My Oldest

[windrider]

This is the first guy I adopted a week ago today....



I found him while I was gathering eggs from my milkweed and decided to bring him in. He was bout 4mm long. I put some slightly damp paper towel down and placed a fresh leaf on it and set him down.

Tonight, as of last measurement he's about 40mm long and has now been placed upon a plant I uprooted and stuck in water for his food. I've named him Big Brother as it seemed nicer that "Mr. 8/11" and he's millimeters bigger than the 27 other little ones I've got munching away here in the basement.

[Seanaldo]

I love this picture!

[Mona Miller]

This isn't your first year. You sound like you know what you are doing. Perhaps the little ones under your care will learn from their big brother.

[windrider]

Seanaldo - I actually had to sit him down and have a talk as he wouldn't sit still for the pic...

Mona - Two years ago and last year, I found 5th-instar cats on leaves, brought them in and they shortly pupated...I mean, how hard is it to take are of a chrysalis other than to leave it alone and enjoy the show?

...what a beautiful show...

This isn't work in the actual sense...it's pure joy, I think...a bit of patience, just a LITTLE work gathering leaves and cleaning the nursery every day...for - what - a few weeks...? and whats the reward?

[Mona Miller]

The problem is when you start raising more than a few. There have been years I've released up to 500. But, I'm also raising several other species of butterflies and some times moths. I have a 5' net container of Mourning Cloaks. I'm having to find willow for them. It has to be early in the morning or late in the evening or the willow wilts. It's now daily that I have to take time to go out. Our area is getting less and less natural. It is hard to find a place to pull over on the side of the road and cut host plants.

[windrider]

Weeeellll...I noticed while gathering milkweed that I have a bunch of lady bug eggs...but considering the population we get every summer, I figured they'll do just fine and I'll concentrate on the monarchs. ONe thing I've been hoping to find has been swallowtail eggs or larva...I have several that like my fennel and butterfly bush...

ANYHOW...

I had to run to NYC this afternoon and didn't get home till late and found Big Brother tied to a leaf and in the J position....that was at 9pm EDT. He hasn't morphed yet, but I think when I come downstairs in the morning I'll find a chrysalis.

The only sad thing is that one of the other cats didn't make it today

[Mona Miller]

When you take them in, they are just like any other pet (but still wild). The cycle is so short that we get to experience joy and sadness over a very short period. But, the joy makes up for the sadness.