OmDog! I hope you have enough babyfood for all of the babies you'll soon have! WOW! Congratulations! They are so amazing to see when they fly by...they are like birds because they're so huge, aren't they?

Sherry, Yes, I think I should have enough baby food for all of the hungry mouths. :) I just hope that most of them make it. I have 16 cats so far and 1 that died the first day. I don't know if it crawled away from the food and couldnt find its way back or what. They don't seem to be too bright. lol

One problem I was having and didn't notice it right away is that mold was developing on the rue seed heads. I think I lost some eggs that way because it grew on those too. I guess there was too much moisture buildup from having the lids on the containers (did that so they wouldnt wander out of the container) and maybe from having cuttings in the container with them. I took the lid off now and replaced it with screen even though I'm afraid they'll be wandering all over the place and getting out and lost (and therefore doomed). I did leave the cuttings in though so they'd have something to eat when they hatch.

Yes, those butterflies are really something to see when they fly by, and I can see why someone might think they are birds; they are very big.

I've been keeping the cats in the house where it doesnt get a lot of light. Im afraid that if I set them on the back porch they might try to get out to the sunlight...just guessing. I don't get what it is with these tiny cats that they can have food right under their noses and still wander off!

I think the mom might have stopped laying now. Whew! I didn't find any eggs yesterday. I didn't look yet today.

Cathy

Congrats on those GSTs, Cathy!
Sherry

Thanks, Sherry! I hope that most of the cats make it. I'm watching them like a mother hen. :)
Cathy

Beautiful! They are gorgeous; I love the pic of them up in the air. Last year I was obsessed with photographing Monarchs in the air--I love how they fly.

How are the cats doing?

This is the first year that I have grown Verbena Bonariensis, and I love it! It has been blooming steadily all summer; once the butterflies discovered it, they are on it all the time now. At first, for a couple of weeks, no one touched it. Now, it's a big draw.

Have you had GSTs in your yard before?

Congratulations on all your babies!

I've read it's not necessary but I put holes in container tops for air circulation...and because I'm claustrophobic but that's another story...LOL.

Important to punch holes from inside out so rough surface isn't inside container top to cut cats. I just used a hammer and nail to punch holes and then washed tops again. I triple or quadruple fold over very fine bridal netting to keep really tiny cats from crawling through holes. Just put it under container top when you close it up. I found fine bridal netting at Walmart when I was there to buy larger containers but have seen it at craft stores and fabric stores.

When cats get larger I use those netting rounds you can get at dollar store, party store (used to wrap candy party favors) or craft store. I put one of those under container top or, if container is larger, use it as top held on with elastic band.

I've had the luxury of being able to put cat containers on kitchen table so they get diffused light during the day and then put them on dining room table at night. They probably don't care where they are as long as they have enough to eat but I try to replicate their light cycle as if they were still outside.

Crazy, I know, since poor little things are spending their cat lives in various size plastic containers instead of being in the great outdoors but at least I know that many will survive to become butterflies if I'm careful.

People eating at kitchen table aren't thrilled but my first rearing season of this will be over soon and I'll figure out something more appealing and convenient for the humans next year.

Some losses are inevitable, though, no matter what we doand would probably be much higher outside with predators.

Enjoy your large brood and can't wait to see more adult pics of the beauties!

Isn't it amazing just how FAST they flutter those wings? I was trying to take pictures of a mama GST yesterday while she was ovipositing her eggs on my Rue. Sheesh! I'm lucky I got any shots at all. They weren't great but thank goodness I've got a fast trigger-finger because
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she was bending the abdomen and I kept snapping away...
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and, then I saw this! (look carefully and you'll see the egg)
It isn't the best picture but I did get it! :)

I am DETERMINED to capture a good picture one of these days of a GST ovipositing...one of these days...

Wow! Congrats on your egg finds. Thanks for posting those fantastic photos! I can not wait for the day I find eggs, maybe I'm not looking hard enough (I'm a newbie!)

OMG, Cathy. I am sooo happy for you. I know that you have waiting a LONG TIME. Glad that they found you.

Your Rue looks so lush and happy!

Keep us posted.

I tell you, this has been THE year for swallowtails in my garden. I don't know what it is but EVERY day now, I've been finding GST eggs. Weird. Simply weird. ;) But, hey! I don't mind in the least. I'm sure you are the same...

Thanks, everyone!
BG, So far these are the hardest to raise for me,when they're tiny anyway. I lost quite a few. They'd just crawl away from the rue I had for them and die. Very disappointing. Maybe I expected too much. I thought out of allof thse, I'd end up with somehing like 90 or 100, but I'm lucky if I'll have 70 when all is said and done. I know, that still probably sounds like a lot though. I guess I had too high of hopes.
I also love V. bonariensis. It's so pretty and the butterflies just love it! I see lots of different kinds n it.

Nope, I never had GSTs in my yard before. I haven't seen them around for about a week or so, but I'm happy that they were here for awhile.

Newbie in NJ, I might just get some of that fine bridal netting sometime. I don't need it now anymore but it would be a good idea for next year.

I had some fiberglass screen left over from when I made my butterfly cage last year, so I cut that up into pieces to put over the top of my containers. That's a good idea to use the netting rounds.

I've had my cats here in the kitchen too! :) It's just more convenient for me to work with them that way. I can sit at the table at night and feed them. I'm really not sure if it's best to keep them in or outside. Well, I'm gradually moving them all into individual containers and since I won't have room here to put all those in the kitchen I'll be moving them out on our back porch. I have so many Monarchs out there right now.

It sounds like you are a very good caterpillar caretaker. I know what you mean, and I try to do the best I can too.

I'll post adult pics of the GSTs when some eclose,which Im not sure if that will be this year or not until next spring.

Sherry, Those are really nice pics! Oh my, I think those are really good and I don't know why you said you're determined to get good ones...you have already! :)

Virginia, We were all newbies at one time, and you've come to a really good place to learn a lot about butterflies. I only have been at it a few years, so you're not much newer than I am really. :) I started out with birding and now am also into butterflies and have also gotten some of my birding friends into it and they really enjoy it too. I think it is a fascinating "hobby". I know there's got to be a better word than "hobby" though. Crocheting is a hobby, but something like this is much more than that when you're dealing with nature, I think.

If you have rue or any of the other GST host plants, keep looking on them and you might find some eggs this year yet!

Linda, Hey, whatcha been up to? Either I don'tget on here as much as I'd like or you don't. ;-) Yes, I hve been waiting awhile to get the GSTs but I guess not as long as some others. I'm not complaining and am really happy that I got them here. My rue thanks you for the compliment on their appearance. :) I have 14 big plants and about 20 more that DH just planted out for me a week ago. I really got behind this year because of my hands (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) and I have hung up my trowel for a long time. I might have to have an operation. :/ Anyhoo, I love to garden for the butterflies and now DH got pulled into it too. He was so sweet to volunteer to finish up my planting for me.

Yep, I will keep you posted on their progress. The ones that made it are growing nicely and I'll post a pic sometime this week.

Cathy