Celebrating the ordinary
My cecropia moth experience continues. In May, I reported on the emergence of the third generation of cecropia moths (Hyalophora cecropia). My three moths were all males. However, my friend, Susan had both male and female moths, and an additional male flew from the outside into her open cage to mate with one of the females.
Continue reading “Cecropia moth caterpilars to share – again”
Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica) is currently the highlight of our front and back yards. It was the subject of a blog in 2010, after I first planted it in the backyard. At that time, I declared it to be one of my favorite native plants, and that’s still true.
It has attractive blooms and nice foliage, and it’s quite hardy and drought resistant. It’s about 12-16″ high, and grows well in shade or part-shade. According to what I read, it also attracts hummingbirds. I’ve enjoyed it so much that I decided I wanted it more visible to others, and planted these by our front door.
This is an update on the caterpillars I found on pussytoes. This is one of the caterpillars shortly before it made a chrysalis.
I’ve been checking my spicebush (Lindera benzoin) for signs of caterpillars, and when I recently found this folded leaf my hopes were high.
I like Pussytoes (Antennaria spp.) for a ground cover. They are drought tolerant and I have patches of them growing in various degrees of sun and shade.
However, I recently became concerned when I saw leaves that looked damaged. I was pleasantly surprised when my friend, Connie May of Chrysalis Natural Landscapes, told me the damage was due to caterpillars of the American lady butterfly (Vanessa virginiensis). And I was relieved when she told me the caterpillars will not destroy the plants.
