I guess I didn't really ask a question. I think I'll try one of the paint strainers tied around a growing plant outside. That won't be as time consuming as bringing them indoors. I won't have to check on them so often.

Martha

Martha,

The only problem I've run into is that the predators are already on the plants that I've contained. It's hard to know if there are eggs or small mites on the plant. I just experienced a situation where ants invaded one of my rearing containers and devoured a Variegated Fritillary chrysalis. I don't know if we can ever make something totally safe. I've tried collecting small Red Admiral cats this year and raising them. I don't see anything on the LFP, but the ugly little white pupas show up after a few days. This year, in particular, the predators have gotten a big head start.

Sounds like your RAs are already parasitized by the time you collect them. Those little buggers hit them young!! You almost have to follow the ELF as she lays her eggs.

Yes, so right! Unless you see the RA lay the eggs, you can't find them. They are so tiny. I have two eggs that I found that are now caterpillars doing well. I followed the mama and collected the eggs as she laid them. And, yesterday, I released a healthy RA that was missed by the parasitic wasps. All in all, it's been BFmom - 2, and parasitic wasps - 7.

This is just my theory, but I have more parisitized RAs early in the season than later. Most batches I've raised between April and July have been attacked, while those I've raised between August and October are clean. Makes you wonder,huh?

Susan

Last year I had success putting paint strainers over milkweed plants to protect my Monarch cats. I was planning on being away at the same time as my sister, and since we usually take care of each other's butterfly projects, I needed a way to keep enough food for the cats. (They were big and eating a lot!) I lost one out of the many that made it through and pupated in there.