qebo's 2012 garden (3)
This is a continuation of the topic qebo's 2012 garden (2).
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1qebo
The dill has become quite the center of activity for Black Swallowtails. It wasn’t meant to be there. It sprouted from seeds dropped last year, and I let it be. Everything else that was in the bin is dead and gone.
It has six caterpillars about 1-1/4” in the final instar stage.
This one is stretched out and has been moving around and eating.
This one is scrunched up and hasn’t moved in hours.
It has one caterpillar about 1” a step behind.
It has one caterpillar about 1/4” that I discovered this morning.
It has a bunch of eggs...
... deposited by a butterfly this morning.
The experience of this guy has been similar to mine: the caterpillars simply disappear. I sat and watched the caterpillars off and on today, and aside from occasional leisurely munching, nothing happened. Waiting for me to go away? Waiting for dark? Will they be gone tomorrow morning?
Otherwise today, skippers everywhere but I don’t think any are new. And the Variegated Fritillary chrysalis looks about the same.
It has six caterpillars about 1-1/4” in the final instar stage.
This one is stretched out and has been moving around and eating.
This one is scrunched up and hasn’t moved in hours.
It has one caterpillar about 1” a step behind.
It has one caterpillar about 1/4” that I discovered this morning.
It has a bunch of eggs...
... deposited by a butterfly this morning.
The experience of this guy has been similar to mine: the caterpillars simply disappear. I sat and watched the caterpillars off and on today, and aside from occasional leisurely munching, nothing happened. Waiting for me to go away? Waiting for dark? Will they be gone tomorrow morning?
Otherwise today, skippers everywhere but I don’t think any are new. And the Variegated Fritillary chrysalis looks about the same.
2SqueakyChu
Such an active garden. Love it!
5qebo
This morning, everybody is in pretty much the same place. Several are eating. The technique is to grab a leaf and chomp from the tip to the base.
6qebo
4: The Black Swallowtail has laid eggs on anise, parsley, dill; I've seen it. I found only one caterpillar on the anise, it disappeared as the anise was fading away, and a few weeks later the anise was too brown and droopy to support anything so I removed it. I've found no caterpillars on the parsley, which is quite leafy, so they may be hidden, but at this size they're pretty obvious. The skinny leaves of the dill are ideal for observation. I had several dill last year, thus the seeds sprouting in stray locations this year, but no caterpillars that I noticed. Could be because I wasn't looking.
7fuzzi
I had a similar caterpillar a couple years ago on my dill, but didn't think to photograph it.
He ate the whole plant and it died... :(
He ate the whole plant and it died... :(
8qebo
In butterfly life cycle news... As of 7pm in the rain, the Black Swallowtail caterpillar count remains 8 and the Variegated Fritillary chrysalis looks the same.
While I was making the rounds of the garden this morning, I watched a Cabbage White butterfly lay eggs on the mustard (more volunteers from seeds dropped last year).
The Small Milkweed Bugs have produced babies. These are about 1/8”.
Last week I was wishing for more yellow to compensate for the fading sunflowers and because the butterflies like the woodsorrel which is a weed. I swung by the local nursery and got goldenrod, a hybrid so not strictly a native plant.
Well, it’s good enough for this bug, which caught my eye as I was passing by today. It’s a Locust Borer Beetle (Megacyllene robiniae), and it catches everybody’s eye.
While I was making the rounds of the garden this morning, I watched a Cabbage White butterfly lay eggs on the mustard (more volunteers from seeds dropped last year).
The Small Milkweed Bugs have produced babies. These are about 1/8”.
Last week I was wishing for more yellow to compensate for the fading sunflowers and because the butterflies like the woodsorrel which is a weed. I swung by the local nursery and got goldenrod, a hybrid so not strictly a native plant.
Well, it’s good enough for this bug, which caught my eye as I was passing by today. It’s a Locust Borer Beetle (Megacyllene robiniae), and it catches everybody’s eye.
9SqueakyChu
Is a locust borer beetle good or bad?
10qebo
It lays eggs under the bark of black locust trees, and the larvae bore into the trees, which can kill trees that are already unhealthy.
http://entoplp.okstate.edu/ddd/insects/locustborer.htm
http://www.cirrusimage.com/beetles_locust_borer.htm
http://entoplp.okstate.edu/ddd/insects/locustborer.htm
http://www.cirrusimage.com/beetles_locust_borer.htm
11SqueakyChu
Well, you don't have any trees in your yard so it seems harmless where it is.
After the squash vine borers in my garden, I'm skeptical of any insect with "borers" in their name! :)
After the squash vine borers in my garden, I'm skeptical of any insect with "borers" in their name! :)
12qebo
The beetle just wants pollen, and its life cycle coordinates with goldenrod. The larvae are the problem, but not for anything in my yard. I don't know where black locust trees are. I suppose I should identify the trees in my neighborhood. Regardless, I got the goldenrod from a nursery two miles from my house, so it's not as though I'm initiating an invasion of alien creature.
14qebo
Cicada killer (Sphecius speciosus) on the back porch this morning, drying off from the rain:
Acrobat:
ETA: Several of the caterpillars are going on 2" now.
Acrobat:
ETA: Several of the caterpillars are going on 2" now.
17qebo
Drenching rain last night, for hours. I woke up a couple of times, imagined the dill toppled over and caterpillars drowned in a puddle. Checked first thing this morning and... the dill is upright and eight caterpillars are clamped in place.
18norabelle414
I've only seen Cicada Killers that were dead too, but I'm still terrified to death of them. In my head I know they just *look* like giant, mutant bees. But my heart says OH GOD THEY'RE COMING FOR US
I had never seen one until this year, but now I've seen 5 or 6. What's the deal with that, oh great and all-knowing gardeness?
I had never seen one until this year, but now I've seen 5 or 6. What's the deal with that, oh great and all-knowing gardeness?
19qebo
I’ve read that the cicada killers don’t sting unless grabbed or stepped on, and the sting doesn’t especially hurt, and there are images of people with cicada killers perched on their hands, but I’m not inclined to put this to the test.
I had never seen one until this year, but now I've seen 5 or 6. What's the deal with that, oh great and all-knowing gardeness?
Dunno. You relocated. Are there more trees with cicadas where you are now?
I had never seen one until this year, but now I've seen 5 or 6. What's the deal with that, oh great and all-knowing gardeness?
Dunno. You relocated. Are there more trees with cicadas where you are now?
20norabelle414
>19 qebo: I've seen 1 near my apartment, 1 near my mom's house, 1 at work, and a few while out and about. Both my old neighborhood and my new one are fairly old, and have the same amount of trees. My head says it's a coincidence, my heart says it's an invasion.
21qebo
Apparently the population is up in Ohio, for reasons that would also apply here:
http://butler.osu.edu/topics/horticulture/news/cicada-killer-wasps-1
http://bygl.osu.edu/content/cicada-killers-cruising-ohio-lawns-and-landscapes-0
http://bygl.osu.edu/content/cicada-killer-wasp-redux-0
http://butler.osu.edu/topics/horticulture/news/cicada-killer-wasps-1
http://bygl.osu.edu/content/cicada-killers-cruising-ohio-lawns-and-landscapes-0
http://bygl.osu.edu/content/cicada-killer-wasp-redux-0
22norabelle414
>21 qebo: Makes sense to me!
24Morphidae
I'm phobic about bees and wasps. I don't care if it's a cicada killer. I'd have a heart attack if I saw that thing flying around me.
25qebo
Black Swallowtail status:
A large caterpillar disappeared overnight. Six remain.
The small caterpillar molted yesterday...
... and is now an inch long.
Two 1/4” caterpillars have appeared on the same dill.
Variegated Fritillary status:
The chrysalis looked the same yesterday afternoon, but the butterfly emerged before I did the rounds of the yard at 7:30 this morning.
A large caterpillar disappeared overnight. Six remain.
The small caterpillar molted yesterday...
... and is now an inch long.
Two 1/4” caterpillars have appeared on the same dill.
Variegated Fritillary status:
The chrysalis looked the same yesterday afternoon, but the butterfly emerged before I did the rounds of the yard at 7:30 this morning.
26qebo
Well, today’s the day. One caterpillar disappeared overnight. One caterpillar disappeared while I was inside this morning. Two caterpillars set off from the dill at lunchtime while I was watching! Remaining on the dill are three large caterpillars, one medium caterpillar, and two tiny caterpillars.
27qebo
This caterpillar took a simple trip.
It set off diagonally across the raised bed...
... walked partway down the side then dropped onto the ground...
... continued in the same direction into the mess of sunflowers that toppled during the recent storm. I took a photo of the sunflowers and let it be.
A couple hours later I was peering into the sunflowers and saw this, which I thought was the same caterpillar until I zoomed into the earlier photo and saw it there too. I’m supposing now that two caterpillars are in there, and I’ll have to be very cautious about clearing up the mess.
It set off diagonally across the raised bed...
... walked partway down the side then dropped onto the ground...
... continued in the same direction into the mess of sunflowers that toppled during the recent storm. I took a photo of the sunflowers and let it be.
A couple hours later I was peering into the sunflowers and saw this, which I thought was the same caterpillar until I zoomed into the earlier photo and saw it there too. I’m supposing now that two caterpillars are in there, and I’ll have to be very cautious about clearing up the mess.
28qebo
This caterpillar had quite an adventure.
When it hit the edge of the raised bed, it went back and forth...
... tried to get down at two different corners, eventually dropped onto the ground, walked across the paving stones...
... up the steps...
... across the deck...
... tried to go up the vinyl siding but kept slipping...
... stretched over to the watering can and explored the rim...
... dropped onto the deck, followed the wall to the edge of the deck, ignored the railing post an inch away, dropped onto the pavement...
... walked up the cellar door and up the wall of the house...
... ignored the window sill...
... ignored the gutter...
... ignored the balcony railing...
... reached the roof overhang and went back and forth upside down, sometimes above the balcony and sometimes not... (watching in horror from the ground, wondering whether / how to rescue it from its unwise decisions)
... dropped two stories onto the pavement... (oh. my. is it dead?)
... remained stunned and still for a bit, then curled around and began walking up the cellar door again. At this point I intervened. I pulled off my flipflop and held it in front of the caterpillar, which initially avoided it then walked onto it. I placed the flipflop under the steps, where the caterpillar would’ve been if it had gone through rather than up the steps. The caterpillar walked off the flipflop onto the panel under the steps, which seemed a perfectly fine sheltered place to me...
... but it turned toward the light and toward me and settled on the outside of the steps for awhile, investigating its surroundings...
... dropped onto the ground, climbed back to the same location, dropped onto the ground again, followed the panel into the violets...
... emerged from the violets, went through an opening in the panel, and disappeared.
I hope it finds a satisfactory place to chrysalize in there.
========================================================================
For perspective...
The dill, the paving stones, the steps and deck:
The deck, the pavement, the basement door:
The wall:
When it hit the edge of the raised bed, it went back and forth...
... tried to get down at two different corners, eventually dropped onto the ground, walked across the paving stones...
... up the steps...
... across the deck...
... tried to go up the vinyl siding but kept slipping...
... stretched over to the watering can and explored the rim...
... dropped onto the deck, followed the wall to the edge of the deck, ignored the railing post an inch away, dropped onto the pavement...
... walked up the cellar door and up the wall of the house...
... ignored the window sill...
... ignored the gutter...
... ignored the balcony railing...
... reached the roof overhang and went back and forth upside down, sometimes above the balcony and sometimes not... (watching in horror from the ground, wondering whether / how to rescue it from its unwise decisions)
... dropped two stories onto the pavement... (oh. my. is it dead?)
... remained stunned and still for a bit, then curled around and began walking up the cellar door again. At this point I intervened. I pulled off my flipflop and held it in front of the caterpillar, which initially avoided it then walked onto it. I placed the flipflop under the steps, where the caterpillar would’ve been if it had gone through rather than up the steps. The caterpillar walked off the flipflop onto the panel under the steps, which seemed a perfectly fine sheltered place to me...
... but it turned toward the light and toward me and settled on the outside of the steps for awhile, investigating its surroundings...
... dropped onto the ground, climbed back to the same location, dropped onto the ground again, followed the panel into the violets...
... emerged from the violets, went through an opening in the panel, and disappeared.
I hope it finds a satisfactory place to chrysalize in there.
========================================================================
For perspective...
The dill, the paving stones, the steps and deck:
The deck, the pavement, the basement door:
The wall:
29lauralkeet
And how was work today?!! LOL!
30qebo
29: LOL! I did work this morning... then I set aside one task that is awaiting action from someone else, and another that is uncooperative until inspiration strikes, and went outside for a coffee break, and got a long phone call from the boss, which didn't require full attention or staring at the computer, and which discombobulated the task list with the speculative idea du jour...
31SqueakyChu
What an adventure! I loved following the story of your caterpillar. I wish it all the best!!
33fuzzi
Wonderful story boards, @qebo! I enjoyed it, very much.
Who would have thought a caterpillar would have gone to such extent to find the perfect place to pupate? (I think that's a word)
Who would have thought a caterpillar would have gone to such extent to find the perfect place to pupate? (I think that's a word)
35qebo
33: It seemed really fixated on the direction it had chosen. Forward to a barrier, up if possible, sideways otherwise. It didn't meander to explore features in the vicinity. I can see why most caterpillars disappear quickly. The one that went into the sunflowers also stuck to its original direction but was more fortunate, and was out in the open for only a few minutes.
38lauralkeet
Despite giving you a hard time about your productivity, I also enjoyed the saga. I'm glad you were able to capture it and better yet that you could share it with us!
39norabelle414
I feel like these butterflies should be paying you for spending all day looking after their kids.
40sibylline
I enjoyed your caterpillar photo story - A couple of days I stopped the car before getting on our four lane road to rescue a caterpillar that was clinging to a window.
41fuzzi
LOLOL, @norabelle414!
42qebo
The caterpillar on the sunflower is arching away from the stem, but hasn’t yet become a chrysalis.
The caterpillar that disappeared under the deck didn’t go far. It decided that the inner surface of the panel would do. I can see it only partially from outside, but I can fit the camera through an opening. It’s not as arched as the other caterpillar, and its silk thread is still slack.
One more large caterpillar has disappeared, and one more tiny caterpillar has appeared.
39: Well, seems only fair. I’d suppose that the strategy of forward and up, and drop to the ground if the location isn’t suitable, is less fraught with peril in a world with trees and meadows and such.
The caterpillar that disappeared under the deck didn’t go far. It decided that the inner surface of the panel would do. I can see it only partially from outside, but I can fit the camera through an opening. It’s not as arched as the other caterpillar, and its silk thread is still slack.
One more large caterpillar has disappeared, and one more tiny caterpillar has appeared.
39: Well, seems only fair. I’d suppose that the strategy of forward and up, and drop to the ground if the location isn’t suitable, is less fraught with peril in a world with trees and meadows and such.
43qebo
Eight hours later the caterpillar was looking somewhat but not radically different...
... and 45 minutes later, I’d missed the transformation:
The caterpillar under the deck had not progressed this far by dusk.
The medium caterpillar was murdered this afternoon...
... and was completely gone by evening.
One more large caterpillar departed the dill this afternoon. One large caterpillar and three tiny caterpillars remain.
... and 45 minutes later, I’d missed the transformation:
The caterpillar under the deck had not progressed this far by dusk.
The medium caterpillar was murdered this afternoon...
... and was completely gone by evening.
One more large caterpillar departed the dill this afternoon. One large caterpillar and three tiny caterpillars remain.
44lauralkeet
I had no idea the caterpillar mortality rate was so high. It makes me appreciate butterflies so much more.
45qebo
Morning caterpillar report:
The chrysalis seems to have stiffened. Yesterday it was wiggling a bit.
The caterpillar under the deck looks much the same as it did yesterday. So maybe something's wrong, or maybe the one that's a chrysalis is the one that left the dill the night before.
The chrysalis seems to have stiffened. Yesterday it was wiggling a bit.
The caterpillar under the deck looks much the same as it did yesterday. So maybe something's wrong, or maybe the one that's a chrysalis is the one that left the dill the night before.
46qebo
Shadowy, so you'll have to click through to Flickr to see...
8:00 am - caterpillar
10:30 am - green chrysalis
4:00 pm - brown chrysalis
8:00 am - caterpillar
10:30 am - green chrysalis
4:00 pm - brown chrysalis
48qebo
This morning, one large caterpillar on the dill. I figured it’d be leaving soon, so I checked in between various domestic tasks. Early in the afternoon, it was gone. Oh well. I turned toward the steps to go inside and...
... there it was, on the bottom step, pausing to digest its last meal...
... then it went up the steps... (oh no, not again!)
... toward the pots and the railing... (OK, so not a repeat of the other caterpillar)
... climbed a baluster...
... reached the top, which was good enough for the monarch caterpillar...
... but not good enough for this caterpillar, which dropped four feet to the ground...
... and went into the weeds under the butterfly bush... (good, a suitable place)
... and a few minutes later came out the other side onto the pavement... (aaaaaagh!)
... went up the cellar door... (uh oh)
... and started up the wall of the house... (no. absolutely not.)
I grabbed a wood strip that was leaning against the wall, waited while the caterpillar crawled on, whisked it over to the butterfly bush.
The caterpillar was not pleased at the interruption and stuck out its horns...
... but it climbed into the butterfly bush...
... roamed up one branch and over to another branch (center top of photo)...
... and down to the ground... (seriously? what’s wrong with the butterfly bush?)
... and back onto the butterfly bush where it got lost in the leaves (center of photo)... (phew, it’ll be OK in there)
I went inside, continued with tasks, returned outside while coffee was cooking, and there was the caterpillar, crossing the pavement and heading toward the cellar door... (WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE BUTTERFLY BUSH?)
I went inside to get the coffee, returned outside a few minutes later, and... no caterpillar. Well, maybe it had the sense to U turn back to the butterfly bush.
A drenching rain passed through. When the rain subsided, I stepped onto the back porch, glanced around, and there was the caterpillar, brightly prominent on top of the trash can, in a puddle. I grabbed a garden tool, picked up the caterpillar, and placed it under the deck steps.
I took a photo of where it had been...
... and where I had put it, an unsatisfactory location already abandoned, as the caterpillar marched out into the rain...
... and up the deck panel, where again it disappeared.
I wish it safety and happiness.
... there it was, on the bottom step, pausing to digest its last meal...
... then it went up the steps... (oh no, not again!)
... toward the pots and the railing... (OK, so not a repeat of the other caterpillar)
... climbed a baluster...
... reached the top, which was good enough for the monarch caterpillar...
... but not good enough for this caterpillar, which dropped four feet to the ground...
... and went into the weeds under the butterfly bush... (good, a suitable place)
... and a few minutes later came out the other side onto the pavement... (aaaaaagh!)
... went up the cellar door... (uh oh)
... and started up the wall of the house... (no. absolutely not.)
I grabbed a wood strip that was leaning against the wall, waited while the caterpillar crawled on, whisked it over to the butterfly bush.
The caterpillar was not pleased at the interruption and stuck out its horns...
... but it climbed into the butterfly bush...
... roamed up one branch and over to another branch (center top of photo)...
... and down to the ground... (seriously? what’s wrong with the butterfly bush?)
... and back onto the butterfly bush where it got lost in the leaves (center of photo)... (phew, it’ll be OK in there)
I went inside, continued with tasks, returned outside while coffee was cooking, and there was the caterpillar, crossing the pavement and heading toward the cellar door... (WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE BUTTERFLY BUSH?)
I went inside to get the coffee, returned outside a few minutes later, and... no caterpillar. Well, maybe it had the sense to U turn back to the butterfly bush.
A drenching rain passed through. When the rain subsided, I stepped onto the back porch, glanced around, and there was the caterpillar, brightly prominent on top of the trash can, in a puddle. I grabbed a garden tool, picked up the caterpillar, and placed it under the deck steps.
I took a photo of where it had been...
... and where I had put it, an unsatisfactory location already abandoned, as the caterpillar marched out into the rain...
... and up the deck panel, where again it disappeared.
I wish it safety and happiness.
49fuzzi
It is funny how these caterpillars are SO particular about their 'changing room'!
Thanks for the play by play photos.
Thanks for the play by play photos.
50qebo
So I went inside, did some housekeeping, wrote the caterpillar report... four hours passed. Oops, getting dark, better put out the trash. I stepped onto the deck, heading toward the trash can, and lookie who’s here:
(The camera is significantly adjusting the light. Really, it’s half dark out there.)
(Yes, of course I had the camera with me.)
What does it want?
(The camera is significantly adjusting the light. Really, it’s half dark out there.)
(Yes, of course I had the camera with me.)
What does it want?
51fuzzi
Maybe he's starstruck...after all, you've been following him around for days, taking his picture...
54sibylline
This is just so much fun, I love it. I have been fascinated by caterpillar stubbornness and particularity - thrill-seekers, some of them? I love it that it stuck out its horns at you in annoyance.
55lauralkeet
I'm also finding the Caterpillar Chronicles quite fun reading! I wonder if I can count 'em as a book?
56qebo
51,53: Caterpillar watching raises ethical questions... Is my presence affecting behavior? Should I intervene? I want to see what happens, and I want it to be safe. Maybe it’s none of my business. And caterpillars have been managing perfectly well without me for eons.
53: The horns were more impressive than the photo shows. I wasn't able to catch the optimal moment.
55: I've been wondering the same thing. My book count is suffering.
53: The horns were more impressive than the photo shows. I wasn't able to catch the optimal moment.
55: I've been wondering the same thing. My book count is suffering.
58qebo
57: The ones in chrysalis form? I mostly don't. The only ones I've found are the monarch and fritillary that were easily visible, and the three swallowtails that I happened to see drop off the dill and followed. A gazillion fritillary caterpillars stopped appearing in the violets (though I've been seeing quite a few fritillary butterflies lately). Of the eleven swallowtail caterpillars that made it to the final instar stage, eight suddenly went poof. Considering the adventures I've witnessed, I'd guess not all of them remained in my yard.
59tiffin
This whole adventure is as good as a book. And you are the only person I've ever known who got horned by a caterpillar.
61qebo
YouTube videos of caterpillar horns:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUanFfF_ZX4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vj1jNu3aEDc
59: This whole adventure is as good as a book.
I'm imagining a combo of Are You My Mother and Where's Waldo?.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUanFfF_ZX4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vj1jNu3aEDc
59: This whole adventure is as good as a book.
I'm imagining a combo of Are You My Mother and Where's Waldo?.
63qebo
Not a chrysalis yet. The others happened more quickly. Is it too cold?
On my back porch this morning. I almost stepped on it.
On my back porch this morning. I almost stepped on it.
64lauralkeet
Oh, I really like that praying mantis and love discovering them this time of year. Some of them are really huge.
66lauralkeet
Silly me. At first glance I saw only the one at the top of the photo (next to the garden hose). I practically jumped out of my skin when I noticed the one up close! Gorgeous.
69qebo
66,67: SqueakyChu saw a Pearl Crescent in July, and the host is asters, which I have, so I'd been hoping for one to show up in my yard.
74qebo
Monarch migration, where and when:
http://www.monarchwatch.org/tagmig/peak.html
http://www.monarchwatch.org/tagmig/peak.html
75SqueakyChu
> 74
I'm at latitude 39...
midpoint - 22 September...
peak abundance - 14 to 16 September
I know my stats will de 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, etc.
After all, I only saw two monarchs all summer. :(
I'll still keep an eye out for them, though.
I'm at latitude 39...
midpoint - 22 September...
peak abundance - 14 to 16 September
I know my stats will de 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, etc.
After all, I only saw two monarchs all summer. :(
I'll still keep an eye out for them, though.
77SqueakyChu
LOL at fuzzi!
I hope my monarch numbers peak tomorrow. Today they still remain at 0. :)
I hope my monarch numbers peak tomorrow. Today they still remain at 0. :)
78NorthernStar
Latitude 58.5, no monarchs ever :(
(Except on a trip to California, once)
And I did hear that some made it as far north as Edmonton this summer (53.5 N)
(Except on a trip to California, once)
And I did hear that some made it as far north as Edmonton this summer (53.5 N)
79qebo
Via Garden Rant blog (Amy Stewart among others), an NPR Science Friday video about cucumber tendrils, plus links to others such as pollen origami.
80qebo
Something’s happening (compare to post 45)... unless it just wants to match the dying sunflower.
81SqueakyChu
:)
82qebo
Apparently it’s been awhile since I checked my yard. I went out to look at the sunflower chrysalis, glanced along the fence and saw:
So I walked the fence, and found another:
May as well check the deck too:
And a bonus, presumably the caterpillar that left the dill yesterday, though this doesn’t seem sheltered enough so maybe it will move on:
(For those of you monitoring my work ethic, I’m waiting for the IT guy to reconstruct a server so I can do my part.)
So I walked the fence, and found another:
May as well check the deck too:
And a bonus, presumably the caterpillar that left the dill yesterday, though this doesn’t seem sheltered enough so maybe it will move on:
(For those of you monitoring my work ethic, I’m waiting for the IT guy to reconstruct a server so I can do my part.)
84qebo
I almost dismissed this as yet another Variegated Fritillary, but it’s a Meadow Fritillary (Boloria bellona).
qebo = 28
qebo = 28
85qebo
Things have progressed, but now it’s dark, so I’ll probably miss the interesting parts.
The chrysalis looks transparent.
The caterpillar has remained devoted to this spot. It’s been right side up and upside down, and seems to be making arrangements to stay.
Another caterpillar left the dill today.
The chrysalis looks transparent.
The caterpillar has remained devoted to this spot. It’s been right side up and upside down, and seems to be making arrangements to stay.
Another caterpillar left the dill today.
87SqueakyChu
You have such a fasinating garden! Mine is so boring now. :(
89SqueakyChu
LOL!
91qebo
Yup, missed it. 6:45am, still in the chrysalis. I had to meet people to run, and when I returned home at 8:15, it was out.
And the caterpillar strung itself into place overnight. Seems an unwise decision, too exposed with no overhang, but what do I know?
And the caterpillar strung itself into place overnight. Seems an unwise decision, too exposed with no overhang, but what do I know?
94fuzzi
Congratulations!
It's overcast and on the cool side here today, perfect for yard work, but I just don't have any "oomph" to go outside and weed.
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak...
It's overcast and on the cool side here today, perfect for yard work, but I just don't have any "oomph" to go outside and weed.
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak...
95qebo
When the swallowtail flies away, I'll lose my excuse not to clean up the dead and toppled sunflowers. I am lacking oomph at the moment too.
97qebo
Peak monarch migration should be just about now here, and this morning three monarchs were on the butterfly bush at the same time.
The yard has been desperate for attention. I gave it a few hours today.
Morning. The swallowtail is still on the sunflower.
Afternoon. Visible progress though not done.
The yard has been desperate for attention. I gave it a few hours today.
Morning. The swallowtail is still on the sunflower.
Afternoon. Visible progress though not done.
99SqueakyChu
I was at the National Book Festival today on the mall here in Washington, DC, and I found a flower garden (filled with verbena, I think) that had tons of monarch butterflies in it. I've never seen so many at one time!
100fuzzi
Did you take pictures, @SqueakyChu?
101SqueakyChu
I didn't take pictures of the butterflies as I was on my way to the meet-up and didn't want to be late.
102qebo
Continuing from yesterday (I’d reached a point of rubbery legs and starvation), I took advantage of a chilly bumblebee-free morning and ruthlessly pruned the butterfly bush so I could weed underneath and walk along the path. Also I had to justify my decision not to go to the DC meetup. These were skinny straggly branches with mostly dead flowers, no chrysalises and no nectar. I realize that removal of old weeds delights new weeds, but for this brief moment I am appreciating the orderly condition. The triangle has three allium bulbs along the path, and phlox at the far corner that may or may not regenerate from brown sticks. The strip in the shade by the deck needs something but I’m not sure what. The strip in the sun by the fence will remain bare until the fence is replaced (tentatively late October). The patches of green on the ground near the butterfly bush are muscari that bloomed in early spring and have decided to try for another round.
103tardis
Well it certainly looks beautifully tidy now. Good work! And I don't think I mentioned before how much I like the pattern you used for that diagonal path. Very nice!
105fuzzi
I like the stone patterns too. I remember how a friend had a tiler come to put ceramic tile along her kitchen wall, above the counters and below the cupboards, and he put them in a diagonal/diamond pattern instead of just squares. It looked so different and interesting. If I ever get my wish to redo our kitchen, I might have that done. :)
Addendum: Aha! I just figured out that Muscari are grape hyacinths! I have those in my lawn and in a planter, but they've not volunteered to rebloom this year. I expect them to come back next Spring.
Addendum: Aha! I just figured out that Muscari are grape hyacinths! I have those in my lawn and in a planter, but they've not volunteered to rebloom this year. I expect them to come back next Spring.
106qebo
As of noon today, the caterpillar on the deck looked pretty much the same.
About 5:30pm I remembered to check. Its color had changed and it was squirming. This seemed promising, so I sat on the steps to watch. It squirmed so much that its rear detached, and reattached a few minutes later. Note the little bugs. I don’t know what the green bug is; I saw lots of these as I was weeding. I feared the fly/wasp was up to no good, so I went inside for tweezers and tried to dislodge it, but it scurried elsewhere on the caterpillar so I couldn’t get at it, and I didn't want to harm the caterpillar with clumsiness.
The caterpillar squirmed for an hour, then its skin split. This process occupied about a half hour.
When its skin was nearly off, it went into convulsions to remove the last bit. Note the waiting fly/wasp.
Again I tried unsuccessfully to dislodge the fly/wasp. Laying eggs?
About 5:30pm I remembered to check. Its color had changed and it was squirming. This seemed promising, so I sat on the steps to watch. It squirmed so much that its rear detached, and reattached a few minutes later. Note the little bugs. I don’t know what the green bug is; I saw lots of these as I was weeding. I feared the fly/wasp was up to no good, so I went inside for tweezers and tried to dislodge it, but it scurried elsewhere on the caterpillar so I couldn’t get at it, and I didn't want to harm the caterpillar with clumsiness.
The caterpillar squirmed for an hour, then its skin split. This process occupied about a half hour.
When its skin was nearly off, it went into convulsions to remove the last bit. Note the waiting fly/wasp.
Again I tried unsuccessfully to dislodge the fly/wasp. Laying eggs?
109qebo
And for the record, 8am this morning, on its way to being brown:
I checked the other chrysalises around the yard, and nothing seems to be happening. Three large caterpillars still on the dill, also a small one I discovered yesterday.
I checked the other chrysalises around the yard, and nothing seems to be happening. Three large caterpillars still on the dill, also a small one I discovered yesterday.
110SqueakyChu
That was fascinating. A photo documentary - shot right on our own gardening thread. Thanks for the pictures!!
113qebo
Not much has been happening this week. A few large caterpillars departed the dill, but I don’t know where they went. A few small caterpillars appeared on the dill. There are six chrysalises, five of which are from the same batch as the butterfly that emerged a week ago, but I’m not seeing signs of activity. These are all Black Swallowtail. Mornings and evenings are chilly, but butterflies are still around in the afternoons.
The goal for the weekend is to clean up the circle, which I haven’t photographed lately because it is such a mess.
Tying into the LT theme... I'm reading a fantastic book, The Mystery of Metamorphosis by Frank Ryan.
The goal for the weekend is to clean up the circle, which I haven’t photographed lately because it is such a mess.
Tying into the LT theme... I'm reading a fantastic book, The Mystery of Metamorphosis by Frank Ryan.
116tiffin
This was wonderful! I really, really, really loved the pics of something I've never seen in real life. Thank you.
117qebo
Weeding the circle didn’t take long because the ground is wet from recent rain, but I had to get more yard debris bags, and somehow I returned home with more plants too. Also I’ve decided to move several plants now that I’ve seen them in bloom. So no “before” photos just yet, because “after” will be bit.
The question of the week has been what to do about the aphids on the milkweed. I hadn’t been checking the milkweed because the flowers were gone and the monarchs were gone and activity was elsewhere in the yard. Then I wandered into the circle considering next steps, and noticed a population explosion of aphids. (Also the milkweed bugs aren’t as cute when they’re grown up.)
One option is to knock them off with water. Another is to squish them on the stem. The solution that appeals most to me is... do nothing.
http://blog.wildaboutants.com/2010/05/04/oleander-aphids-on-milkweed/
http://blog.pennlive.com/gardening/2008/09/aphids_on_milkweed.html
These sites suggest waiting a week or two for the appearance of predators, e.g. wasps or lady bugs. I’m not seeing evidence of predators.
http://www.ourhabitatgarden.org/creatures/milkweed-problems.html
This site describes my situation, aphids at the end of the season, and shows a photo with aphids as dense as mine, an annual cycle. I’m inclined to experiment. The milkweed is done for the year anyway. If the aphids make an appearance next spring when the flowers are blooming and the caterpillars are munching, then I’ll get concerned.
The question of the week has been what to do about the aphids on the milkweed. I hadn’t been checking the milkweed because the flowers were gone and the monarchs were gone and activity was elsewhere in the yard. Then I wandered into the circle considering next steps, and noticed a population explosion of aphids. (Also the milkweed bugs aren’t as cute when they’re grown up.)
One option is to knock them off with water. Another is to squish them on the stem. The solution that appeals most to me is... do nothing.
http://blog.wildaboutants.com/2010/05/04/oleander-aphids-on-milkweed/
http://blog.pennlive.com/gardening/2008/09/aphids_on_milkweed.html
These sites suggest waiting a week or two for the appearance of predators, e.g. wasps or lady bugs. I’m not seeing evidence of predators.
http://www.ourhabitatgarden.org/creatures/milkweed-problems.html
This site describes my situation, aphids at the end of the season, and shows a photo with aphids as dense as mine, an annual cycle. I’m inclined to experiment. The milkweed is done for the year anyway. If the aphids make an appearance next spring when the flowers are blooming and the caterpillars are munching, then I’ll get concerned.
118SqueakyChu
I had aphids on my swamp milkweed and ignored them. The ants milked them for a while. The plant made two pods of seeds. I see the seeds on yours as well. I did nothing. the aphids are gone. My plants were not as heavily infested with aphids as yours, though. That is quite a number of aphids!!
I hate squishing bugs. The gross ones I hand pick, bag in plastic, and throw away with refuse.
I hate squishing bugs. The gross ones I hand pick, bag in plastic, and throw away with refuse.
119qebo
I have milkweed seeds floating around all over my yard. I'll plant some of them. The aphids are quite orange. I'm not killing them deliberately, but I'm not making a point of not killing them either, and my hands were orange from shifting the branches to weed underneath and tie onto stakes. The aphids do not seem interested in other plants. You had ants tending the aphids?
120SqueakyChu
Yes. They "milk" them!
I think a few aphids might be okay (they did damage my plants a bit), but you have way too many!!
I think a few aphids might be okay (they did damage my plants a bit), but you have way too many!!
122fuzzi
If you don't like squishing bugs, get a glass jar with a lid, put in an inch or so of paint thinner/turpentine or similar fluid, and then use the lid to scrape bugs off the plants and into the jar.
123qebo
121: Oh, I have lots of milkweed seeds. PM your address and I'll send some.
120: Reason I was asking is the first link in post 117 is an ant blog. The blogger is interested in ants and aphids, but hadn't seen ants tending oleander aphids.
you have way too many!!
Well, way too many for what? If I don't just let them be, then I'll never know the consequences. They didn't show up until the milkweed was deteriorating anyway. Maybe now that they're here, they'll show up earlier next year. Or maybe not.
120: Reason I was asking is the first link in post 117 is an ant blog. The blogger is interested in ants and aphids, but hadn't seen ants tending oleander aphids.
you have way too many!!
Well, way too many for what? If I don't just let them be, then I'll never know the consequences. They didn't show up until the milkweed was deteriorating anyway. Maybe now that they're here, they'll show up earlier next year. Or maybe not.
124qebo
I was outside rearranging plants in the circle (now I’m on rain delay), and saw... a Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) flutter by. A new one for me. Worn and ragged.
qebo = 29
qebo = 29
126qebo
Completed today: Marked locations for six echinacea. Planted one more Joe Pye. Dug up one ironweed, one liatris, one aster, one wild bergemot, three mountain mints, two grasses. Replanted ironweed. Planted two more ironweed. Replanted liatris. Planted two more liatris. Replanted aster. Planted five more aster. Replanted wild bergemot. Replanted one mountain mint. Essentially, I’ve swapped two sections of the circle, shuffled the arrangement, added more plants that flower in late summer. The reason for swapping the sections is that ironweed and liatris and aster have bright magenta / purple flowers that I wanted visible from elsewhere in the yard, and mountain mint has pale lavender flowers that are pleasant enough but not so showy. Nearly dark by the time I got this far, and there’s more to do, so no photos.
128qebo
Well, I couldn't plant anything until I did the digging up, and I didn't want to leave roots exposed all week (though I'm finding plants to be pretty resilient). It's getting dark too early to do much after work these days. Such a relief to have this nearly done, because I've known I wanted to do the swap for over a month, and meanwhile the weeds were proliferating. Next spring, I can concentrate on other parts of the yard.
BTW, I collected milkweed and Joe Pye seeds this afternoon.
BTW, I collected milkweed and Joe Pye seeds this afternoon.
130qebo
The circle, planted and weeded.
And lookee what I found on the ground below the milkweed. I’ll have to find a way to secure it on the back porch.
Caterpillar status:
4 Black Swallowtail caterpillars on the dill.
2 Black Swallowtail caterpillars on the parsley.
6 Black Swallowtail chrysalises on the deck and fence. 5 of these have been there for 3-4 weeks.
1 Variegated Fritillary caterpillar on the violets.
And lookee what I found on the ground below the milkweed. I’ll have to find a way to secure it on the back porch.
Caterpillar status:
4 Black Swallowtail caterpillars on the dill.
2 Black Swallowtail caterpillars on the parsley.
6 Black Swallowtail chrysalises on the deck and fence. 5 of these have been there for 3-4 weeks.
1 Variegated Fritillary caterpillar on the violets.
131fuzzi
That looks so nice, @qebo! My garden is still in need of weeding, although my brother went out there and chopped down all the dog fennel...it was about seven feet high!
132qebo
This afternoon I happened to catch this bug scurrying by...
... and I realized that the mystery bug of post 83 is a recently molted small milkweed bug (Lygaeus kalmii). Another today:
For comparison:
... and I realized that the mystery bug of post 83 is a recently molted small milkweed bug (Lygaeus kalmii). Another today:
For comparison:
1342wonderY
Wow! Nice! All ready to be tucked away for a season.
(refering to your garden picture in #130, that is)
(refering to your garden picture in #130, that is)
135qebo
The monarch chrysalis is now hanging inside a small container inside a large container...
... on the back porch, sheltered from wind and rain.
... on the back porch, sheltered from wind and rain.
137qebo
136: We'll just see... Monarchs are supposed to migrate, it's two weeks past the peak, butterflies need 55 degrees to fly and not much of that will be happening over the next week. This monarch unwisely secured its future to a leaf, and may have been on the ground for days or weeks before I noticed it.
138qebo
:-(
This is the one I watched turn into a chrysalis. It hasn’t seemed right in awhile, tilted and darker than the others. Hollow inside.
This is the one I watched turn into a chrysalis. It hasn’t seemed right in awhile, tilted and darker than the others. Hollow inside.
139lauralkeet
Awww, that's sad.
141SqueakyChu
> 130
Your "caterpillar status" is amazing! :)
Your "caterpillar status" is amazing! :)
142qebo
A local monarch expert advised me to bring the monarch chrysalis inside for protection, and assured me that the weather is still warm enough for release outside. This was seeming doubtful over several gloomy chilly days, but today is pleasantly sunny in the low 60s, and next week is expected to be warmer. It’s not exactly cozy inside either, because I haven’t turned the heat on yet, but at least the temperature doesn’t drop into the 40s overnight. I don’t have an ideal situation, but I have a room temporarily closed off from the cats, with a door to the balcony, and the chrysalis should give warning when the butterfly is about to emerge.
143SqueakyChu
Sounds like fun!
At a local butterfly show I attended last year, there was an exhibit of a closet-like apparatus with many chrysallises, all in different states of development.
Do it!
At a local butterfly show I attended last year, there was an exhibit of a closet-like apparatus with many chrysallises, all in different states of development.
Do it!
144qebo
Yeah, I moved the chrysalis inside. I'm really not sure what the right thing to do is, and I'm going to worry about it either way. I ordered a mesh container for emergencies / observation but it hasn't arrived yet.
145fuzzi
In the movie "The Silence of the Lambs", there was a guy who bred and raised moths, and had all sorts of screened boxes to keep them in.
146qebo
145: Ah, a fine role model.
http://earthsky.org/earth/lifeform-of-the-week-deaths-head-hawkmoth-is-stranger-...
http://earthsky.org/earth/lifeform-of-the-week-deaths-head-hawkmoth-is-stranger-...
148qebo
More caterpillars...
On the mustard, Cabbage White. I’d seen butterflies laying eggs, and I’d seen eggs, but I hadn’t seen caterpillars. Today I found three, and I’d guess there are more, considering that they don’t exactly pop out from the leafy background. These are somewhat over an inch long.
And also on the mustard, two fuzzy caterpillars, not yet identified.
Other caterpillar status:
6 Black Swallowtail caterpillars on the dill. (5 large and a little one that I noticed just today.)
1 Black Swallowtail caterpillar on the parsley. (I saw another yesterday but not today.)
5 Black Swallowtail chrysalises on the deck and fence. (All have been there for about a month.)
0 Variegated Fritillary caterpillars on the violets. (I haven’t seen the one in several days, and it was big enough to chrysalize.)
1 Monarch chrysalis in the back bedroom.
On the mustard, Cabbage White. I’d seen butterflies laying eggs, and I’d seen eggs, but I hadn’t seen caterpillars. Today I found three, and I’d guess there are more, considering that they don’t exactly pop out from the leafy background. These are somewhat over an inch long.
And also on the mustard, two fuzzy caterpillars, not yet identified.
Other caterpillar status:
6 Black Swallowtail caterpillars on the dill. (5 large and a little one that I noticed just today.)
1 Black Swallowtail caterpillar on the parsley. (I saw another yesterday but not today.)
5 Black Swallowtail chrysalises on the deck and fence. (All have been there for about a month.)
0 Variegated Fritillary caterpillars on the violets. (I haven’t seen the one in several days, and it was big enough to chrysalize.)
1 Monarch chrysalis in the back bedroom.
149sibylline
Just think, all this action in a garden that is what..... six or seven months old? The delight you are getting out of what you are seeing is so apparent. Wonderful.
150SqueakyChu
> 148
1 Monarch chrysalis in the back bedroom.
Heh!
1 Monarch chrysalis in the back bedroom.
Heh!
152qebo
151: Maybe... I think we have the same caterpillar book, Caterpillars of Eastern North America? There's a section toward the end with several plausible candidates, but none seems quite right. I had yellow collared scape moths in my yard, they like Joe Pye, but my caterpillars seem to have longer hair and duller yellow. I need to google for variations.
154qebo
The monarch chrysalis is getting dark w/ bits of orange. I am hopeful about the timing. The next two days are supposed to get into the upper 60s.
160qebo
7:15 this morning...
I actually got up at 6 to check, but it didn't look ready so I went back to sleep. The day is looking to be as advertised, temperature already over 50, semi clear sky, supposed to hit 68. As good as it'll get this time of year, so I hope the butterfly chooses today. The plan is to put the chrysalis outside in the sunshine. I'm not sure exactly how to time this, so the agenda for the day is monarch monitoring, The other monarch emerged in the sunshine mid morning and hung around for a couple of hours before its wings were ready to fly.
I actually got up at 6 to check, but it didn't look ready so I went back to sleep. The day is looking to be as advertised, temperature already over 50, semi clear sky, supposed to hit 68. As good as it'll get this time of year, so I hope the butterfly chooses today. The plan is to put the chrysalis outside in the sunshine. I'm not sure exactly how to time this, so the agenda for the day is monarch monitoring, The other monarch emerged in the sunshine mid morning and hung around for a couple of hours before its wings were ready to fly.
164NorthernStar
wow!
166lauralkeet
Oh that's a really great shot. Yay butterfly!
167qebo
The monarch had been in a room with an east window and morning sun, except there was no sun this morning. About noon, the temperature outside rose to the temperature inside, so I moved the chrysalis container outside and arranged it to catch the sun and anchored it with nails.
About 1pm, sun! And minutes later, a bright and shiny painted lady appeared, an encouraging sign that the day was meant for butterflies.
I went about my business getting potted plants into the ground, keeping an eye on the monarch.
About 3pm, there it was, the photo above, and over the next 15 minutes its wings extended. I’d attached a paper towel ramp as a rough surface, but the butterfly was trying the grab the metal hook and slipping, and the thread / leaf / chrysalis was twisting with its weight, so I added sticks, but it managed to stabilize.
By 4pm that part of the yard was in the shade, and I was worried about impending temperature drop and dark. I was worried about moving the butterfly too, but I caaarefully carried the container and its accessories to the bottom of the yard where the sun had another hour.
The butterfly began to flap its wings. It’s a boy.
At 6pm I had to leave for the evening. The butterfly was on the stick.
The temperature is supposed to drop to 55 tonight, which is better than recent nights, and tomorrow will be in the low to mid 60s but may be rainy. I propped sticks below a plastic chair a few feet from the butterfly for shelter. This is an iffy time of year.
About 1pm, sun! And minutes later, a bright and shiny painted lady appeared, an encouraging sign that the day was meant for butterflies.
I went about my business getting potted plants into the ground, keeping an eye on the monarch.
About 3pm, there it was, the photo above, and over the next 15 minutes its wings extended. I’d attached a paper towel ramp as a rough surface, but the butterfly was trying the grab the metal hook and slipping, and the thread / leaf / chrysalis was twisting with its weight, so I added sticks, but it managed to stabilize.
By 4pm that part of the yard was in the shade, and I was worried about impending temperature drop and dark. I was worried about moving the butterfly too, but I caaarefully carried the container and its accessories to the bottom of the yard where the sun had another hour.
The butterfly began to flap its wings. It’s a boy.
At 6pm I had to leave for the evening. The butterfly was on the stick.
The temperature is supposed to drop to 55 tonight, which is better than recent nights, and tomorrow will be in the low to mid 60s but may be rainy. I propped sticks below a plastic chair a few feet from the butterfly for shelter. This is an iffy time of year.
168qebo
8:00 am: I expected the butterfly to be gone but it is still there. On the ground. I moved it under the chair in case of rain because the sky is cloudy. It flapped its wings but did not fly. The temperature is low 60s.
9:00 am: I gave it some flowers.
9:45 am: It's flapping its wings and getting a short distance. It's on the mountain mint. It seems persistent.
10:15 am: Gone. So maybe it just needed awhile to warm up.
9:00 am: I gave it some flowers.
9:45 am: It's flapping its wings and getting a short distance. It's on the mountain mint. It seems persistent.
10:15 am: Gone. So maybe it just needed awhile to warm up.
169qebo
Well this is a popular spot. The chrysalis is the one that's been there for over a month. I've lost track of the caterpillars on the dill; every time I count, I get a different number, but obviously some have been leaving.
170qebo
8:30 am: Still looking like caterpillars.
12:45 pm: One down, one to go.
1:30 pm: Caught in the act.
1:45 pm: Done.
12:45 pm: One down, one to go.
1:30 pm: Caught in the act.
1:45 pm: Done.
173SqueakyChu
Your photos are just amazing, Katherine. What a show!
175SqueakyChu
Katherine, you should volunteer to be a park naturalist!
176qebo
Nothing especially notable in the yard these few days. Fall cleanup. Today’s task was an expansion area for the violets near the compost bin. They’re sparse now, but they were spreading into the mulch over the summer.
On Tuesday, my 6’ fence will be replaced by 3’ pickets! I’ve been wanting to do this for a couple years, but until this year the yard was too out of control.
This spider was not in my yard. I passed by it in a park a few blocks away, brightly prominent on the grass.
On Tuesday, my 6’ fence will be replaced by 3’ pickets! I’ve been wanting to do this for a couple years, but until this year the yard was too out of control.
This spider was not in my yard. I passed by it in a park a few blocks away, brightly prominent on the grass.
177qebo
172: I’ve been wondering how do they know all sorts of things.
173,174: Thanks! Taking photos forces me to stop and look.
173,174: Thanks! Taking photos forces me to stop and look.
178SqueakyChu
> 176
That is one weird spider!
That is one weird spider!
180fuzzi
(177) @qebo, I just trust that God has given them the knowledge to do that which they need to do. We don't have that because we "know better"... :grin:
Nifty spider! I've noticed a bunch of different types spinning webs all over, last ditch effort before frost? I'll post them shortly, but not here...don't want to hijack your thread, @qebo!
BTW, your compost area looks so nice and neat!
Nifty spider! I've noticed a bunch of different types spinning webs all over, last ditch effort before frost? I'll post them shortly, but not here...don't want to hijack your thread, @qebo!
BTW, your compost area looks so nice and neat!
181norabelle414
Wow that's a cool spider!
182qebo
It is a marbled orb weaver (Araneus marmoreus) (thanks to my father for finding a photo). Sez the internet, orb weavers lay eggs in the fall then die with the first frost, and the babies hatch in the spring.
180: Which would still leave open questions of neurochemistry and such. I wonder, for example, what triggers them to stop munching on the host plant and march across the yard.
180: Which would still leave open questions of neurochemistry and such. I wonder, for example, what triggers them to stop munching on the host plant and march across the yard.
184tiffin
The patterns on that orb weaver's back are remarkable. Oh so envious at your neat and tidy garden (looking out at a wet, leaf strewn mess here).
185qebo
183: Yeah, that too. Along with all the preparation, because I don't suppose caterpillars consciously plan for the future.
184: I have no leaves because I have no trees. :-(
My neighborhood is construction central today, with an oil to gas conversion across the street, and my fence replacement. A neighbor came out to look, and noticed my native plants. Turns out she has a native plant thing going in her back yard too, half a block away and I didn’t know. She has milkweed, so maybe that’s why monarchs arrived so quickly after I planted. And she was pleased to see ironweed in my circle because she’d been looking for it, so she took seeds.
The fence won’t be quite finished today.
184: I have no leaves because I have no trees. :-(
My neighborhood is construction central today, with an oil to gas conversion across the street, and my fence replacement. A neighbor came out to look, and noticed my native plants. Turns out she has a native plant thing going in her back yard too, half a block away and I didn’t know. She has milkweed, so maybe that’s why monarchs arrived so quickly after I planted. And she was pleased to see ironweed in my circle because she’d been looking for it, so she took seeds.
The fence won’t be quite finished today.
186SqueakyChu
Very cool about your neighbor with native plants. I have some neighbors as well who are part of a Native Species Network group I joined earlier this year. They all have native plant gardens. Some individuals in that group were too pushy and activist for me so I dropped out. Their plants remain in their gardens, though! :)
187_Zoe_
I had a dream about caterpillars last night, and it must have been your fault. In the dream, I went with a friend to visit my elementary school. In the schoolyard we started gathering caterpillars. We each had three, just carrying them in our hands. And then when it was time to leave I tried to hand him all of mine and get him to take them home. And he refused! The nerve. He said it was too much to carry around six caterpillars, or something. I was annoyed.
189qebo
187: Well, the caterpillars were probably better off where they were. I do not dream about caterpillars, so I don't accept full responsibility. :-)
190qebo
Old fence:
New fence:
I spent a couple days in waves of anxiety because there is no absolute reference for positioning the fence, I couldn’t get at things to plot properly with the 6’ fence blocking physical access and vision, the construction guys were not as keen as I was to spend time surveying the yard, and there were quick decisions and a bit of eyeballing, but amazingly the result is aligned with the path and the circle and such.
The two panels leaning against the fence between the yards are where the swallowtail chrysalises will reside for the winter. (I walked the fence with a mirror before the construction guys arrived, and didn’t find anything else.) Yesterday I shifted the panels to secure them, and behind them were half a dozen cabbage white caterpillars who had migrated from the mustard. So presumably they’ll be there for the winter too.
New fence:
I spent a couple days in waves of anxiety because there is no absolute reference for positioning the fence, I couldn’t get at things to plot properly with the 6’ fence blocking physical access and vision, the construction guys were not as keen as I was to spend time surveying the yard, and there were quick decisions and a bit of eyeballing, but amazingly the result is aligned with the path and the circle and such.
The two panels leaning against the fence between the yards are where the swallowtail chrysalises will reside for the winter. (I walked the fence with a mirror before the construction guys arrived, and didn’t find anything else.) Yesterday I shifted the panels to secure them, and behind them were half a dozen cabbage white caterpillars who had migrated from the mustard. So presumably they’ll be there for the winter too.
191tardis
Love the new fence! And what a nice gift for passers-by to be able to enjoy your garden, too! Admiring other people's gardens is one of my favourite things :)
192SqueakyChu
I love the picket fence! Your garden looks so neat as well.
Will the chrysalises survive the winter?
Will the chrysalises survive the winter?
193qebo
Thanks!
191: October may not be the best time to present my garden to the world.
192: The "late season" swallowtails are supposed to overwinter in chrysalis form and emerge in spring. I haven't checked on cabbage white, but I'd suppose the same.
191: October may not be the best time to present my garden to the world.
192: The "late season" swallowtails are supposed to overwinter in chrysalis form and emerge in spring. I haven't checked on cabbage white, but I'd suppose the same.
194lauralkeet
Love the fence!
1972wonderY
That new fence really opens up the space, and allows passers-by to enjoy your yard too. Hoping you've got good neighbors.
199qebo
Layer 1 : 3 black swallowtails, 6 cabbage whites, several batches of unidentified eggs
Layer 2 : 1 black swallowtail
Secured and sheltered from the impending storm and winter.
Layer 2 : 1 black swallowtail
Secured and sheltered from the impending storm and winter.
200qebo
The rain has begun, and we’re expected to get 40-45mph wind by tomorrow afternoon. I thought about potting the dill and bringing it inside, but it’s way too high for the butterfly enclosure. So instead, I potted a small dill (too small to support a population of caterpillars), and cut branches off a large dill and parsley, branches that included the 5 caterpillars on the dill and 1 caterpillar on the parsley. These are all smallish caterpillars, not yet ready to become chrysalides. I’ll put them back outside when the hurricane is gone.
201SqueakyChu
That is so sweet!
203ronincats
Got back from our trip to find small caterpillars eating holes in my tomato seedlings--I'm betting brand new hornworms, so they are not surviving!
207qebo
The yard is soggy and strewn with leaves, the plants are flopped over, that's about the extent of it.
209qebo
The dill fell over during the storm, so I tied it upright to stakes this afternoon and returned its five caterpillars. The sixth caterpillar began on the parsley and I don't know how they take to switching, so I put it back on the parsley. Still damp and cloudy and chilly outside. I would've preferred sunshine to ease the transition, but I'm not seeing much improvement in the near future, and the caterpillars will get confused about the season if I keep them inside.
212norabelle414
You're such a good caterpillar mom :-)
214lauralkeet
>213 fuzzi:: seconded.
216qebo
The snow won’t last. Since I last checked in...
* Butterfly bush chopped down, after the flowers were gone, in preparation for removal / replacement in spring.
* Large bins moved from yard to deck, clearing space for another garden bed in spring.
* Grass moved from bottom of yard to bins on deck, because I’m not sure where to put it permanently.
* 1’ strip along path ready for... something that doesn’t get too tall, because this was easier than moving the raised beds closer to the path.
* 4’ x 16’ area at bottom corner leveled to match neighbor’s parking lot on the other side of the fence, in preparation for blueberry bushes.
* Much shuffling of dirt and mulch to fill in dents near the fence, not yet done.
218norabelle414
I want snow, I want snow!
221ronincats
Well, I spent some time picking off cabbage white butterfly caterpillars from my kale today. They were going great guns and it's a good think I got out there when I did, or I wouldn't have had any kale left! One site suggests strewing eggshells by the plants, and the moths think there is too much competition there and avoid it. I will try that.
223qebo
The snow is gone, and the yard is an expanse of brown, not so photogenic. :-(
221: You should send them to me! Well, maybe not in winter. I have a bunch of cabbage white chrysalides between the fence panels that are leaning at the side of my yard.
221: You should send them to me! Well, maybe not in winter. I have a bunch of cabbage white chrysalides between the fence panels that are leaning at the side of my yard.
224qebo
Annoyingly, Lowe's and Home Depot think that I am decorating for Christmas, not still shuffling dirt and mulch around in my yard. Bah humbug.
225fuzzi
Why would you be gardening? It's not Spring.... ;)
It was a nice day outside, but I spent the afternoon rearranging my living room instead of working in the gardens. Shame on me.
It was a nice day outside, but I spent the afternoon rearranging my living room instead of working in the gardens. Shame on me.
226lauralkeet
>224 qebo:: ha! We were in our local Lowe's last weekend and I thought I might find some birdseed but that section was taken over by Christmas!
>225 fuzzi:: I didn't garden on Saturday either, although I had a passing thought about how nice it would be do do so
>225 fuzzi:: I didn't garden on Saturday either, although I had a passing thought about how nice it would be do do so
227fuzzi
@lindsacl, see if you have a Wild Birds Unlimited (http://www.wbu.com/) nearby. The seed is more expensive, but it's quality seed: no twigs and junk that you find in bargain seed. It lasts longer, too, imo: probably because the birds don't have as much junk to pick through and discard.
Besides, I like supporting the local small businesses. :)
Besides, I like supporting the local small businesses. :)
228lauralkeet
>227 fuzzi:: Thanks! We do have one nearby and I've stopped there occasionally, but there's another small local business closer to home where I usually buy my seed and where we ended up buying it last weekend. And I felt better for doing so! :)
229labfs39
If you become a member at WBU, you get a discount for each bag of seed plus earn bird bucks to spend on anything. I save tons of money each year by being a member.
230qebo
Unfortunately, the two WBU stores nearest me would be quite a trek, but I'll keep an eye on the online store.
232tiffin
Wow, what a difference that fence makes! You've gone from Fort Knox to "hi there, neighbour"! And you are just a hoot with your butterfly mothering. It's going to be really interesting next Spring!
233qebo
Sadly, none of the swallowtail caterpillars (two adventurers of posts 46 and 68, four on the fence panels of posts 169 and 199, one on the deck railing) made it through the winter. I don’t know exactly when they all dropped off, but the last one was a couple of weeks ago; the chrysalis split, and inside was a bundle of tiny maggots.
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