly weed, which is everyone's favorite item on the menu at present. Shame on anyone who turns their nose up at a BST! You are rightly proud, and I am so jealous. Hmm - I'll keep an eye on it, and hopefully some little eggs will show up on my dill too.
mechelle_m
14 years ago
It has been a slow year for the BSTs for me this year, too. I have noticed quite a few empty eggs, clear eggs that were not fertilized or whatever. Guess they weren't fertilized? I have 5 BST cats right now in various stages.

Mechelle
nancy86
14 years ago
Yes I am chuckling at the thought of BST's being common as I just got my first cats ever last month! I was thrilled!
mechelle_m
14 years ago
I keep checking my fennel and parsley (dill is long gone! in this heat)and keep finding 2nd and 3rd instars each day. Can't figure out how I keep missing the eggs and/or the 1st instar cats. DH thinks that they crawl to my host plants because they know that I am a "butterfly taker care of-er" (n his words).

Mechelle

Wow! Even the commonest species are fascinating!

Comments (6)

bernergrrl

weed30 St. Louis

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