I'm new around here, and I don't know if wildlife counts as "Other Animals" for this forum, or if there is another place for that. Move as needed.
Who else enjoys butterflies and butterfly gardening? I found a nice thread started by keith p from years ago and thought I would start a new one.
We were able to grow some beautiful, beautiful-smelling Swamp Milkweed on our rental property, and sure enough the Monarch butterflies found it and laid some eggs. Black Swallowtails laid on the potted dill weed, and White-spotted Admirals laid on the willow in the yard. We've enjoyed watching their life cycles. And we have become as invested in their well-being as we are in the feral cats' or the birds that come to the bird feeders.
I am on hour 14 of hatch-out watch for one Monarch chrysalis that I tried to help. This caterpillar chose a bad place to pupate, a vertical length of metal fencing, so that when it emerged as a new adult butterfly it would have little traction for its feet. And its fresh new wings and soft new body would on one side be instantly crushed by the fence. Its chrysalis is slightly deformed by the fence as it is. When the soft pupa had hardened into the chrysalis, I gently tied off the cremaster/"claw" attachment with some cotton string and tied the chrysalis to hang free from a twig.
http://monarchwatch.org/rear/
I hope it will be all right. I needed another runt wild creature to worry over... the ferals aren't enough.
Who else enjoys butterflies and butterfly gardening? I found a nice thread started by keith p from years ago and thought I would start a new one.
We were able to grow some beautiful, beautiful-smelling Swamp Milkweed on our rental property, and sure enough the Monarch butterflies found it and laid some eggs. Black Swallowtails laid on the potted dill weed, and White-spotted Admirals laid on the willow in the yard. We've enjoyed watching their life cycles. And we have become as invested in their well-being as we are in the feral cats' or the birds that come to the bird feeders.
I am on hour 14 of hatch-out watch for one Monarch chrysalis that I tried to help. This caterpillar chose a bad place to pupate, a vertical length of metal fencing, so that when it emerged as a new adult butterfly it would have little traction for its feet. And its fresh new wings and soft new body would on one side be instantly crushed by the fence. Its chrysalis is slightly deformed by the fence as it is. When the soft pupa had hardened into the chrysalis, I gently tied off the cremaster/"claw" attachment with some cotton string and tied the chrysalis to hang free from a twig.
http://monarchwatch.org/rear/
I hope it will be all right. I needed another runt wild creature to worry over... the ferals aren't enough.