Spring preview

11 years ago

Unseasonably warm temps caused early flowering of desert adapted butterfly bush . It only flowers once a year for a couple weeks. The PST butterflies made an appearance. The rest of the country will get there eventually.

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alex928 Z8/LA

11 years ago

The BST that I was keeping as a chrysalis all winter (my first overwinterer!) finally eclosed today after 8-1/2 months. It's a boy! I was working all morning, so I didn't know he was out until I checked on him a little while ago. It's a good thing I did because he was VERY eager to get out of the container! I unzipped the side but he was having a bit of trouble finding his way out. It wasn't until I laid the container on its side that he managed to find the exit and fly off.

It was cool, but it happened so fast! I remember when his sister eclosed last July, I got to let her sit on my fingers while she finished drying her wings. With this one I didn't get to hang out with him for a while before he flew off. He did, however, return very briefly. Maybe he wanted to take one last look at his old home.

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Comments (7)

jane__ny
11 years ago
Beautiful!
docmom_gw
11 years ago
Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures.
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ily68
11 years ago
Beautiful, I wish I had them in my garden. I live in Miami, FL., I do get the Polydamas on my Dutchman's Pipe.
Ryan T
11 years ago
I just had my eastern black swallowtail eclose today after 6 months. Hopefully that means others will be in the air soon!
kaboehm (zone 9a, TX USA)
11 years ago
6 months! Guess I won't give up on my GST...it's only been 4 months. They do take a break over the cooler months, right?
Ryan T
11 years ago
kaboehm, yes. This was my first swallowtail to rear but I had read about them taking up to 8 months. I've also read about how some people put them in the fridge (providing moisture etc not just throwing em in the crisper) to get them to eclose faster rather than waiting. Probably more of the butterfly farmers that do that but I'm not sure. You could google it for more info.

We've finally had some warmer temps near the 70's here in Dallas and I just went to check while I was carving out our butterfly garden. Lo and behold, I saw the chrysalis was cracked open and there she was below airing her wings out. :)