I wish I had come up with the phrase, but it was one of my favorite writers, William Saroyan, who coined it: "creatures comely and mute." Like this beauty.
I grew up in the Midwest so we always had milkweed and Monarchs.
It's possible to keep Monarch caterpillars in a gallon ice cream bucket. Cut the center of the lid out and cover the top with a fabric mesh and use the lid ring to hold it in place. The caterpillars *always* go to the top to hang their chrysalises. If you're careful you can peel the silk off the mesh and tape the chrysalises to a decorative branch until they hatch.
Can't do that with Swallowtails. They build a hammock. They attach their butts and then, heads-up, lean back in a sling. No moving them! So I made a house out of a large cardboard moving box and screen. It's been fun.
These have only taken a couple of weeks to hatch, Allen. It's probably better off to just leave them be. You've provided food for them. :)
But, if you want to take one in so you can see it turn into a butterfly close up, it's pretty easy. Pick the biggest fattest caterpillar and put it in the bucket with the mesh top and give it fresh milkweed every day until it makes its chrysalis. After it hatches the wings have to expand and dry, and then you can let it go.
I simply have no self-control and decided that I'd raise the caterpillars inside even without the excuse of educating small children. I have a big parsley patch for them.
I had a blue butterfly land on my bare foot once, licking what I believe may have been grass pollen that had collected as I was watering the flowers. The feeling was unforgettable. Close to awe.
Awe: the full-blooded intuition of innate mystery. We cannot get used to awe, for it is ever fresh, ever new, taking us not from here to there, but from here to a deeper here.(R.A. Masters)
Beautiful pictures, fun story, even more amazing to see the ones at the link.
15 comments:
He's had work done. With enough money we can all look that good.
It's a girl butterfly. :)
The boy ones have less blue and much more yellow.
Tranny then.
I have a bunch of milkweed growing in some cracks of concrete over by the corn crib and the barn.
It's unsightly, but the Monarch butterflies evidently, eat them, or do other things with them to survive.
So, there they stay. And, yes, I have Monarch butterflies around.
I'm just doing my part.
Nice picture Synova.
I wish I had come up with the phrase, but it was one of my favorite writers, William Saroyan, who coined it: "creatures comely and mute." Like this beauty.
I grew up in the Midwest so we always had milkweed and Monarchs.
It's possible to keep Monarch caterpillars in a gallon ice cream bucket. Cut the center of the lid out and cover the top with a fabric mesh and use the lid ring to hold it in place. The caterpillars *always* go to the top to hang their chrysalises. If you're careful you can peel the silk off the mesh and tape the chrysalises to a decorative branch until they hatch.
Can't do that with Swallowtails. They build a hammock. They attach their butts and then, heads-up, lean back in a sling. No moving them! So I made a house out of a large cardboard moving box and screen. It's been fun.
Synova, how long does that process take? Wouldn't I be better off to let them do their thing without me?
Wow. That's cool. I didn't know you could raise/hatch butterflies as a hobby.
These have only taken a couple of weeks to hatch, Allen. It's probably better off to just leave them be. You've provided food for them. :)
But, if you want to take one in so you can see it turn into a butterfly close up, it's pretty easy. Pick the biggest fattest caterpillar and put it in the bucket with the mesh top and give it fresh milkweed every day until it makes its chrysalis. After it hatches the wings have to expand and dry, and then you can let it go.
I simply have no self-control and decided that I'd raise the caterpillars inside even without the excuse of educating small children. I have a big parsley patch for them.
Cool
My first thought was the Bob Lind song Elusive Butterfly and all that it conjures.
http://synova.blogspot.com/
AllenS, I caught the very last caterpillar shedding it's skin. I've got pictures and a video that is all fuzzy, but still squirmy...
I had a blue butterfly land on my bare foot once, licking what I believe may have been grass pollen that had collected as I was watering the flowers. The feeling was unforgettable. Close to awe.
Awe: the full-blooded intuition of innate mystery. We cannot get used to awe, for it is ever fresh, ever new, taking us not from here to there, but from here to a deeper here.(R.A. Masters)
Beautiful pictures, fun story, even more amazing to see the ones at the link.
Beautiful pics, Synova, what a cool hobby.
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