Wine Cooler -- Stalling Emergence/Slowing Down Adults

[Mona Miller]

I finally took the plunge and purchased a small wine cooler. I need to save some pupae for a tagging event and also cool down some butterflies (let them sleep) so they won't mess up their wings before the event.

My frig is way too full with left overs, etc.

I did also buy a frig temperature gage to make sure that the temp on the wine cooler is actually the temp inside the wine cooler.

I purchased a really cheap model for around $80 at Target. This model was in the store, I didn't have to order it so I saved shipping.

http://www.target.com/Emerson-8-Bottle- ... ler&page=1

If you purchase this model, make sure you read directions. It needs space for the fans to work properly. Don't place it against the wall in any direction. Use an internal temperature gage.

I'll follow up to tell you how this worked.

[David Calhoun]

I was just thinking the other day about cooling them to slow down their development.My reason for doing so would be to try to get as many as possible to come out of their chrysalis at the same time.
Of course I know not to freeze them, but I didn't know if standard refrigerator temperature would be
too cold. I also considered taking some of them upstairs in the attic where it is about 80F,instead
of the 72F in the rest of the house, or do you think that that difference might be too subtle to make a difference?I am doing OK, haven't lost too many,have 10 cats right now,am waiting for my first
chrysalis to hatch (I'm a new egg.)David.

[Mona Miller]

No cooler than 45 to 50. Since each pupae probably pupated at different times, you'd still probably have them emerging at different times even if you cooled them. I am doing this to stall emergence. I will also cool them after they emerge and eat. So far, I have left them in there 4 days. I just took them out today. I'll now pin them up and let them emerge. Then put them into glassine envelopes and pop them back into the frig on probably day 2-3 of their lives. I don't want to do it right away. I won't to give them a chance to dry their wings first and get their first meal.

[Mona Miller]

I took my pupae out of the wine cooler and pinned them inside a net container. This is day two and they are still green. I need them for September 5. I'm holding my breath hoping that they will emerge and dry their wings by then. If they emerge too early, I will wait until day two, feed them, let them exercise to digest their food, and place them in glassine envelopes and put them into the cooler. I've read that they can stay in the wine cooler for 4 day periods. That you need to take them out, feed, exercise, and then back in.

I'm placing them inside plastic containers lined with paper towel to keep down the humidity, but provide some protection against the cold.

[Mona Miller]

My first butterfly emerged this morning from those kept in the wine cooler. And, since they all pupated at different times, they will also emerge at different times. The wine cooler does not synchronize their emerging times.

[Mona Miller]

All of the pupae from the wine cooler experiment have emerged. That slowed them down a few days, but every day helps. Now, I will let them dry their wings good and place them into glassine envelopes. My event is on Saturday, so I don't want them to break their wings before the event. I want them to be fresh and relaxed. That is what the lower temps do. It puts them into a sleep mode.

[Mona Miller]

Just took a batch of adults in glassine envelopes out of the wine cooler. I let them warm up and then fed them some gatorade. I am letting them exercise a bit and digest their food before I put them back in. I will not feed them again until the morning of the event.

My second batch of pupae are starting to emerge. So far, so good. I feel like I now am maintaining a butterfly nursery.

[chanceychelsey]

With our temperatures here, I am trying to speed mine up a little. Without driving my husband out of the house by turning the furnace on, I am just left to hoping they are out before it gets too cold here.

Two questions:
1. I believe I have aphids on my milkweed, but a gardener friend of mine says they do not look like aphids to her. The underside of the leaves are very well populated with small off white bugs, and the leaves are sticky (which is why I thought they were aphids). Any idea what else they could be?
2. My showy (?) milkweed came up this year and the leaves have a curl to them, which was not there the previous two years. Do they have some disease? Also a few plants in my common milkweed patch have the top few leaves starting to curl and kink?

Thanks
Waystation 927, Tottenham, Ontario

[Mona Miller]

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/Plan ... =Asclepias purpurascens
Problems associated with milkweeds

I have used incandescent light. You must use a temperature gage to see how hot it is. Don't get over 85 degrees. If you place this about a foot away, then it will generate more heat and speed up their development. You must mist a bit to keep them from drying out. Or place them in a south facing widow, monitor heat, mist. They can't tell you when it is getting too hot. Don't cook them.

[chanceychelsey]

Thanks Mona,

I actually placed them outside about 1/2 hour ago. It is warm today (20C) and very sunny. I have them in a partially shaded area, but I am sure it will be warmer than in the house. The next couple of days are supposed to be the same. I will bring them in at night and take them out in the morning. I am in a bit of a time crunch, as we are going away on the 9th, and I would like to be able to tag them all before I leave. I have a friend at work who I got interested in this, so if need be, I will take her my unhatched guys and she can tag them and let them go. It will be a little disappointing for me though, as I raised them all from egg, and would like to be the one setting them free on their journey!

Sharon
Waystation 927, Tottenham, Ontario

[Mona Miller]

Not too much sun. In nature, they hide their pupae under leaves for protection from the sun and rain. You could add the incandescent lights at night. Still be careful with the heat.

[Mona Miller]

Tomorrow is the big day. I have Monarch adults that have been in there 4 days and some that have been in there 2 days. I also have a few that I didn't cool. I'm afraid of not having any Monarchs to tag tomorrow. I'll let you know how the day goes.

I'm off to Maryland to the Monarch Fiesta at Black Hill Regional Park. I'll be there from probably 9:30 AM to 4 PM. Long day, but it is loads of fun.

See: http://www.montgomeryparks.org/nature_c ... index.shtm
and click on link to flyer or go directly to:
http://www.montgomeryparks.org/document ... _Flyer.pdf

[texas butterfly]

Awesome project.

Good luck and have fun!!!!

[Mona Miller]

Today, worked out pretty well. All the butterflies survived the wine cooler. If it hadn't been for the wine cooler I would not have been able to save the butterflies for the event without them damaging their wings.