Sherry,
What a spectacular picture! Which cat is it? Your season may be winding down, but it's not over yet. You're a busy lady.

Your post makes me homesick. Of course, I don't see the Palamedes in north Alabama (at least I never have yet), but the Luna moths, the Pipevine and Spicebush swallowtails and Gulf Fritillaries are old friends. I'll be back there early next month, and I hope they are all there to greet me.

Meanwhile, here in Mexico the butterfly season is just getting started. I'm seeing lots of other butterflies: Tiger Swallowtails, Texan Crescents, Checkered Skippers, Dorantes Longtail Skippers, a beautiful little blue that I haven't identified yet, several species of other skippers, Cloudless and Clouded Sulphurs, Dainty Yellows, Southern Dogfaces, Sleepy Oranges, Queens, Tropical Leafwings, some pretty little black-and-white striped and black-and-yellow striped butterflies, Magnificent Swallowtails (they truly are), a large black with radiating white stripes, Cabbage Whites, Mountain Whites, a couple of early Monarchs, and two days ago I saw the first Mexican Dartwhite of the season.

I also saw a huge black swallowtail fly over my head, and I think it was an Eastern Black Swallowtail, because a few days later, I found two cats -- a tiny one on dill and a larger one on fennel. I brought them both inside to feed. Although I think they'll both pupate before I leave here, I probably won't get to see them eclose. But if I'm lucky, I'll have cats on my fennel and parsley and maybe my milkweed when I get home.

I have seen several other cats that I cannot identify, including some that stung me yesterday. I've posted pics in the gallery to see if anyone recognizes any of them.
geni

Here is a link that might be useful: Close encounter with Mexican cats

gcertain - I believe your black and yellow striped butterflies are Zebra Longwings. ( Zebra Heliconian) I checked the map for Mexico and they are there. You will find them around the passionvines. I have been raising them this month from my newly planted Maypop Passionvine. The Florida Zebra's can live up to six months.
Miss Sherry - You take beautiful pictures and I alway enjoy reading your posts and hearing what you are currently up to!

Beautiful picture! I love those type of giant silkmoth cats. My family and I were looking at some polyphemus cats yesterday and remarking how they look like a cross between jello and plastic. Felt like that too.

Let's see, my last cecropia cat is making a cocoon as I type. I have a set of Black swallowtail cats that hatched a couple days ago. Otherwise I have cecropia cocoons, black swallowtail and zebra swallowtail chrysalises ready for spring (I hope). The butterfly house has a bunch of pipevine cats (I counted 42 but there are more) and eggs. I am hoping to maybe raise some of those before they eat each other, yech! I was hoping for some monarch cats this year but none came. I probably have to plant more milkweed.

we have zebras still eclosing, mating, and laying eggs. I don't know what their internal clock is thinking. Our first frost date is October 10. Silly things!

-Elisabeth

Thanks Elisabeth, Mary, and Geni!
I answered your post on the gallery, Geni, at least as well as I could.
Sherry

Outstanding! I love Lunas.

(Here's hoping that Ike stays away.)

Jeff

Gorgeous picture, Miss Sherry. I second Jeff's sentiment--Stay away Ike!

Elizabeth, have you posted your releases on our release thread? I'd love to see yours included in the total. I think it will give us a trend for this year and each year if we keep track of the BFs. After the season is over, a graph can be done based on the different areas.

Sandy

Hi Sandy;
I haven't posted any releases yet. I really haven't released a lot. Some I took to the butterfly house for additional genetic material. I will post my few though. I expect more next spring when stuff ecloses.
Elisabeth