Eastern Black Swallowtails

These are two of several Eastern Black Swallowtails that overwintered in our garage in the pupa (chrysalis) stage. They emerged this past spring and brought us great joy! Aren't they lovely? If I had a favorite North American butterfly..., this would probably be it! These butterflies were the first species we ever raised indoors 12 some years ago.

This little sweetheart is a female. You can usually tell quite quickly by looking at the hind wings. Here, you will notice a wide row of blue, shimmery markings, indicating a female.

Here's a handsome little guy. Notice the thinner row of blue and the wider row of yellow? This easily tells you from a distance it is a male.

There are times, however, when it's hard to tell which is which. If you are up close and can see the tip of its abdomen, you can sex it. If it has claspers (where the tip of the abdomen is slightly divided), it's a male. If not, it's a female.

You can sex many species of butterflies this way, but not all. In some species, females can also be larger than males, like in Morning Cloaks, but on some others you might have to count their "toes"!

In case you're wondering, that beautiful pink flowering plant is a Spring Cactus (Rhipsalidopis gaertneri). I bought it at Walmart for the butterflies. (Like I really needed an excuse or another plant!)

The male is on a lilac, one of many we have growing in our yard. Want some? I'm just so thankful I'm not allergic to those flowers, any more, as they are super butterfly nectaring plants in the springtime! --LKR

What's This???

  

Okay, okay.  As you all know, fuzzy butterfly slippers really don't nectar from dandelions or any other flowers or fermenting fruit.  This was partly to show we still do have butterfly food this late in the year. 

It was also to stress the importance of having late blooming flowers, including weeds, in our yards for both butterflies and bees.  Ditto in the early spring.  You just never know who may need it!  

I pick dandelion leaves for salads and for the guinea pigs we've hosted in our home over the years.  And as far as insects go, I'm still hoping that Cabbage White that was released the other day is still alive to enjoy these flowers!  

--LKR

A Butterfly in the Snow...

I feel so totally awful!  Our last little Cabbage White emerged, today, so I let it go without even thinking. After all, it was bright and sunny out!  Unfortunately, a few hours later, it was snowing!!!  Usually, I listen to NOAA weather radio when I first get up, but not today. I'm just hoping that little butterfly was able to find some shelter before the snow started flying.  They are resourceful... .  

It had been in the 60's over the weekend, and nice and sunny.  I think I'm in denial that winter is quickly approaching.  But, we've been blessed with a beautifully warm autumn, and I guess I got too caught up in it, huh?!

As a norm, these butterflies should overwinter in the pupa stage.  Sometimes, if the weather is warmer when they're feeding as caterpillars, they will emerge in the fall.  The amount of daylight has something to do with it, too.  

We had this happen with a beautiful Eastern Black Swallowtail we reared on our porch in late August several years ago when living in IL.  She ended up emerging September 21st, the afternoon before a photographer from a local paper came out to photograph a Monarch we had that was tagged for Monarch Watch.  The photos that accompanied the article were in color, so her early--or late!--emergence was not in vain!  

A few days later, I saw a pristine male flitting about, so at least she wasn't the only one of her species. Hopefully, she had some company as she flitted from flower to flower, sipping nectar.  (Actually they were probably competing rather than courting, although we always did have lots of late blooming varieties in our butterfly gardens!)  It was too late in the season for them to seriously start a family, I'm afraid.  Even if they had, Black Swallowtail larvae are very sensitive to cold weather.  I've rescued them when it's been cold out even before a frost, and have lost them all.  It's such a shame.  They are such beauties!  --LKR

While out in the Woods...

While out in the woods, yesterday, an orange blur caught my eye. It flew purposefully and more parallel, so I knew it wasn't a leaf! It landed not too far away, and with the aid of the 12x zoom on my super fun Canon S3 IS camera, I was able to identify it as a Comma butterfly.

Commas are very similar in appearance to Question Mark butterflies, but Commas have a more "chiseled" look to the edges of their wings. Both are so named for the silvery markings on their outer hind wings.

My author friend and former neighbor, Allie Pleiter, gleefully dubbed them the "Punctuation Butterflies", but they are better known as anglewings. Overwintering in the adult (butterfly) stage, they can sometimes be seen flying or sunning themselves on those warmer, sunnier days.

Rotting fruit and tree sap are favorite foods, but they also will nectar at flowers.

A Mourning Cloak also graced us with its presence, but it flew too quickly and was gone before I could snap a picture of it. Commas, Question Marks, and Mourning Cloaks are all in the Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae) family. --LKR

A Sulphur's on the Bus!

Michael, a classmate of my youngest daughter, found this little Clouded Sulphur butterfly as he was boarding the bus to go home from school. He found it on the steps of the bus, no doubt sunning itself, and took it out of harm's way. Michael gave it to Hannah to bring home and care for, knowing that we raise all sorts of butterflies and moths. That was yesterday afternoon. Storms were predicted for last night, so we'll let it go today. --LKR

Wooly Bears!!!

Wooly Bear caterpillars are known as Isabella Tiger moths once they emerge from their chysalis and are winged creatures. Wooly Bears, frequently found crossing roads in the fall, are the adored fuzzy black, reddish brown black striped caterpillars that children of all ages love to find.

Today, my hubby was kind enough to stop the car so I could rescue two out of three I saw crossing the road. Unfortunately, the third one met its destiny on his quest to reach the other side of the road... .

As a life-long observer and seeker, I've only found one tiny one in my entire life. He was nibbling on a stinging nettle leaf as I was looking for Red Admiral butterfly eggs. Dandelion and plantain leaves are also a Wooly Bear's host plants.

It was really fun watching him grow! Unfortunately, like every other Tiger Moth caterpillar (there are lots of species of them) I've ever brought in to observe, I was rewarded with a big, ugly parasitic wasp. When you're anxiously awaiting the emergence of your winged beauty and are greeted with something as ugly as this, it's a great disappointment! --LKR

Some Vanessa Butterflies

This picture was taken earlier in the year before releasing these newly emerged butterflies we raised. The one in front is an American painted lady and the other is a red admiral.

Even though both are in the Vanessa family, their host plants (where they lay their eggs) are completely different. American painted ladies use everlastings, while red admirals dine on stinging nettle and hops. --LKR

Migrating Woes

I find this time of the year very difficult, especially while out driving. It's not just saying good-bye to all of our end-of-the-year butterflies, either, although releasing the last Monarch certainly does make me than a little misty-eyed.

What I find most upsetting is watching Monarchs heading for Mexico, trying to cross busy roads and highways, only to get sucked back into traffic--and danger. One year as we drove from New Jersey to Illinois in late August, I tearfully counted hundreds of Monarchs we saw struggling to cross over I-90. --LKR

Beaver Creek Reserve

Recently, while my mom and sister were here visiting from NJ, we went to Beaver Creek Reserve in Fall Creek, WI. I hadn't been there since last September when I brought Monarchs in for a class that was tagging for Monarch Watch. Having worked there, I was used to spending (glorious!) hours in the Lab and Butterfly House, so when we only stayed for an hour, I wasn't quite ready to leave!

My hubby wisely would send me off to the butterfly houses at Brookfield Zoo (seasonal) and Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (year round in the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven Exhibit) while he'd take the kids elsewhere, allowlng me more time with my beloved winged creatures. He didn't need to do that, of course, when I worked at the Reserve, but sometimes had to call to remind me that he was making dinner and would like me home on time!

Beaver Creek's butterfly exhibit is strictly native butterflies of the Eau Claire and Chippewa county area. It is typically open July 5th through September 10th, seven days a week. Special tours and educational programs for schools, camps, and other groups go beyond those dates.

While visiting, explore the Nature Center which is full of critters, books, and a really nice gift shop. They also have a donated collection of mounted butterflies and moths that is really interesting to see.

Don't forget to take in the many trails located on both sides of the road, where a tunnel links them together for safety and convenience.

If you'd like to volunteer, there are many opportunities at the Reserve. Volunteers really do make a difference, and are greatly appreciated!!!

The Reserve is located on County Hwy K in Fall Creek, WI. Their phone #: 715-877-2212

Enjoy your time at this magical place, and say "hello!" for me! --LKR


Check out their website at:

http://www.beavercreekreserve.org/butterfly.htm

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

This little hummingbird clearwing moth has been feasting on our flowers. They just love our phlox and monarda (aka: bee balm, oswego tea, bergamot). I'm always so thrilled to see them!

Their larvae (caterpillars) feed on host plants such as cherry and plum trees, honeysuckle, hawthorns, snowberry, and cranberry bushes. --LKR

Cecropia Moth

This is a picture of a male Cecropia moth. Although female Cecropias are more noticably larger than males, males have larger feathery antennae than females. Males use these to catch the scent of a female.

Cecropia moths are part of the silk moth family. None of the silk moths eat as adults because they don't have mouth parts. Their sole purpose as adults is to mate, lay eggs (only females, of course!), and die. They only live for about two weeks.

Both butterflies and moths smell with their antennae and taste with their feet. These help them find food as well as host plants on which they lay their eggs. A host plant is a specific plant that certain species of butterfly's and moth's larvae (caterpillars) can eat. --LKR

Time to Slow Down...

It's that time of year. My hubby has just started his vacation, and summer school and orchestra are finally over for the kids. So..., once again, I'm resisting the temptation to go hunting for butterfly eggs and cats to raise, since we'll likely be going away. It's illegal to cross state lines with butterflies without a permit from the USDA, and we're considering spending time in MN or IL.

Trust me, it's even harder to find someone willing to care for baby butterflies than it is to find a puppy sitter! Before flying out to NJ, last year, I donated all our larvae (caterpillars (aka cats)) to Beaver Creek Reserve when I worked there as the butterfly house coordinator. The previous year, our puppy sitter released about 100 Milbert's tortoiseshell butterflies that emerged from their chrysalises (aka pupae) while we were gone. And before moving from IL to our home out in the country in WI, a few friends and neighbors were game. However, many times before that, I reluctantly released them back into the dangers of the wild.

Recently, we've had several red admiral cats that were parasitized, so I'm really torn. My maternal instinct says to go out there and scan every leaf for both eggs and larvae, rescuing them from vicious villains (aka parasitic wasps and flies, spider mites, etc). It's really tough being a mother of butterflies! 

--LKR