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Watch Reba demonstrate how to attract and rescue butterflies!
Flowers in Flight
August 28, 2007
By: Reba Cummings, Master Gardener
Butterflies are one of the most fascinating of all the creatures that fly. My love of butterflies began so many years ago when I’d watch them flit from one flower to another. For over 12 years I have enjoyed gardening with the hope of attracting these magnificent “flowers in flight”. The desire for nature’s garden that yields all phases of the life cycle has intrigued me for years.
At a local landscape class several years ago, the presenter displayed a large area planted in bronze fennel and discussed how the fennel attracted butterflies and therefore caterpillars to her garden. With her inspiring speech as motivation we began our journey by planting bronze fennel as well as Passion Vine. Our Passion Vine over the years has multiplied and now extends the entire length of our backyard fence.
At the beginning of August my husband and I began to see numerous Swallow Tail caterpillars on the bronze fennel. In addition we noticed that there were countless Gulf Fritillary caterpillars all over the Passion Vines. However, we soon observed that the numbers had decreased dramatically. Why you might ask?
From our research on the topic we discovered the possibility of insects such as red wasps could be killing them and that lizards include them in their daily diet--not good for the butterflies. Although we aren’t positive this was the case, it was an educated observation and we acted upon that. With this knowledge, my husband, Dwayne, decided he would rescue them. But what would we do with all of the caterpillars? What would we do with them once we collected them? This was the question of the day.
Well, we had several ice cream buckets and decided to utilize them in this task. The collection became greater in no time—a couple of days. So now what do we do? We need more room for them!
I decided to go to our local hardware store for ideas on how to construct a small enclosure, yet a workable one for us as well as the caterpillars. At the Farm and Ranch store near us, I took my thoughts. The young man with whom I talked helped me think it through and the following is what resulted—we would need a
12 - ½ inch PVC pipe cut 24 inches long
8 – “L” couplings for the ½ inch pipe
Tulle or netting (fabric store) to wrap all four sides and top
1 24 inch square board for the bottom (can substitute paneling, cardboard or newspaper)
The box should be lined on the bottom with paper towels or newspapers for easy removal of frass (the droppings). With this being said, there is minor maintenance needed daily for the butterflies. The box should be cleaned every day and fresh plant material added.
The chrysalides attach to anything—tulle, the pvc pipe, sticks, leaves, plastic lids, and one caterpillar even escaped the enclosure and attached to our curtains on our windows.
So far we have not had the pleasure of an adult emerging, but we’ll accept one miracle at a time.
The exciting and fun aspects of this project and the most rewarding have been the releasing of the new butterflies—seven to date. All of those released have been Gulf Fritillaries and one Swallow Tail. Releasing the first Swallow Tail was both exciting and encouraging.
These “flowers in flight” never cease to amaze and are certainly a delight in any garden. Look for more information in the months ahead.
Happy Butterflying!
All Good Things Must Come to an End
September 1, 2007
By: Reba Cummings, Master Gardener
Our butterfly rescue mission is winding down, and we are a bit sad. However, we are looking forward to another season that we hope to make even more productive.
The Bronze Fennel has been harvested and therefore there are no remaining caterpillars of the Swallowtails. The Passion Vine is alive, blooming and growing despite the extreme heat we’ve been having of over 100 degrees here in
To date, we have released about 22 fritillaries and 14 (Black Swallowtails) and each time it is more exciting than the previous release. We have discovered three butterflies in our window but really do not know where or how they got there. However they arrived there is fine with us!
Yesterday, when I went into the room there was one, just emerged, a fritillary. I took it outside to the sun, placed it on a plant and went back inside. Periodically, I returned to check on it. It was struggling to pump strength into its wings, so we used some of the humming bird water that we keep in the refrigerator. I poured a very small amount into a dish, warmed it in the microwave and placed the sugar solution in a sponge. As soon as I put the butterfly on the sponge with the sugar water, it took it up and within minutes it flew away. We truly rescued this one! How exciting!
Soon I will begin to share some of our photos of our experiences.
Until then Happy Butterflying!
The Excitement Continues
September 7th, 2007
By: Reba Cummings, Master Gardener
This morning we released three Fritillaries and it was just as much fun today as it was three weeks ago. I can’t believe the number we have reared from caterpillar to adult.
The numbers in total have decreased and the Swallowtails have disappeared. We have seen very few flitting around lately. It is likely related to our not having the nectar they prefer.
When
Butterfly Heaven
September 10th, 2007
By: Reba Cummings, Master Gardener
Not only has the caterpillar become a stranger to our landscape lately, but so has the Passion Vine. There should be enough of the vine and food left for several more days, however. We will continue to care for and rescue them as long as they last. The Fritillaries seem hang around for a while once released, but how is one to be sure without “tagging” them--I think “tagging” them is way beyond our hobby tallents!
We’ve noticed that when the Swallowtails are released they typically fly upward and away and into the cover of the trees. One of our neighbors has a tree that is releasing some type of foul-smelling sap and the Swallowtails are all over it.
Yesterday,
For those interested in learning more I highly recommend reading the book, Stokes Butterfly Book which comes in paperback. And as always you can Google “Butterflies” and you’ll instantly be in “Butterfly Heaven”.
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