Oooh, I almost forgot!!!

I have been researching Frog Fruit and trying to figure out where I can find some in my area. Dead tired and driving home yesterday, sitting at a red light, looking at weeds and litter in the median and yep, there's Frog Fruit growing right there. If I can only figure out how to dig it up without getting hit by a truck or stopped by the authorities.

thanks, Ann!
And I agree--I never tire either of watching them hatch, grow, molt, pupate, and eclose! It is truly amazing!!

Greene, be careful! Pick a time when traffic is light, like Sunday mornings. It's not hard to pull Frogfruit straight up by the roots. I've been trying not to do that since I want the plant to keep growing but it's so easy that even I end up pulling some of them up.

mellielong said:Greene, be careful! Pick a time when traffic is light, like Sunday mornings. It's not hard to pull Frogfruit straight up by the roots. I've been trying not to do that since I want the plant to keep growing but it's so easy that even I end up pulling some of them up.

Good tip Melanie.

I'll give it a try.

@mellie - I have never seen that process before (and I'm 56 years old).
I sent you a measly little acorn only because I didn't have a million I could send you!

FAScinating!

Now I'm going to be doing this myself next year for sure!

Thanks for the acorn Critter! And thanks to Sandi, as well! I'm glad everyone is enjoying the pictures. I wish I could bring you over to watch it in reality. I've said it before, but I'll say it again. When I'm at MOSI and I see one making a chrysalis or emerging, I'll run out of the lab and pretty much attack anyone I see. Guests, other volunteers, etc. I just can't let a chance like that go to waste. And I've had so many people thank me for bringing the critters out of the lab so they can see it up close. One lady said it was a "once in a lifetime" experience for her. So that's pretty awesome.

Critter, make sure you tag my full username! And whatever species you raise next year, we will be here to root you on and walk you through the process, as necessary. Which species are you planning on targeting?

oops on the user name!

Hmmm I seem to recall making user name mistakes myself it happens
Have seen a few critters about the place today , Pearl crescent and so forth . the only one I managed to Cabbage onto for a photo was this

Cabbage White

Thanks for all the great pics. You ARE a champ.

mellielong said:It's 65 degrees and it's been drizzling on and off. Mom said it was pouring rain at her church this morning. I tell ya, going from 85 to 65 is quite a change.

Tell me about it. We went from 84 degrees high to 42 low in 3 days. No rain though.

I don't have numbers, but I can tell you our temp drop came on pretty suddenly, too.

Our temp drop came with the recent storm. It's supposed to warm up again into the low 70s this week, but still dipping down at night. Well, it's fall.

I like Fall.

@mellielong Is there a reason you separate the types of caterpillars into separate containers? Or would my aquarium that no longer holds water be ok?

That is IF I can ever find those tiny eggs anywhere.....

Loving all the beautiful pictures guys! Thanks for the ID on the cat, I definitely think it's an Imperial Moth. My back yard is practically a forest...

Got these pics yesterday. Velvetbean caterpillar moth?



And for the first time ever, I captured a photo of a monarch.
I rarely see them in my area, but this year I have been keeping an eye out. There were 2 of them, but only got pictures of this one. A female?

Very nice; and, yes regarding Monarch's gender.

Like Jessie, I am seeing the first monarch of the season. Probably the only one. I think it is a male. (Cropped most of these photos.)



Gulf Frit. I saw three dancing but couldn't get a picture.



Red-banded hairstreak



Long-tailed skipper

Ooh, nice pictures everyone! We're still seeing quite the variety, aren't we? I have some pictures but I have to go to the dentist in a bit so I'll upload them later. Two that I saw but didn't get photos of were a Giant Swallowtail and a Long-Tailed Skipper. I was really hoping that Giant ST would land but I lost it in the trees.

Let's see...as to raising caterpillars. At MOSI, we use glass aquariums so that's fine for caterpillars. We do line the bottoms with newspaper for gut purges, regular frass, dead cats, etc. I've always raised my caterpillars one species in its own tank and we do the same at MOSI. It's mostly a food issue. I like to keep the host plants separate. The only caterpillars I've ever had that will really get aggressive with each other are Zebra Swallowtails so most caterpillars get along just fine. At Selby Gardens, they have a caterpillar enclosure where they'll raise a few different kinds but have their host plants kind of segregated in their own little sections. I guess it's also a cleanliness thing. Some caterpillars get more diseases or are more susceptible to them than others so if one tank gets infected, I don't have to worry about all my caterpillars getting sick. Some, like the Gulf Frits, I don't raise inside at all since they get that virus so bad in captivity. They get it bad in the wild sometimes.

Ask more questions as you think of them!

Really nice photos Becky!

Nice photo's . wonderful pictures , everyone

74 degree afternoon and these today
red Spotted purple on Black cherry



Yeah well always on calico aster

mellielong said:

Ask more questions as you think of them!

I will, mellie! You are my butterfly guru now!
With an excellent supporting cast as well!