Last summer I enjoyed raising six Cecropia moth caterpillars (Hyalophora cecropia) from eggs. In late July, the caterpillars spun large cocoons incorporating the red maple leaves they had been feeding on as caterpillars.
Category: Butterflies, moths & caterpillars
I like butterflies!
Butterfly season has begun!
Last week I noticed a pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor) flying around the pipevine (Aristolochia tomentosa). As I suspected, I later found these eggs. Some of them are beginning to turn dark, and I expect to see tiny caterpillars soon.
Monarch Waystation presentation, April 4
I’ll be doing a presentation on monarch waystations on Thursday, April 4, at 7 p.m. at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 2025 Bellefonte Drive for the Lexington Chapter of Wild Ones (Facebook). Visitors are welcome.
Monarch butterflies are in trouble. Their numbers are the lowest ever recorded and the World Wildlife Fund has declared the monarch migration to be endangered. One way we can help these butterflies is to create monarch waystations – habitats that provide milkweed and nectar plants to encourage monarchs as well as other butterflies and pollinators.
Monarchs are dear to my heart, and I was moved by their story as told in the Flight of the Butterflies documentary movie. I’m very concerned about their survival, and I hope to encourage as many people as possible to provide habitats for them. I’d be glad to see you at the presentation.
A monarch film I hope you’ll see
We thoroughly enjoyed The Flight of the Butterflies at the IMAX theater at the Kentucky Science Center in Louisville recently. The film tells the amazing story of monarchs’ (Danaus plexippus) migration from North America to Mexico and back. It also tells of Dr. Fred Urquhart’s lifelong quest to solve the mystery of the monarchs and how he engaged citizen scientists to learn more about monarchs and discover their wintering place in Mexico.
Click below to play the movie trailer. Then click in the bottom right corner to see it in full screen mode.
Chip Taylor, the Director of Monarch Watch, gives this film a rave review and reports that monarchs are in serious trouble. Their population is half of what it was in the 1990s. I’m glad to know that 40% of proceeds from this movie goes to Monarch Conservation in Mexico. I’m hoping the movie will inspire people to plant more milkweeds. They are essential for the survival of monarchs since milkweeds are the only plants the caterpillars can eat.
This film documents an amazing story and the photography is spectacular. I truly hope you can see it. The film is playing in Louisville until January 18, and is or will be showing soon in other IMAX theaters. If you go, I’d be glad to know what you think about it. I would also appreciate you sharing this information with anyone else who might be interested.
Golden asters and butterflies
After a scarcity of butterflies during much of the summer, I’ve appreciated seeing several in the backyard lately. Our Golden Asters (Chrysopsis villosa) are in full bloom and have attracted several visitors.
5 & 6. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)