“Entomologists use that word 'foul' often when referring to the flavor
of a caterpillar. They are rarely more specific than 'foul' or 'tasty.' I
expect that is because they are leaving the assessment up to birds, and
birds have a very binary approach.”
~ Amy Leach
~ Amy Leach
Found five more eggs this Thursday. If they all make it to adults, that'll be 17.
One man's vision and quest to repopulate the California pipevine swallowtail in his northern California neighborhood:
 |
| -Vox Science and Health |
There are scattered reports of pipevine swallowtail communities in various parts of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties. I planted their host plant, the pipevine, in several areas of Alta Laguna Park when I was Parks Gardener for the City of Laguna Beach to attract and retain any pipevine swallowtail drifters that may wander in, but since my retirement, the vines have all vanished.
The Pipevine Swallowtail
I threatened to illustrate my technique of moving and reattaching Monarch butterfly chrysalides using jewelers tweezers and bits of cellophane tape in a previous post. Here goes:
At times, it may be necessary to moves butterfly chrysalides for whatever good reasons. For the Container Butterfly Garden, it usually means I didn't get the chance to place 4th and 5th instars in the eclosing cage before they pupated. As such, they must be moved.
At times, it may be necessary to moves butterfly chrysalides for whatever good reasons. For the Container Butterfly Garden, it usually means I didn't get the chance to place 4th and 5th instars in the eclosing cage before they pupated. As such, they must be moved.
 |
| -Andrew Kliss |
Four Monarch chrysalides hanging inside of 4th and 5th instar rearing bucket.
 |
| -Andrew Kliss |
Flipped the lid over to access chrysalides.
 |
| -Andrew Kliss |
With pointy jeweler's tweezers, I carefully loosen the silk webbing around the chrysalis that attaches it to a surface. It is then grasped by its tiny stem (cremaster) on the little green chili pepper, and then carefully lifted off.
 |
| -Andrew Kliss |
¡Voila! Safely removed with silk still attached.
 |
| -Andrew Kliss |
Sticking the silk on to cellophane tape. Be careful not to place tape on the chrysalis itself.
 |
| -Andrew Kliss |
Affixing it to the inside wall of the eclosing cage.
 |
| -Andrew Kliss |
Ultimately, we end up rewarded with a beautiful living jewel such as this recently eclosed female.
No comments:
Post a Comment