I've certainly experienced that too, holding us up from doing something because I had to feed caterpillars. I also agree with you about being glad for living where it gets cold because I think it would really drain me raising them year-round. When I bring in cats, I usually don't do in for the half. I somehow can't force myself to just bring in a conservative amount of the little guys/gals but bring them in by the hundreds, which really turns into a chore. I will definitely raise some this year, but in the meantime I'm feeling real good knowing that I'm getting some things done around here that I've been wanting to do for the past few summers but never got around to doing them before.

I try to content myself with providing the habitat butterflies need to carry out their natural life cycle. The predators are part of the natural process, and they need to eat, too. Of course, so much habitat has been lost that there is no way to restore it as an individual, and it is great fun to actually watch the growth process and know you've enabled these beautiful creatures to reach adulthood and fly away. But, we certainly can't sacrifice the rest of our lives and families for a hobby that doesn't contribute a bit more substantially to the greater good. So, provide excellent garden space that will benefit all pollinators (and therefore humans and all of nature) and know that if you want to raise some caterpillars for your enjoyment, you can do that. It's all about balance.

Martha

Well, I certainly know what you're talking about, but frequently, when I pass up eggs/caterpillars to let them raise themselves, they get eaten or become parasitized. I've been passing up red-spotted purple eggs, thinking they'd be alright (they usually are) until they hatch, and the eggs have been disappearing. So, the other day I brought in a lot of eggs, and they've all been hatching.

I had two tersa sphinx cats, and something got them, also, most of the pearl crescent cats disappeared. I've got five pearl crescents in a cage now (one is a chrysalis, and one is in the 'J' - I've wound up regretting not bringing more in to raise myself.

But I DO know what you mean, there has to be a limit.

Sherry

You poor dear! You certainly seem to be suffering some butterfly burnout. Although I don't know whether to feel sympathy or envy! Can you ship some of those butterflies east to me? I'm lucky to spot a few in my yard when I walk out. Not enough space, not enough sun, too many deer upsetting the ecology, too much development in the area, etc., etc. I can only put in a few plants of any kind and hope an ELF wanders by.

I do agree with docmom, though. We do our bit just by raising natives and providing habitat. There's a balance between plants, caterpillars, and birds and why should we presume to know better? We happen to like butterflies, but birds have to feed their chicks and even wasps gotta live. So enjoy the garden and whatever nature offers. It shouldn't be a source of burden and stress. There's enough of that in life already.
Liz

You deserve a guilt-free break, or just be more selective--maybe a new species of just a few of a favorite or ones. You are doing a huge service to the butterflies and to the greater ecosystem by your garden. I don't do nearly as much as you do, but definitely feel the need to skip bringing some in. I'm not doing any Monarchs until migration season--have loads of milkweed and do a lot getting other people to plant milkweed, so feel like I'm doing a decent job.

It sounds as if you are overextended and need a break, or even a permanent step back. Please take care of yourself first, and do not feel even the least bit bad about doing so.

I provide friendly butterfly habitat, within my garden size restrictions, and let them raise themselves. About the most involved I get is to move some from stripped plants to a leafy patch, or rescue the wanderers from becoming run over.

Yes, all of the indoor raising and releases help. But the butterfly world will not crumble because of one person--or even 20. If you are inclined, using your knowledge to help educate other people about providing butterfly-friendly habitat in their gardens could result in even more butterflies than just the number you could raise and release.

I appreciate the comments; it's helped me gain some perspective on this whole butterfly raising thing. I guess I've always had these guilt trips that if I help one I should help them all, but if I do that, before I know it I have 300 Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars here demanding my time. It's true that I can't sacrifice my family life for the sake of the caterpillars, and I'm just going to have to keep that in mind. I just love butterflies so much and have always felt that the more I raise the world will have more butterflies and be better for it. There are so many bad things happening in the world that it could certainly use more good. Raising so many of them, though, burns me out and I'm not good for much of anything else. So from now on I will put a limit on how many eggs and cats I bring in.

I was lucky enough to have a Monarch stop by here and lay some eggs. I didn't know that any were laid until I was in the garden one day and noticed movement that turned out to be a fairly mid-size Monarch cat. I looked around and found 5 more. I'm hoping that with all of the rain that we've had that maybe not many flies and wasps were flying around, making it less likely that the Monarch cats were parasitized. They're in their pupae right now and I'm hoping for a positive outcome. If I have another one or two Monarch mamas stop by here and leave me some gifts, I will make an exception and try to bring all of them in that I can. I figure with their low numbers that they can use all the help they can get. Even my husband and daughter are hoping that the Monarchs show up again so that we can raise some more.

Sandy, I tried to look that up for you on our computer but couldn't find any, so I guess my pics didn't get moved over to this computer when we got this one several years ago. Just type in "Monarch eggs" in an online search and lots of pics come up. They'll get easier to spot as you get more experienced. I started out with finding caterpillars and moved onto eggs from there.

Here's a link. They are pretty darn small! The swallowtail eggs are really round, where as the monarchs are more oval.

Black swallowtail egg

Liz

WOW thanks so much! I must say something you all may laugh at but here goes. I have not been feeling well (with a bad cough) this past Sunday my daughter found 5 black swallowtails in their first instar stage. At that time we still had 2 crysalis in the aquarium to be hatched or whatever you call it you can till I am a newbie. Having to have to clean out the aquarium after only 3 caterpillars I told her I wasn't bringing in any more cats. The next morning I looked at the fennel that the 5 cats were on and only saw 2 after feeling a little better and one of the butterflys flew away I decided to clean the aquarium and bring in the lonely 2. Now I am sorry I didn't save all 5 of them. I can't image bringing in hundreds. I can't believe my daughter saw the 5 little itty bitty swallowtails; it was such a pleasure. I don't think I will ever see those tiny eggs. I think you have to have xray vision to spot them! You people are amazing and it has been a great time watching the few that we have had this year. Your all great at what you do! Just a reminder ......keep up the great work .......but yes give yourself a break and don't feel bad at all! GREAT JOB!

Oh boy, we are all excited because this morning we found 2 more black swallowtail caterpillars. So out of the 5 we first saw on Sunday we now have 4 in the aquarium. Happy!

I am going to have to stop bringing in Monarchs until the plants recover from the last batch. I have 5 big plants in pots and other growing in the ground. They just need to recover prior to the late summer/autumn batch!

The GSTs are nibbling on the orange tree, rue, etc.

If you truly want to help the butterflies, you should try to establish an environment where butterflies can thrive. That may involve planting or trying to promote certain plants in your neighborhood. Trying to farm butterflies year after year is not really a sustainable way to significantly increase their local population. Try to find more passive strategies that can encourage them.

We released the third black swallowtail yesterday and it was a female she was so pretty and perfect. We are sure that if we would not have brought the tiny caterpillars in and feed them, etc. they would not have survived outside. We feel really good about that; that there are three butterflies that would not necessary have made in the wild. This to us is good news and a nice adventure.

Sandy, Congrats on having those Black Swallowtails to raise. I know that a few that I collected this year had already been parasitized by a wasp because that's what came out of some of the pupae. *squish* My husband and I are going to the beach for a few days and so I left 4 small Giant Swallowtails outside that I saw on one of the gas plants, thinking that my daughter (who will be here at the house) wouldn't want to take care of them. I wish she had told me earlier than today that she'd take care of them while hubby and I are gone if I'd bring them in. I went out with a container to put them in to give to her and sorry to say, all four of them were missing. So I'm guessing that something already got them. I'll look again tomorrow, but I'm not going to get my hopes up much.

I understand how difficult it is to let go of your feelings of responsibility for those helpless, beautiful creatures. I've been particularly interested in the recent decline of Monarch numbers, so I've been gardening specifically to attract and support them. Since my last post, Monarchs arrived in my region and I have found between 50 and 60 Monarch eggs and caterpillars. I'm telling myself that I need to stop looking for more, but I know the terrible odds they are up against in the wild. And it really is rewarding to watch them grow. I tell myself that if I get overwhelmed, I can just put them back outside on my milkweed plants and let them fend for themselves. For me, the hardest part is early when they are so small. It's hard to see them when they have just hatched from those tiny eggs.

martha

I think it's perfectly ok for you to do this, and you shouldn't feel like you're letting anything down.

I don't raise butterflies indoors, but do have lots of habitat for them. But I do know what it's like to have pets.....dogs, cat, fish, chickens. My last chicken now is over 12 years old. I had 17 at first, but they eventually died. When I care for something, I really care for it.....like you probably do with your butterflies.......to the exclusion of lots of other things. It can be very tiring and overwhelming and it can start feeling like a weight around your neck. So let it go for now......you can always come back to it if you want to. I think you will feel very comfortable in your new freedom. And don't feel guilty! Just enjoy the other wonderful things in life!