sounds pretty cold for butterfly release, IMO. What's in the forecast for the next couple of days?
Seems like I can usually get them to sip something (nectar, gatorade, etc) after several hours, but I think they often go the first day or so without nectaring.

So anyway I'd try and wait if it is forecast to get warmer, especially if it is really rainy, and put something in for nectaring later today/tonight.

Well it isn't really raining anymore, and I can see a little bit of blue sky peeking throught the clouds, but still chilly, I just looked at the forecast for tomorrow, and high is supposed to be in mid 70's lows in mid 60's, but clear and sunny, so that should be perfect weather to release this beauty then right? I have lantana in my yard, and probably have some more nectar hosts for GST's that I just don't know about, my neighbors have what looks like butterfly bush, and several other flowering plants, I would like to release him ASAP, but don't want to cause him harm or get him off to a bad start. do i just cut the lantana and put it in the cage and he/she will take it from there? I am so amazed by these creatures now that I have seen the whole process and transformation from egg to butterfly, it is truly something to see!! So glad I accidentally found these cats, haha, most of the time anyway. oh, one more thing, I have about 6 more pupa in the reptarium with the butterfly that eclosed this morning, will it be okay to leave the chrysalises(spelling?) in their with the butterfly? or should I move them or move the butterfly, thanks

Congrats, ams2009. It is so exciting, isn't it? :-)

butterflies are one of God's symbols of spirituality.

very exciting, I was just saying last night that it would be nice to actually see the end result, lol. and low and behold, this one must have heard me, haha. He/she doesn't seem to be afraid of me at all, i was wondering if they "remember" for lack of a better word, their life in the caterpillar phase, when they become butterflies? And if they are handled by people as caterpillars are they not fearful of people when they eclose? just wondering. He/she moved over to the side of a plastic container that i had to put in the reptarium after one of my cats decided to pupate on the inside wall of the container, rather than on any of the sticks i had put in the container, I am still hesitant to try and detach a chrysalis, so I try to encourage them to pupate on sticks, I think only 2 have so far though, lol. They definitely have a mind of their own, and a little on the stubborn side sometimes. I hope I will be able to release this one tomorrow. I wish the rest of them would go ahead and come out too, I am leaving for Miami in 4 weeks, and would rather they be off and on their way before then, but i still have some that are 2nd instar, so I guess that isn't going to be possible, but i am hoping anyway.

Yes htown, I think they are little miracles, and it is an amazing thing to see them tranform from something kinda scary looking into something so beautiful!

I released her (figured out she was a female) today!! the sun came out around noon, and it is absolutely beautiful today!! It is almost like she knew today would be perfect, because she eclosed in time to be ready to take off today, and she was READY to go, lol. She flew out of the mesh cage and right past my lantana, and went towards the neighbors back yard, I haven't seen her since, so I hope she made it!! Also, I had two Monarchs, at least I think they were Monarchs, visit my lantana just a little while ago, I don't think I have ever seen a Monarch in my yard, they were beautiful! Just curious about how this female GST will find a mate?? I have only seen GST's in my yard a couple of times, and apparently they were females because I found eggs on my citrus tree after their visits. I have my reptarium outside today since the weather is so nice, I am hoping some of the others will be encouraged to eclose by this wonderful weather. Oh, does anyone know if it is okay to release butterflies in the evening or at night? Just asking because the one I released today, was flying all over the reptarium late last night and seemed eager to get on her way, but I wasn't sure if I should let her go, so I just left the room she was in really dark which seemed to calm her down and waited until the sun came out today. Thanks!!