Dan, you're a slave to duty - a born researcher - Darwin would be proud
of you. Even tagging the butterflies!
Alan C
On 13-Jun-19 02:25 AM, Daniel J. Matyola wrote:
Thanks, Larry, Henk and Alan!
Yes, it is a lot of fun, but the buggers are very difficult to
photograph inside of the mesh cages in which they are kept while they
develop. Shaking the cage even slightly carries a risk of dislodging
one of the chrysalises, and that makes emergence of a healthy adult
butterfly a bit less likely.
For various reasons, all the perennial milkweed I planted last year
died over the winter. Two that I placed in a sheltered location near
the house were disturbed by a plague of chipmunks burying beneath
their roots. Others were damaged by cold, wind or other animals.
This year, I got the perennials into the ground a lot earlier, so I am
hoping for better results. I also plant tropical milkweed, mostly in
pots, as caterpillar food. I treat those as annuals, and try to save
some seed for next year, with limited success. The eggs arrive on
small potted milkweed plants, and I have to plant and grow several
plants for each group of eggs as they develop.
All of the adults will be released into the wild, with the hope that
they will increase the local Monarch population. Last year, I had
several eggs laid on my potted tropical milkweeds, either by adults I
had released, or by ones just passing through. I tag most of the ones
that hatch later in the season, with the hope that one or may be found
on the way to Mexico for the winter.
Dan Matyola
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/danieljmatyola
On Wed, Jun 12, 2019 at 3:20 AM Alan C <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Well documented, Dan. They didn't waste much time after winter.
Presumably they'll be released after hatching? BTW, did your Milkweed
bushes recover from that bug infestation last year or did you have to
replace them? There used to be a lot of Milkweed plants around
Sable Dam
& Masorini (in the Kruger Park) where we often go but after a
couple of
dry years there don't seem to be any. Well I suppose there must be
some
because African Monarchs are still around.
Alan C
On 12-Jun-19 05:57 AM, Daniel J. Matyola wrote:
> The first of my Monarch eggs of the season have grown into ripe
> caterpillars and now are metamorphosing into chrysalises:
>
> http://dan-matyola.squarespace.com/danmatyolas-pesos/2019/6/11/mons
>
> K-5 IIs, smc FA 100 mm MACRO F 2.8
> Comments are invited and appreciated.
>
> Dan Matyola
> http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/danieljmatyola
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