skip to main content

Butterfly Garden

Is this normal behavior?

14 years ago

You have to forgive, I am so new to this. My little guy who eclosed last night and flew off this morning keeps coming back to my yard and just resting with his wings open in the sun, not eating or anything just sitting there. Earlier he was flying around with a female (at least I think so, she was a LOT bigger than him and I read that that means she is probably a female) and followed her off, I was really cheering him on then! Anyway, I was worried about him just sitting there and not eating.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

button20
14 years ago
He was probably just sun bathing, If he was sitting there doing nothing he was probably just warming up. all butterflies sunbath in order to restore lost energy they had when they were flying. It takes a lot of energy to keep up in the air!:)
bananasinohio
14 years ago
It helps to know what type of butterfly and where you are located. Depending on the type of butterfly and the time of year and location, they have all types of different behavior. This is the fun in observing butterflies! Some are still courting and mating, some are storing up supplies for winter, some are migrating. Just depends. What you describe is typical of a male who is holding a territory. They like to rest in high places and watch for females and other males. But like I said, it depends on the species, as well as location in the US and time of year.
Cheers,
Elisabeth
Related Discussions
Is this normal behavior
Q
Comments (24)
Come to think of it, this *is* a funny place to ask if your behavior is normal... but "normal" is such a fluid concept. It has more to do with the group you're in than with a rigid yardstick of behavior. In Tahiti, it's normal to go barefoot. In Alaska...probly not. Maybe we could make up a test. Do you dream about the luxurious smell of finished compost? Do you choose your clothes based on their future compostability? Do family members offer to bring you a take-out order rather than sitting with you in a fast-food place because they know you'll pick up every napkin & tray liner on everybody's tray & take it home with you? even though people in the restaurant are watching? Do your friends think it's a hoot to have drinks with you because you take not only their cocktail napkins but their leftover lemons, cherries, limes, & coasters? Do you go out at night with a flashlight to check your compost? (this was a true story, reported on this forum!) Do you think a load of manure is a lovely Christmas/birthday/Valentine's Day/anniversary present? If you answered "yes" to all the above, then you are perfectly normal! (in this group)
...See More
Is this normal behavior?
Q
Comments (6)
orac, Where do you live? Some people run a deep and medium for overwintering. Many beekeepers here in NW Massachusetts run 2 deeps. You really need to get something else on top of the one deep. Don't use a queen excluder, because the queen needs more room to lay. If you only have one deep that is bursting, I'd check for signs of swarming . The easiest way if you have a helper is pop the deep loose from your varroa screen or bottom board, tilt the brood box up at an angle and look underneath for signs of queen cups or cells hanging down from the frames. A really crowded hive will swarm even in it's first year. If you know another local beekeeper, ask them what they run for overwintering. If I had a partially full super and one brood box I'd leave it on. At least in these parts there is still a month or more that the bees will be bringing in nectar. As far as using brood frames for next season's honey, it depends. If you use any kind of treatment on your hive in the fall, I wouldn't use the frames for honey. When I've used a medium on top of a deep for brood, I marked all of the medium frames in red so I would know not to use them in the future for honey. If you put a honey super on and the queen uses it for brood early on, you can later make sure the queen has moved back down and put an excluder on. The brood will hatch out and the bees will fill the super with honey which you can then extract. The rule is NEVER treat a hive with honey supers on and ALWAYS follow exact directions when using any kind of chemical or medication. If you haven't joined a local bee club, you should look for one. You can get all kinds of hands on help by befriending other beekeepers. Also read some good basic books such as Richard Bonney's "Beekeeping-A Practical Guide" and "Hive Management" It's always tough to go it alone, because the bees don't always do things by the book. It will take time to learn the ropes and every time you crack open a hive there's something new to learn.
...See More
Normal delphinium behavior?
Q
Comments (3)
Thanks for the quick response, which is quite normal for you, remy! I think the fuzzy part I saw was more from the walls of the pod. I must have caught it when it had just opened so the seeds were attached to the inside of the pod. Earlier this afternoon I checked the pod again and the seeds had already fallen to the bottom of the pod. I turned the pod over and they fell into my hand. My first delphinium seed collection ever! The dear little things are drying on my desk now. I must say that those pods seemed to ripen faster than many other flowers.
...See More
Is this normal behavior for a mom dog
Q
Comments (7)
She is starting to wean them. We had a Mom who had a litter (many decades ago) and she started weaning them for about three weeks before they were finally finished. We learned that if we took her collar with the tags off, they wouldn't hear her and couldn't all attack at once! It is best if they stay with Mom for a full 8 weeks because it is amazing what she will teach them (not to mention the need to socialize with each other). Ours completely house trained all 6 of the pups and would bat them on their heads when they started digging holes in the yard. Mommy knows best!
...See More
weed30 St. Louis
14 years ago
It is also normal for them not to nectar in the first day or so. Don't worry - he'll be fine!
shannon74
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you all for your replies, I will stop worrying now. :-)
lindacatherine
14 years ago
I think it's cool that he keeps coming back. I have an entire butterfly garden with host and nectar plants. My releases hang around for a couple of hours then off they go, and I never see them again :(

My Blog
weed30 St. Louis
14 years ago
So how do you know it's "your" butterfly? If I stay outside long enough, I can sort of figure it's one I've just released, but after that, I don't know if it's the same one that comes back on subsequent days, or new ones from someone else's garden. They do look the same, after all ;)
shannon74
Original Author
14 years ago
Well, I suppose it is impossible to tell for sure. It looked the same size as the one just released. I have only ever seen females in the yard laying eggs on my trees, never seen a smallish one just hanging about so I thought it was probably "mine"! :-)
butterflyenthusiast
14 years ago
I do believe that butterflies you release come back as I've NEVER seen a Monarch in my yard EVER. And since I've released 20+ I see one everyday feeding on flowers. I know they are mine because until I started raising them I've never seen any. It makes me proud because I know I've helped the population and proven it by now being able to see them in my garden.

Related Stories

HEALTHY HOME How to Childproof Your Home: A Grandmother’s Wisdom

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Change kids’ behaviors, not your entire house, to keep the designs you like and prepare children for reality

COMMUNITY Want a Cleaner, Safer Neighborhood? Show You Care

By Mitchell Parker

Our behavior strongly influences others, says a new study. Show neighbors you care about your street and watch them follow suit

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 15 Great Ideas for a Lawn-Free Yard

By Laura Gaskill

End the turf war for good with hardscaping, native grasses and ground covers that save water and are easier to maintain

LIFE When Your Tastes Clash: How to Design and Decorate as a Couple

By Apartment 46 for the Home

Want to keep the peace? Work with both of your styles when remodeling, decorating or building new, for a home that feels right to all

LIFE A Therapist’s Guide to Dealing With Conflict at Home

By Mitchell Parker

Piles of laundry and dirty dishes are a part of cohabitating. Here’s how to accept it and move forward

PETS The Crate Conundrum: A Safe Place for Your Pooch

By Christine Tusher

Get ideas for a comfy den for your dog that works well with your space too

GARDENING GUIDES Small Carpenter Bees Are Looking for a Home in Your Plant Stems

By Pollination Press LLC

Provide flowers and nesting sites in your garden for this beautiful, tiny, metallic blue wild bee — your plants will thank you

GARDENING FOR BIRDS Backyard Birds: Meet Some Clever and Curious Jays

By Habitat Network

Boisterous jays provide plenty of backyard bird-watching in winter. Here’s how to identify all the varieties and welcome them into your yard

FUN HOUZZ The Unicorn in the Bathtub — and Other Mind-Blowing Sights

By Mitchell Parker

Fantasy and reality meet head-on in photos of costume fans in their own homes

LIFE Tell Us: Do You Know How to Live With Your Parents?

By Becky Harris

If you've tried multigenerational living under one roof, we'd love to hear the details

Sponsored

More Discussions

?what to do with this little guy?

3