Whither the Monarchs - 9/16/11

Whither the Monarchs - 9/16/11Save Now

Jim of Beaver Creek Reserve did a really nice job with the interview! And, yes, sadly, Monarchs are on the decline. --LKR

How To Repair A Butterfly Wing

I've tried to repair butterfly wings, before, and flopped. The poor creatures ended up with weighty wings and couldn't fly. Instead of being released, they became "pets" and were even more a part of our family. That was before I discovered this video!

It does take courage to work on a delicate butterfly, but with this as a guide, it's worth a try! Good luck! --LKR

Monarch Egg Hatching

I've watched caterpillars hatching, before, and wanted to share what someone else put together. It's a quicky--don't blink! --LKR

In The Presence of Monarchs

Around 1pm, today, I went out in search of Monarch eggs. Sometimes it's easier to spot the first egg or larva before ever seeing an adult flying around. Well, did I ever find an egg, then another..., and another. Once back home, I counted 48, repeat, 48 Monarch eggs!!!

A few looked like they will be hatching in a day or two. Soooo, the eggs were divvied up among four baby wipe boxes that were placed into gallon-sized baggies for a little humidity. A tiny bit of humidity is needed so they don't dry up and die. Soon after these hatch, they will be split up into smaller groups.

Later on this afternoon, I spotted my first adult Monarch flying furiously through our yard on a very breezy day! It's so good to have them back!!! --LKR

Friends Among The Flowers

It was a cold, sunny, breezy day, today, but look what was hanging around our yard! Unfortunately, patchy frost is forcasted for this evening and tomorrow morning.Tiger Swallowtail

Spring Azure

Sulphur, mid flight

Copper

Moth

Can't wait to see what else blows through our yard, this summer!!! --LKR

Cute And Fuzzy Caterpillar

Isn't he adorable? A couple of days ago, I was planting some bushes and thankfully found him while I was digging. He was relocated to a safer spot, and when I later checked on him, he was happily munching on a blade of grass! He will grow up to be some sort of moth. --LKR

Blue Morning, Orange Afternoon

We had a ton of rain yesterday with very gusty winds, so this morning, I was totally thrilled to not only see a clear blue sky, but a beautiful Spring Azure playfully flitting around and about my feet!

Later, while planting bushes, a small, fast flying orange and black butterfly whizzed past me. Was it an American Painted Lady or one of the overwintering anglewings like a Question Mark or Comma? After seven months without a butterfly sighting, it's easy to forget the different species flight patterns which help identify them while they're fluttering about!

Earlier, I had checked our Pearly Everlasting, host plants for the American Painted Lady, for eggs after noticing one of our neighbor's low growing patch of plants blooming. Sometimes, eggs and larvae are easier to spot than an adult butterfly flying around!

Shortly before dinner, a Cabbage White descended upon our "field" of dandelions in search for the perfect golden flower to nectar and refuel at. Very soon, lilacs will be blooming, beaconing other butterflies like the Red Admiral, Eastern Black Swallowtails, and Tiger Swallowtails.

It's hard to believe we were having snow flurries six days ago!!! Spring is finally here!!! --LKR

White One!!!

Driving around yesterday in the car with Hubby, I spied my first Cabbage White butterfly of the season! ~~Happy Dance!!!~~

They usually start eclosing ((emerging from the pupae (chrysalis)) when the dandelions begin to bloom, which has been for well over a week..., but it's been so cold and we even had snow flurries this past Sunday and Monday! The butterflies were smart and waited 'til it got warmer!

I just *love* that God-given timing and wisdom you find in nature!!!