Everyone a Cocoon

They have all entered the cocoon stage. Now that they have stopped moving I can get an accurate count and there are 8 cocoons. I have brought all of the cocoon containers out onto our back deck. I put them on the bottom shelf of a serving cart and wrapped netting around the cart as I unerstand birds and other critters like the cocoons for a meal. Ihope this will keep them safe and also allow some movement if they emerge while I'm not looking. I'll buy some plants for them to start off on today and then wait for them. If they stay in the cocoon for 10 days as I have read the first one should emerge around July 2nd so I'll be keeping a close watch.

The first photo is of one caterpillar that decided to cocoon on the outside of the container, not a spot I would have choosen. In the second shot one of the caterpillars choose the netting, that's not so bad, at least I could get a photo.

Only one caterpillar left

All but one of the caterpillars are now in the cocoon state. One is attached to the wall of a box and will probably become a cocoon tomorrow morning. The last caterpillar is still on the anise & I'll be watching.....

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Slowing Down

Things are slowing down in caterpillar world. All but three are either cocoons or going to be cocoons very shortly. The last three are very big and it won't be long.

Then I'll take them all outside, cover them with netting to keep the birds away and keep watch in the hope of catching each one as it emerges - it is an amazing and wonderful sight.

Progress Report

Two as reported already are cocoons.
Two have started the proess.
I expect that another two are getting ready to start the process and the last three are still growing.

One Took A Trip

One of the caterpillars took a trip and managed to get outside of the container. I went in to check last night and thought for sure I had lost one. I finally found it on the bottom of the outside of the container. I decided to put the next two large caterpillars in a separate box with a net covering so I could keep better track of them when they start looking for a spot to cocoon. We had major rain, wind and some hail the past few days, I'm happy I was able to provide a safe haven for these little guys.

Now a Cocoon

Sometime during the night or more than likely early this morning this one shed its skin and became a cocoon. Seeing the little threads they use to hold on with I find it totally amazing that they survive to become butterflies.

First One

This is the first caterpillar to start the process of becoming a cocoon. While I was away it must have traveled until it came to this spot. It has attached itself to the side of the container, you can tell it is finished traveling because of the curled shape it is in. Soon and very quickly it will shed it's skin and start to turn into a cocoon. I hope I'll catch one of them doing it, it happens very quickly.

Won't Be Long

It won't be long, they have gotten so big. I'm sure that within the next few days they will start looking for a spot to cocoon. I will be out of town for a day & hope that they hold off until I get back. We will just have to wait & see.

Disaster Averted

I went to check the caterpillars this morning and discovered that the larger therefore heaver caterpillar had weighted down the anise branch and the caterpillar was just on the top of the water. He is ok, but it could have been a disaster, I don't think these guys are very good swimmers. That was the end of the cute little dishes with the wide open tops. We ran around looking for narrow top containers and fixed it so no caterpillar could land in the water.

The Frass

One of the reasons you have to check the caterpillars daily is because they produce quite a bit of frass (caterpillar poop). Also the water for the anise needs to be changed daily. I get new anise, clean the water container & add fresh water & place the fresh anise in the water. Then I carefully snip the piece of anise that the caterpillar is on and place it on top of the fresh anise. They seem to realize what is fresh and move onto it. Later when they have moved I'll remove the old anise. I don't think it takes much more than 15 minutes to clean & refreshen their area.

Will Change Soon

It won't be long and these babies will start to change.

Changes Going On

This seems to one of the older of the babies. It has started to change and will soon look like the larger caterpillars.

Straight On

Getting Big

This is a pretty neat shot. The caterpillar was on the bottom side of the anise so we can see his little white feet and how they hang on tight to the anise. The older caterpillars are getting quite big. Soon they will start to look for a place to go into the cocoon phase. This is the most difficultly time as they really search for a spot and just try to go all over the place. I hope I will be able to keep them in the box. I also hope they cocoon on one of the branches I have placed in the box. That way I can move them so the younger ones can complete their cycle with plenty of room.

Keeping them Contained

When the caterpillars get bigger and start getting ready to become a cocoon they start to look for a good spot and they travel. I would rather they stay in one spot. It's safer for them and easier for me. I am sure there are many different methods for keeping them contained. This one usually works for me. We took a container, turned it upside down & cut out the bottom (which is now the top. This way the previous top is straight and sits evenly on the floor. We drilled holes for ventilation and then covered the holes with screening putting it on the outside to prevent any sticking or cuts. Now I can easily access the caterpillars and when they start to travel I'll put sticks and branches in for them and will cover the top with netting so they can't get out.

Beautiful!

One of the butterflies from a few years ago. This card is available from
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Still small

The little guys are still small & hard to photograph, but they are getting there.

A better View

Same caterpillar - zoomed in.

Developing Caterpillar

Three of the caterpillars are getting to be a nice size. They still have some growing to go, but now you can see their little white feet.

Lavender

Rather than fields of lavender there were large patches of lavender here, there and everywhere. I didn't get as many photos as I wanted, but am happy with what I got, of course lavender will do that to you.

Lavender Farm

I'm goint to a lavender farm today. I think it should be lovely. I'll post some lavender photos and some caterpillar photos when I get back. The caterpillars are doing well & growing as expected.

Unexpected

We have fixed up a container to use for the caterpillars and I but it out on the porch. We had a bit of a dip in temperature and some rain and when I went out to check most of the littlest caterpillars had fallen off the anise. I took a guess and brought them inside where it is warmer, gave them some fresh anise and laid it on top of them. I went back in an hour to check and was very releaved to find all of the babies had climbed onto the anise and were eating. I think I'll keep the little ones inside for a few more days & give them a better chance.

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While the Caterpillars Grow

The Alphabet in Butterfly wings by Casanova5983
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While the Caterpillars are growing bit by bit I thought it would be enjoyable to look at butterfly products made by some artists at Zazzle.com.

They Do Grow Fast

This morning I decided to separate the larger caterpillars from the smaller ones just because I think they will be easier to keep track of. I have either eight or nine, one time I count & can only find 8, the next time I find 9. I hope when they get a little bigger I'll be able to get an accurate count. I brought in fresh anise and put it in little cups with water so it will stay fresh all day long. It is very important that the caterpillars have fresh food.

The Nursery

The nursery at this point consists of three Chinese take out trays, a folded sheet of paper towel and the sprigs of anise that I found the "babies" on. Every few days I will change the paper towel and add a fresh sprig of anise to the trays. The caterpillars will move along and eventually end up on the fresh sprig. I then remove the older sprig or sprigs. I change the paper towel as necessary to keep things clean. Right now they are so small there is very little waste. I keep them in the kitchen because I enjoy watching them. You can almost see them grow. At this point you don't have to worry about them going anywhere or falling off the anise, they hang on tight and are staying with their food source.

An interesting Swallowtail Site

http://swallowtails.net/ I found a very interesting site on swallowtails. I had no idea there were so many different types of swallowtails. I have only seen the black ones I'm raising and the yellow & black striped ones that I used to see further north, but so far not here in New Jerey. I believe I found on the site that the butterflies I am raising are Indra butterflies.

Book for Children

A few years after I started raising Swallowtails I took photos and put them into a book for children that I had published on Lulu. www.lulu.com and search for "The Amazing Butterfly" by Dorothy DuMond Cohen.

They are hard to see

They are hard to see, I've tried to enlarge this photo so you can get a better idea of what they look like. The important thing is that not everything that eats plants is bad & perhaps you might consider leaving some plants in your garden for other creatures - you never know they may be beautiful.

Very Young

Three tiny caterpillars. I don't know for sure, but prior to my first sighting of these little guys I see little yellow drops on the anise plant. I'm sure theye are eggs, but can't say for sure. Once I spot the yellow eggs I keep watch and soon see the caterpillars. When I first spot them some are so small they can hardly be seen.

I cut off the branch they are on and bring them in the house. All they need at this time is a place to eat in peace. I put a piece of paper towel in a plastic take out container (recycling is the way) because anything that eats as much as these guys do is bound to produce some waste.

Getting Started

This is an anise plant. I planted it a few years ago, each year it produces flowers which turn to seed. The seeds drop and there are more anise plants. The important part of the anise plant to swallowtails is that once the eggs are laid on the plant the caterpillars can NOT survive on any other plant. There is plenty of anise to raise my butterflies. Swallowtails also use parsley, but I had a hard time keeping enough parsley for these hungry caterpillars.

Enter the Wonderful World of Swallowtail Butterflies