we found a crawlie that creeped from one of our Mirabelle plums today... but I didn't want to raise it. Looked too much like a maggot. ;) (think it was a fruit fly?) And didn't want to encourage critters to live in our fruit trees.
We found two on our parsley. They were already huge, though. By the time I got around to snagging them one had already wandered off (hopefully not eaten). The one we brought inside formed his chrysalis within twelve hours. I love that my oldest never gets tired of watching this change even though we've done it for years!
We have done this once before, about 2 or 3 years ago. Black Swallowtails - they are so beautiful and we had several neighbor kids come help release them. The boys are *really* excited to do it again...and this morning?? We have one chrysalis, the other looks like it is starting! :)
How exciting! My girls just love caterpillars and butterflies. They also just discovered what an inch worm is and thought it was so cool. I love nature, it is such a wonderful place to learn and explore.
Yay! We have tons of milkweed and I search it almost daily for one of these fellas...when your butterfly unfurls, check the wings...a black spot on the "bottom wings" means it's a boy! My niece had a teacher who collected LOTS of them, and they had a monarch release party every year...she taught me TONS about monarchs. We even got to see the chrysalis "dance"...amazing and rare sight.
I had the good fortune of seeing a black swallowtail actually lay the eggs on one of my fennel plant several years ago, and raised many of these guys. Now that I have kids, I so wish it would happen again. We do the monarchs every year though....
we found a crawlie that creeped from one of our Mirabelle plums today... but I didn't want to raise it.
ReplyDeleteLooked too much like a maggot.
;) (think it was a fruit fly?)
And didn't want to encourage critters to live in our fruit trees.
You definitely got the better deal.
man, all your photographs are breathtaking & gorgeous!! can I ask what camera you use?
ReplyDeleteWe found two on our parsley. They were already huge, though. By the time I got around to snagging them one had already wandered off (hopefully not eaten). The one we brought inside formed his chrysalis within twelve hours. I love that my oldest never gets tired of watching this change even though we've done it for years!
ReplyDeleteThis will be a fun project.... the caterpillars are so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWe have done this once before, about 2 or 3 years ago. Black Swallowtails - they are so beautiful and we had several neighbor kids come help release them. The boys are *really* excited to do it again...and this morning?? We have one chrysalis, the other looks like it is starting! :)
ReplyDeleteStephanie - Maggots. Hee. No, wouldn't want to bring that in the house. ;P
ReplyDeleteThanks so much piper. I have a Canon Digital Rebel XTi.
How exciting! My girls just love caterpillars and butterflies. They also just discovered what an inch worm is and thought it was so cool. I love nature, it is such a wonderful place to learn and explore.
ReplyDeleteAwesome shot!!
ReplyDeleteYay! We have tons of milkweed and I search it almost daily for one of these fellas...when your butterfly unfurls, check the wings...a black spot on the "bottom wings" means it's a boy! My niece had a teacher who collected LOTS of them, and they had a monarch release party every year...she taught me TONS about monarchs. We even got to see the chrysalis "dance"...amazing and rare sight.
ReplyDeleteI love how you're always making science experiments with your boys. Another good reason to grow a garden:)
ReplyDeleteI had the good fortune of seeing a black swallowtail actually lay the eggs on one of my fennel plant several years ago, and raised many of these guys. Now that I have kids, I so wish it would happen again. We do the monarchs every year though....
ReplyDelete