| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| BlueDragon |
Posted - 29/09/2013 : 11:07:52
OK, so Butterflies might not be seen as exotic... but they should be!
So I was getting work done on my house. There was going to be scaffolding up on both sides and men trampling everything...
Two days before they were going to start I found a very interesting Caterpillar on one of my tomato plants. He was quite big and fat looking, had tough spiky hairs down the whole of his body, had a dark colour with ginger behind his head and a white marking further down that looked cleverly like a Bird poop!
So I took some photos and left him to it, chuffed that I'd had the chance.
The next day I was not only suprized to still see him on said tomato plant but that he had began to hang himself upside down. I left him to it but knowing this work was going to be done I worried about him and that night I went to check on him. Sure enough he'd made himself a very thin, papery cover around himself. So I gently snipped off the branch he was on, put him in on of the tubs I'd actually made to house a Praying Mantis and again left him to it.
The next morning, before I had to get out of the house (due to my phobia I wanted to be far away while the workers were here) I had a quick check and he'd made himself the most impressive looking chrysalis!
Now, due to lack of time I wasn't able to take any photo's for three days after this, but vowed to do so after things had calmed down.
Wanna see? ; )
26.9.2013
27.9.2013
28.9.2013
And if your wondering what happened to the tomato plant... well, I suspect they must have dropped something on it 'cause it's now collapsed and it's supports have been broken. If I hadn't have rescued little Caterpillar then I don't think he would have made it... tomato plant didn't : (
I'm planning on taking a photo every day for the three weeks that he will apparently take to turn into a beautiful Butterfly.
I've never taken care of a chrysalis before though, so if anyone just so happens to know anything on the subject I'd be grateful for any info. I'm mainly worried about what will happen when he does emerge. It's getting cold now and I'm really worried that he won't survive if I release him this year. So I'm kind of hoping that he will decide to hibernate over this winter and breed next year. And if that was the case then I'm also hoping I can look after him till then to make sure he survives. But, I think I have some learning to do if I want to be a Butterfly mummy for that long.
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| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| BlueDragon |
Posted - 24/11/2013 : 09:25:37
Sorry, very late reply again : / Been having troubles conecting 'cause of the bad weather, I think.
He's fine. Not doing much though!
Since he's doing OK and seems to be looking after himself I've decided to just leave him till spring and see what happens. It means this thread might go quiet for a while, but hopfully something exciting might happen come March/June time : ) |
| boomslang |
Posted - 01/11/2013 : 12:33:14
lol sounds like a poor reply :P hope he's okay :) |
| BlueDragon |
Posted - 01/11/2013 : 10:10:43
Well, they've replied... not very helpful really : /
Dear **** ****
We do not have the resources to answer all of our general inquiries, but I do know that sawflies are often found on tomato plants. If you keep the chrysalis somewhere cool, .g. an unheated garage or garden shed, you should be able to see it emerge in spring and then determine the species.
Thank you for your interest in Butterfly Conservation.
At no point did I say I didn't know what species he was, I know for sure he's a Comma Butterfly... nowhere near a Sawfly : /
So I'm not sure where they got that idea from.
I might try somewhere else, 'cause to be honest that's just disappointing. |
| BlueDragon |
Posted - 27/10/2013 : 07:36:55
I've emailed Butterfly Conservation.
I hope they reply. |
| BlueDragon |
Posted - 27/10/2013 : 07:00:24
Yes, he is.
The pupa seems fine, no shrinking or wrinkling, so I assume (and hope) that he's OK in there and nothing bad has happened.
I haven't had time to email the Butterfly people, been so busy with my new 3D Beaded designs. But I will do! |
| anatess |
Posted - 20/10/2013 : 19:53:58
He's still in the pupa? |
| BlueDragon |
Posted - 20/10/2013 : 09:45:33
Sorry there haven't been any updates, but I'm afraid there aren't any to give : (
He's now a week overdue and I'm starting to wonder if he has actually hibernated for this year.
I'm thinking of contacting the British Butterfly trust people (forget there official title) and asking if this is a possibility.
When I get time to email them I'll tell you what they say.
Sorry there isn't anything more : ( |
| anatess |
Posted - 14/10/2013 : 23:11:06
quote:
Originally posted by boomslang
Thats pretty cool :)
Anything yet??? |
| BlueDragon |
Posted - 14/10/2013 : 08:30:21
Thank you : )
He's deciding to stay 'inside' for a while. Nothing happening yet. But he has his stick in there now, against one side so that it doesn't interfere with flight too much. |
| boomslang |
Posted - 13/10/2013 : 14:22:16
Thats pretty cool :) |
| BlueDragon |
Posted - 13/10/2013 : 10:34:21
12.10.2013
And now he's in his house!
That's him, that little speck hanging from the top right-hand corner. Can you see him?
And don't worry, I went out this morning and found him a nice forked stick. I'm just drying it on the radiator... as you do.
Nothing has happened as yet. So naturally I'm a bit worried, but the chrysalis is very much 'alive' so there must be something going on in there! |
| BlueDragon |
Posted - 12/10/2013 : 09:24:37
10.10.2013
11.10.2013
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| BlueDragon |
Posted - 10/10/2013 : 10:15:38
OK, some more photos.
His due date is this Sunday!
I'm nearly finished his house. It's bigger than I thought it would be, which is good of course. Couldn't get any Mosquito netting so he's got some nice soft voil instead. It's gunna be like a giant cube : )
6.10.2013
These are the best I could get of those gorgeous iridescent colours
7.10.2013
8.10.2013
9.10.2013
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| BlueDragon |
Posted - 06/10/2013 : 09:48:30
OK, three more photos : )
3.10.2013
4.10.2013
5.10.2013
I noticed yesterday that he has the most stunning iridescent colours on the back of the chrysalis, where the 'spikes' are. I couldn't get a photo then so I'll be trying again today. I'm so worried about disturbing him though, especially at this late stage : /
I'm hoping to make him a nice house out of some recycled garden canes and some Mosquito netting or something like that. It'll be a hanging house with one or two sticks for him to hang from and I'll feed him sugar water that I have a 'recipe' for 'Cause all his natural food plants have all died back now. So I hope he'll like that. |
| Steve83 |
Posted - 04/10/2013 : 19:39:34
This is very cool! :) |
| BlueDragon |
Posted - 03/10/2013 : 08:41:30
Sorry about that X )
But it'll actually be two weeks gone on the sixth ; )
OK, two more photos...
1.10.2013
2.10.2013
I like this one 'cause you can see his Dinosaur-like notched/spiked 'tail' at the top there...
It's a bit dark still though, so I'll try to get a better photo next time. |
| Foremand |
Posted - 01/10/2013 : 19:47:54
Like watching paint dry for it to turn to the opposite colour lol |
| anatess |
Posted - 01/10/2013 : 18:54:59
Dangit, this is gonna be a long 3 weeks... |
| BlueDragon |
Posted - 01/10/2013 : 08:26:54
I was actually wondering what I could feed him when he emerges, with the flowers mostly dieing away now. I thought banana would be good 'cause it seems to be a staple for captive Butterflies.
I've had a think and I think what I will probably do for him is to build a home for him (her?) out of an up-turned crate (to make it taller). I could fill it with branches and any late flowers I find. I'll also create an area for hibernation if he chooses to go down that road. Not sure how I'll build that part yet, but I do know it needs to be slatted for him to feel secure and snuggly in there.
Before he emerges I'll do this and put the small box he's in now into the larger one. That way he'll have plenty of space to dry his wings, pump them up and have a test flight. How does that sound?
At the minuet he's living in my bedroom 'cause it's the quietest room in the house, no noise or vibrations from playful Cats etc. He should be plenty warm enough for his species.
So, two new photos for you. I'm afraid that, at least for now, they will all look pretty much the same. But I hope it gives you all a chance to see the chrysalis from different angles.
It's a shame you can't see in the photos, but not only does it have little horns, but along the sides it has a lovely, almost green, iridescent shine to it!
29.9.2013
30.9.2013
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| jonnyc1988 |
Posted - 30/09/2013 : 23:55:15
Good on you!!
The exotic shop near me used to sell butterflies. They came as chrysalis, and there were loads to pick from starting at £2. They said it was best just to keep it in a conservatory (during summer). Once it has emerged its wings will be crinkly and it will take a day or so to dry out. It will need somewhere to bask to do this. Butterflies only live up to a month, if you want to feed it just cut an orange in half and leave it lying somewhere.  |
