What beautiful close-up pictures, Stan! I, too, work on the NY Times crossword every Sunday - I haven't done much on it today, because I've been busy with other things, but I really enjoy it. I can't tell how big the cocoon of the parasitic wasp is, but if it's real tiny, it may be the same !%#!%* insect that parasitizes red admiral cats. I think KC let one live and got a picture of the wasp, which is, not surprisingly, very tiny. I'm presently raising two red admirals from eggs, and both of them are continuing to grow and thrive, so I guess the wasp gets into the nest and injects its egg into the tiny caterpillar - they apparently do this early on, so yours were undoubtedly parasitized when you got them. It's interesting that your butterfly didn't have the white spot in the orange field on top and the pink on the underside. I vaguely remember a poster from Wisconsin saying once that not all American ladies had the white dot - all mine have it, so maybe it's a northern characteristic? I agree that American ladies have some of the most beautiful colors and underside patterns of any butterfly - how many butterflies do we have with pink? And I, too, call them "she" - they are ladies, aren't they? :) Sherry

Bettyfb, I had 3 green and 1 brown chrysalis. Thought the brown one might overwinter but he emerged just fine on Monday. I also had 2 pupate low on the sticks and 1 fell off. Once they come out of the chrysalis you'd be surprised how quickly they scramble up the stick to get to the mesh to fill out their wings with body fluid, then dry out a bit and finally get to fluttering and taking test flights! I had the luxury the day first 2 emerged to help the little downed one out of the chrysalis as he'd fallen a second time. I just gently held the chrysalis on its side since he was on his back and didn't want the wings to get damaged at emergence. Doesn't seem like you have the luxury of much time to sit there for an hour or more to watch for signs of eclosure movement! "He" turned out to be the only female of the four and she was just gorgeous. Sat on my hand for a couple minutes before flitting off to rest on a large Zinnia leaf to warm up and then flew off. What an experience. Someone snapped a few photos when they eclosed and the release. I cherish the one of the female in all her magnificently colored beauty sitting on my hand. Those little BST guys very rarely climbed off the fennel plants I had in pots until they'd eaten them down to nubs. When they climbed down the paper towels I had covering planters I'd just get them onto another frond and they go right back on plant. When plants were bare I had to change to the cut fennel stems and finally cut stems of parsley standing in covered containers to feed them. Kept the containers covered with stocking or fine mesh screen so they wouldn't fall in water. Next time will get small necked vases from Walmart to put loose food stems in as that seems easier. I've got one Monarch cat inside now but I still miss my little BSTs. Kept the used fennel plants in pots which are regrowing fronds and some still in garden so I might get lucky again this year for more BSTs. Your photo of that little BST guy shows the size mine were when I found them and brings back fond memories...and a little pang of missing them. It got unseasonably hot here for a while but I always covered top of their enclosure with breathable cover when direct sun could shine on them and covered top of enclosure with blue utility tarp to protect them from any rain. Didn't wrap covers all the way around since wanted to let them have some air flow. Since enclosure was on deck under first floor overhang they were pretty protected to start with. I know from having been in Houston years ago our "hot" and sunlight intensity isn't anything compared to yours, though! As long as they were sitting on a loaded fennel plant they were happy to just nibble and nibble down the fronds. They are so beautiful when they fly off to their new lives out in the world. It's just a beautiful thing all the way around. You've got your hands full with the kids and raising all these little guys! The children are lucky to have such a caring, sensitive soul watching over them. Mechelle, you reminded me that I have some florist foam in a closet left over from some silk flower arrangements I put together for various holidays a couple years back. I'm not very good at estimating what I need for these little "projects" so I always have leftovers...LOL. Think I'll start using them to secure wooden shish kabob skewers I got to use in enclosures. My little Monarch cat seems happier now that I've started skewering folded milkweed leaves to put in the container. It seems silly but he's not acting so skittish and seems calmer when he can meander under and over folded milkweed leaves stacked on the skewer instead of just lying on bottom paper towel. All I know is he's eating a LOT more now, is filling out nicely and is visibly longer but as he gets bigger having the skewer more stable stuck in the floral foam would make me feel better. Congrats on your Queen cats! Life just seems better in some way when I'm caring for these little guys looking forward to them reaching all their glorious butterfly promise.

What a great photo to share your idea. I have tried to make slings out of different materials and have never been able to make them work as well as yours did. My problem is I can't get the tape to stay where I want it to. Your photo looks like the caterpillar had his sling made to order! LOL Mechelle

I'm very new at all this... could you fabulous folks give me specifics as to your enlosures? I have BST (I did figure out that one! lol) cats on parsley, and since we are i a very new subdivision (yes, I'm the only one with herbs in the front yard... lol) I'm concerned there are not good places for them to go for the next stage... not to mention the pesticides that are being used everywhere. I think I might want to try enclosures for some of the cats, but need specific details. Thanking you with butterfuly kisses.. Elle