August 12, 2020
Dearest Jody,
We had a near catastrophe this morning. But you would not understand because I have not told all the truth to you. You brought me four swallowtail larvae: two late instars, a tiny first instar, and one in the middle. I never told you that the tiny one and the one huge one disappeared. Amelia and I searched and searched but could not find them in the enclosure or in the house (I have had caterpillars run on me before, especially Monarchs). You went to a lot of trouble for these little guys and are so deeply invested that I did not want to disappoint you.
I continued the search over the next few days for a chrysalis, hoping the big one ran away and pupated under a table, or in a dark corner somewhere. It did. I found it today. I went into the kitchen to make breakfast (which seldom happens) and Nelly the Naughty Cat was leaping about the windows trying to catch a bug. It was your butterfly! He had to have pupated yesterday because he was totally dry and ready to leave.
And it's a boy!
But I couldn't get a camera and save the butterfly, too.
I had to yell at Nelly, which brought Lucy racing down to the kitchen to help me. Lucy is a great cat wrangler and loves the times that they are naughty. Nelly ran into the basement. I went for the camera, which was charging, because I lost that spare battery, so I had to reload the battery. By that time, Nelly had returned to slaughter the butterfly. But one word to Lucy and Nelly was in the basement again. I took the photos. I got him on my finger to pose a bit. But I had to release him because he was beating his wings on the window and destroying his scales.
You have never met Nelly in real life before. Here she is this morning trying to take the lens cover off of the camera. She has her sweet moments. But she is a killer and I am grateful for her mousing capabilities.
All other larvae (except the tiny one) are accounted for (1 infant, 1 last instar, 1 chrysalis). Three to go.
Forgive me, Jody. 😇 I try.
December 10, 2020
Dearest Jody,
I found the chrysalis. That caterpillar crawled 20 feet across the kitchen and up a post and under a cast iron skillet hanging there.
Forgive me?
If not? Here is the photo I took of your Tiger this summer . . .
He is well-behaved.
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| More Felines here! |
_/\_/\_
I love your insect posts and I love your kitty posts. Tiger has something to say and we'd better listen.
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining the Feline Friday Blog Hop.
Have a purrfect Feline Friday and weekend. ♥
Beautiful blog
ReplyDeletePlease read my post
ReplyDeleteOh, what an exciting butterfly rescue mission! Luckily it worked. I love cats, but I don't always love their hunting instincts ;-) Our Nina (now 19 and blind) was a big killer at a young age, and that sometimes hurts a lot.
ReplyDeleteOne question: I didn't understand your blog hop: May I link my current posting there? There are several cat photos in my post. (But I'm afraid I won't be able to visit all the other bloggers who have linked here, is that a problem?...)
Happy weekend and all the best from Austria
Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2022/08/mallorca-reisebericht-teil-5-tag-9-bis.html
Yes, you may link it here or in any of the other posts. Your link shows up on all the posts. Cool system!
DeleteI've had caterpillars escape also. Right now I have 13 Monarchs in the living room. Every day I find another on my plants that just won't feed that many, so in they come and I go driving around for plants to feed them. My Black Swallowtails are only 2 this year and should hatch any day. Love Nell finding the butterfly for you, but you managed to save it's life. We need them all.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! That is so great, Lynn. I had one year that we raised 51 Monarchs. It ended up being exhausting! And we have never seen the numbers that we had that year. Keep it up!!!
DeleteHow wonderful that you saved the big one! We have four cats here and i'd be afraid they'd be like your Nellie and want to eat all of them.
ReplyDeleteMarvelous rescue! We have lots of swallowtail outside without any help from us - plus some little white butterlies with a few black spots on the wings. Not sure what kind of butterfly it is. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteThey may be cabbage white butterflies from the cabbage "worms" (actually caterpillars) that are on broccoli and cabbage and the like. They are most lovely.
Deletewonderful rescue and sweet photography ~ butterflies and kitties ~ Xo
ReplyDeleteWishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
We just don't see many butterflies in our yard so it's nice to see yours, beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI've never tried to do anything with butterflies but this brought back such a sweet memory of a co worker who has since retired. I sent your link to a mutual friend/another retired co worker who wrote a children's book manuscript based on that same memory. (She has never tried to get it published).
ReplyDelete