We have a "situation"!!
Remember the guy from the Jersey Shore tv show?
Anyway, we have one here, we have caterpillars everywhere.
When I clean the cage, I have to take them out.
I find them on the floor, on my shirt, sliding along the dishwasher,
when I say they are everywhere, they are everywhere.
I have 30 active, live ones right now.
Last night, both the hubs and I were counting 29, after I had cleaned the cage.
We were both exhausted, so 29 it was.
I zipped the cage up and we went about our business.
About 20 minutes later, I found one crawling on the floor....true story!
So let me show you the situation in pictures,
they have taken over,
they have taken over,
and this is the very best way for you to "get it"!
3 cages, the top cage has 30 or so live caterpillars.
A couple are in chrysalis.
In the other 2 cages they are all chrysalis.
30 total, some were up top and all over.
The first 8 that I brought in the house in September.
I love watching them eat!
3 are "hooked", getting ready to chrysalis.
1 is in chrysalis,
these are in the newest cage.
I have never had this many all at once.
These caterpillars will all remain in chrysalis until next spring.
At that time, they will emerge as butterflies.
I will keep the cages in the garage, they must be kept cold,
come spring, I will check them every day.
It is so exciting...like a real miracle, but I did this last year, and they all survived
and became beautiful Black Swallowtail Butterflies!
19 comments:
Great work that you do with these caterpillars. You will be like an expectant mother all winter!
Hello, Debbie! You are like the queen of butterflies or caterpillars. I wish them all well. I think we are being invaded by crickets here. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!
I skipped through most of your post.. closed my eye when the pictures came.. peeking to stop when the comments section arrived.. I have a major insect phobia.. I don't just close my eye when bug appear in a movie I make my husband mute it too.. even the sound of them fluttering about gives me nightmares.. and now we live with a forest in our backyard and all sorts of creepy crawlies trying to get in..
David said it best:) Love the colors...
Oh my! You have a real workshop!!
The Hungry Caterpillars! You could write this book (if somebody hadn’t already done it .... but your pictures are better!). Wow... what a wonderful thing you do. I never thought about them needing to be kept cold. Can it ever get too cold for them? (Not in your garage, but in nature)?
This is just SO interesting!! I'm going to pass this on to my daughter who has a masters degree in Entomology. She'll love it!
Debbie you are fantastic conservationist. Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
Lol. I laughed when you found that last one. You are the swallowtail whisperer, Debbie.
Oh my word!!!---the invasion of the "pillars", ha ha LOL!! This is a cool post and when little granddaughter comes, I'm going to show it to her, she will love it, plus it will teach her about them. They are so big and healthy looking, and very pretty COLORS!!---you must be doing it right!!
I wonder if they remember you and think of you as mom...or the caterpillar equivalent. Um...Mother Nature? Lady of the Leaves? :-)
You have a very active nursery there. It must be exciting to watch all this.
That's impressive! Looks like you have a long term project on your hands! :-)
They are amazing and I enjoy seeing all that you do with them!
Amazing to read of your routine and how they all settle into chrysalis (I feel I learn something new from you each time you do a caterpillar post) over the colder months. Can imagine how the excitement builds as Spring approaches. Glad you caught the little escapee ;D)
My goodness Debbie … have to say you do so well with these caterpillars … I applaud you (and the hubs).
All the best Jan
Can't wait to see the photos in the Spring!!
Debbie, you are just so amazing at mothering these beautiful caterpillars. You really got some up close and personal photos. I love following your creative spirit and will look forward to them when they emerge next year.
Love and hugs for you!
Oh wow you have a lot of them don't you, now do you need to feed them all winter too, you are going to have a little swarm of them come spring won't you :)
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