Posts by luna moth

Couldn’t you ask the same question about N. antiopa, P. comma, P. c-album, A. utricae? They are used to overwintering as adults but if you kept them alive and moving during the late fall and winter, what would happen?

Yes, that is a dark form female. You have a rather special aberrant individual. I’ve only seen one of these in the wild.

Regards,

Ethan

Hello everyone,

So as it gets near the end of the season for Speyeria cybele, they start to lay their eggs. I netted 3 today. I also bought 2 pots of Common Violet, their host. However, 1 started flapping on the floor and stopped flying. Now, it appears to be dead. I had another one do this but it seemed to recover. Does anyone have any experience with this? This has happened before with Speyeria spp. Can anyone explain it?

Thanks,

Ethan

Hello,

I was deciding between Automeris zozine and Automeris iris. I believe it is A. zozine.

It has been a strange year for Vanessa virginensis. I’ve only seen about 4 in May when I usually see many of them. I don’t think they would have any shorter hatch time than V. cardui. I haven’t had much luck with them in terms of breeding but they have an exceptionally long lifespan.

Hello everyone,

Back around 2015 or so a very strange migration took place close to we're I live. Around the city, many Mourning cloaks, Vanessa atalanta, and Vanessa virginiensis swarmed in large groups and looked as if they were migrating. Strange behavior like this seems to happen every 5-8 years or so. Possibly similar phenomena could take place. So much of their migration patterns are unknown.

Ethan

Ok, thanks!

This may sound like a stupid question but I’ve seen them hibernate under rocks sitting in there side barely moving. How do you tell if they died from temp? Can you bring them back if you put them inside.

When you mean losses, do you mean by the mice and other scavengers.

Hello Holger,

I’m afraid we’re I live, lows could be in -26 degrees C. My garage isn’t heated but it’s sheltered. Plus, The heating from inside would keep it a constant 10 degrees warmer. It’s also a dark place. I would bring them in around mid-March.

I feed them a lot of banana and other high sugar fruits and also honey. Would this be enough calories to survive? Also, would you recommend feeding say every 2 weeks to stay healthy? Usually, you can find Nymphalis spp and Polygonia hiding in wood/ garages.

Hello,

So I have (and going to have) some hibernating butterflies. They include- Nymphalis antiopa, vaulbum, Polygonia comma, progne, Aglais io, and Vanessa atalanta.

I have gotten some conflicting information on V. atalanta. Either it hibernates or it doesn’t. Where I live, winter can get below 0 in January. Would this be too cold for any of the previously mentioned species? I was thinking of keeping them in the garage where it’s 15-20 degrees warmer.

I am not familiar with hibernating live butterflies so if anyone has information, it would be gladly appreciated.

Thank you,

Ethan

Also, any parasite will result in improper forming of the butterfly. It happens quite a bit so don’t feel bad. There is nothing you can do once a parasite is in.

Hi Seffi,

In all my experience, if the butterfly can not get itself out of the pupae, the wings will never fully form. Unfortunately, when they are this deformed they never live more than a day. Maybe if your lucky the butterfly’s proboscis will form and you can feed it.

Regards,

Ethan

Hi,

If I wet the eggs, they will be ok? Also, the pencil will not harm them?

Hello,

I had a Phyciodes tharos female lay eggs at the bottom of my mesh flight cage. It is a cluster of about 20 eggs. Is there any way I can safely move these eggs to there host plant?

Thank you!

Ethan

In case with Papilio machaon and any other butterfly that hibernates as a chrysalis, the butterfly will emerge around it’s usual pupation time. It’s always best to let overwinter, but if you have proper plants and a warm environment, there is no reason you cannot keep them over winter. The pupae would hatch around 3 weeks for P. machaon if kept in warm temperatures.

I do not breed many swallowtails but I keep many and raise them. Swallowtails need larger flight cages than most butterflies. I keep them in a 5 by 8 mesh cage with a heat lamp and many plants. Swallowtail caterpillars can be kept in a mesh cage with proper host plants and ventilation. Pupae are almost always on the side of a stick for me. Make sure to keep the stick upright so the butterfly may hang.

Oh really. Last time, I thought the pupae dried out.

Hi,

I found a Hyles lineata caterpillar and I raised it to a pupae. Layed the pupae in dirt and made sure to sptritz with water daily to keep humidity up. The pupae started to change color 4 days ago. It turned black and the wings showed 2.5 days ago. Now the moth failed to emerge and died. (OF COURSE)

Does anyone know what went wrong?

Thanks,

Ethan

Hi,

I caught many wild caterpillars and all have turned into the chrysalis. I have had 3 monarchs hatch. The first lived for 4 days. The second lived for 2. And now, one is on its last legs and it’s only been a day. They all came out healthy. What the HECK is happening? They are supposed to live 6 weeks+

I have fed them Orange, sugar water, nectar, and banana.

Please tell me what’s going on.

Thank you,

Ethan