So many great pictures over the years...I can't believe there are 100 pages of pics.
Here is an interesting angle of a GST sunning on Duranta.
Same individual on lantana
And finally...this one is enjoying the sun from a newly budding plumeria this afternoon.
Let Spring begin!
We came from here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1291738/
Russell
This message was edited Mar 20, 2013 5:00 PM
This message was edited Mar 20, 2013 6:10 PM
Okay can I ask here? Do they Hibernate(Monarchs) in any part of Florida ? if so What tree or plants do they use?
The monarchs in this part of Florida (Tampa area) do not hibernate. They just keep going right through the winter. I know Monarchs in the Panhandle migrate because they have Monarch viewing days at some of the preserves in the north part of the state. My milkweed got a little frosted but the caterpillars are still eating it and I noticed they were eating the skin on the seed pods. I have plenty of milkweed that didn't get frosted so they still have lots to eat for now.
Melanie
Interesting study that can be enjoyed about adaptation. I hope the migaratory monarchs learn how also. I was reading about California and the Eucalyptus tree . Last I heard that was a real small park that is endangered also.
Adaptation happenings perk up my interest ,
We have a resident population of monarchs in the coastal areas of Texas as well.
yakamon more info? I am enjoying this and all the pic's
We get a few GST here , some years , only saw one last year .
I didn't realize that BST's show up in west central Arkansas during March.Several days ago, I noticed a BST ovipositing in an overgrown area that is scheduled to be a shopping center. Today, a beautiful male BST was basking in the middle of a dirt road in the same area.It is suppose to get cold here for a few days so the butterfles need to take cover.
Juhur,
I have checked back through my photos, and I have records of Monarchs visiting flowers at my house every month of the year. I have done some reading on the subject, and it appears that they can survive some low temps, but it is the cold and wet conditions that cause their demise. Along the deep Southern Texas coast, we didn't have much rain during the winter, (heck, we haven't had much rain in 2 years, for that matter) and our temps never hit the freezing mark. My milkweed plants never went dormant this year. Even 2 of my plumerias never lost all of their leaves. I suspect that is why the monarch hung around. In colder, wetter winters, I don't typically see the monarchs year round. I try to take pictures of visitors year round so I can spot changes in species and to help identify trends. I have a small sample size, because I have only been doing this for 3 years, but I am sure we will notice changes in patterns in the coming years.
This forum is perfect for discussing topics like this, and all of the great photos that people submit can help us all learn more about what works for our flighted friends.
Take care,
Russell
Does the eucalyptus (oymanon pine)? (not sure of my spelling there .. > That the Monarchs use grow where you are ,,?
Not sure of the tropical fir tree names . If any of them do grow where you are maybe us nohern invaders could sneak a few trees into some of your parks . Might be interesting.. A worthwhile interference from ""outsiders"" ooh... that sounds oppositional ! ......
If the population lives there it seems they could hibernate for a while there also , Even in summer I have noticed other BF's that bunch together under leaves on a too cool night or evening ..
It is interesting to a thought or two . Those numbers are way to low , I am older , decades ago I can remeber when the BF's filled the sky ,,( like clouds some years ,,no kidding!)
This message was edited Mar 21, 2013 11:03 AM
This message was edited Mar 21, 2013 11:09 AM
juhur7...The only plant the Monarchs use as a host plant is the Milkweed.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/search.php?q=milkweed&Search=Search+PlantFiles
There is a variety of species, but no trees. Perhaps you are talking about roosting during migration?
The trees that Monarchs use for hibernation are called "Oyamel" which i believe is in the Pine family.
Good looking GST Russell. I always have to do a double take when they are in my yard as we also get Ornythion and Broadband Swallowtails which are quite similar. Do you get those in Portland? The second and third photo are of the Broadband Swallowtail.
Juhur7...you are correct, Oyamel is a Fir.
I haven't seen either the Ornythion or Broadband ST around, but it is certainly possible that we get them here. I will keep an eye out for the subtle differences. They move around so much, it is sometimes difficult to get a good shot of the wings completely open. The one pictured above was oddly cooperative, sitting with wings spread completely open for some time.
Thanks for pointing out the differences.
Russell
I was wondering about the trees the Monarchs prefer for Hibernation or colony gathering , Info says Eucalyptus in California , fir forest in mexico Oyamel, I was wondering if either te Texas or Florida colony might do the same. even though they do not truly Hibernate
Only wondering some .
I went shopping at my favorite local nursery today and got some Giant Milkweed, bronze fennel, dill, pentas, and guara. Then, I picked up some regular milkweed and some Tampa vervain at Home Depot. I went there for a sprayer (for fertilizing my orchids) and somehow plants just jumped in the cart, LOL! I need to clean up the butterfly garden after the winter - remove the dead plants and replace them with new ones. The only thing I really lost were some pentas and Carolina petunias. My rue is coming back nicely. And the sassafras tree I bought last fall is leafing out; bring on the Spicebushes! Should be a good garden year.
Also, released two Monarchs today. I have five in their J position and three still eating. My Polydamas eggs haven't hatched yet but they seem to be turning more of a gray color so it shouldn't be long.
Melanie
I am still waiting for my spicebush , Had I known I could of sent you the bronze fennel . The bronze grows like 8ft tall here..
My milkweeds come and go , still iffy there ,but they grow .. The honeyvine of course is not an iffy , shows up everywhere ,every year ,in a jiffy !lol
When the monarchs do fly by , they go to zinnia and honeyvine ,first thing .. Reminding me I need to start a couple of zinnias soon ...
Not a BF, but a picture nonetheless. I had about 6 of these bombing the lantana tonight, but it was just about dark, so it was difficult to focus on them.
White Lined Sphinx Moth (I think).
Russell
Beautiful Russell! Verrrry cool.
Thanks Beverly. Here is a cropped picture of the same? specimen with contrast and sharpness enhanced. ISO 1600 f 5.6 1/250
Very cool indeed. I have several types of these that visit annually, Thanks to all of you who have traded seeds, plants and knowledge with the rest of us.
Russell
Wow Russel. Nice. Look at that pretty stuff with the moth. F-L-O-W-E-R. Hard to remember what those things look like.
Gee Russell, i can't decide which one i like the best, the cropped or uncropped. Either one of them would be contenders for the DG Calendar contest 2014. I'd vote for them. You remind us that there are some truly spectacular moths and we should be giving them more attention. (i think i am ever so slightly leaning toward the uncropped)
Very funny Mrs. Ed...look, it's almost the end of March and before long you will up to you knees in the pretty stuff.
I don't know how to spell the Moth's names , There is one here besides "Cecropia " It is a large one near the same size , I always have trouble remembering the name , I see it some years at night blooming flowers , A yellow stalk wildflower particularly that most consider a weed , it only blooms late evening and early morning for a few hours or on real shady gray days ,.
Many of the moths are really pretty ,we just rarely see them , I use to raise some Cecropia ,when as was , much younger ..and had more space to do so. Lot of Maples started that ..lol
Me and my dad planted the new plants into the butterfly garden this afternoon. I have a whole row of milkweed just waiting for some Monarchs. I did see one Monarch today, but it was a boy. Then, I saw my first Tiger Swallowtail of the year; it was also a boy so no hopes for caterpillars yet.
Melanie
Hello Juhur7...regarding your question about the Monarchs hibernating in Florida and Texas, it appears that they do not hibernate but continue their breeding cycle there and farther north (maybe 3 to 4 broods) before returning to Mexico to hibernate during the winter months. This is a good website to reference that explains the cycle. This does not mention Pacific Grove, California and the Eucalyptus and which I assume to be not a hibernation as much as a gathering together of Monarchs either traveling south or north. It also does not explain why some people in Florida and Texas report having Monarchs year round. See what you think.
http://www.monarchbutterflyfund.org/node/148
This of course doesn't take into consideration the global warming that is heating us up and will possibly have an effect on the cycle. I appreciate so much your interest in "adaptations". It is a fascinating subject. I was lucky enough to be in the Mexican State of Michoacan in the Oyamel forests during a few days of a period of hibernation. It is spectacular, like being in a sea of Monarchs...so many that the beating of their collective wings could be heard. :-D
vitrsna.. I bookmarked that article. It is very well written and explains the reproductive depause, etc. Thanks for posting it.
I had a nice surprise at the museum today. I saw two Red Admirals! I caught one and added it to the flight cage. These are the first I've seen this year. I couldn't get a great picture of the one because it kept fluttering around. We also had an Eastern Black Swallowtail emerge and I got a nice photo.
Melanie
Some more photos from the yard today. Well, the Cloudless Sulphur is on a firecracker fern in my neighbor's yard, so close enough, LOL! The male Monarch was nectaring quite a bit. And look at all those aphids I've got. Where are my ladybugs when I need them!?
Melanie
Yeahhh...lima bean caterpillars!!! Not sure what butterfly this will be - but am hoping it will be one of the longtail skippers.
I'd planted the lima bean seeds a couple of weeks ago and they are barely 2-3 inches tall. Butterfly found them quickly!
Since I work days I rarely get to see butterflies laying eggs unless I'm out in the yard on a weekend. Also found a bunch of Black Swallowtail cats on my rue plants. Some 3rd instars and gobs of 2nd instars. There was also a dratted spider with one of the 3rd instar cats in its clutches. I killed the spider...but the caterpillar was past saving.
~ Cat
Too bad about the one cat but at least you saved others by killing that spider. I don't think that's a Long-Tailed Skipper because it doesn't have the orange stripe near the base of the tail. Do you get Dorantes skippers there? They lack the orange stripe. Also, don't you have that cool long tailed skipper with the white stripe on the wing? What do their caterpillars look like? I can't wait to find out what you've got!
I just planted my dill and fennel today. Let's see how long it takes before I get eggs!
Melanie
vitrnsa .hi ya , Nice article eay to read through enjoyable and informative also, Observation about this subject is my interest, as much is not reconized as is happening or occuring . Looking for possible wisdoms in a basket(or planet full) of why?
When they are changing or different from known or accepted information (and many are) why by observation (similar to darwin and a few teachers?) to see or make conclusions . .
The different Monarchs are no doubt being different in habit for adaptation reaons ,. has to be observed and learned from .. on ,on ,etc (answers are there)
Melanie...I had a couple of Long-Tailed (Urbanus proteus) a while back but haven't seen them lately. It's probably a Dorantes as they are common here. So are the brown longtails but those use grasses as a larval host.
We get the White-Striped Longtail that uses Snout Bean. Zilpa Longtail uses legume vines...in the nissolia family. Have to look that one up...can't recall the common plant name. On rare occasion we see Eight-spotted Longtail and Mexican Longtail and Agunas and some others.
Here are photos of the White-Striped Longtail (Chioides albofasciatus). The caterpillar has two yellow stripes running the length of its body. It has cute furry orange feet!
This message was edited Mar 24, 2013 3:48 PM
Ooh, I like that White Striped Longtail! And I really like its furry,orange feet! Wish we had those here but I'll try to be content with the variety I've got.
Melanie
Yeahhh...lima bean caterpillars!!! Not sure what butterfly this will be - but am hoping it will be one of the longtail skippers.
I'd planted the lima bean seeds a couple of weeks ago and they are barely 2-3 inches tall. Butterfly found them quickly!
Since I work days I rarely get to see butterflies laying eggs unless I'm out in the yard on a weekend. Also found a bunch of Black Swallowtail cats on my rue plants. Some 3rd instars and gobs of 2nd instars. There was also a dratted spider with one of the 3rd instar cats in its clutches. I killed the spider...but the caterpillar was past saving.
~ Cat
Shorthog...am thinking it's U. proteus as well. Time will tell. I was too lazy to get my caterpillar guide book to check. I could've googled for it...but I like surprises! LOL!!!
Bummer on the spiders...unfortunately the poor Black Swallowtail caterpillar was half desicated. I could've let the spider have its prey but I'm not that altruistic when it comes to my garden!!!
I've got gobs of predator photos on my Dave's gardening diary.
http://davesgarden.com/community/blogs/m/TexasPuddyPrint/ click on “Predators – Not for the squeamish”
am not sure if this takes you to the direct page...might be just for me to see?
http://davesgarden.com/community/blogs/t/TexasPuddyPrint/12650/
TexasPuddyPrint great shots in your diary of predators and their prey. In many instances the predators are rather small compared to their butterfly prey.
I noted several other items in your diary of interest on attracting butterflies. Since I'm a novice on butterflies, this is a valued learning resource for me. Thanks.
Hi everyone! Mom and I went to MOSI (where I volunteer) today to see Flight of the Butterflies. http://www.flightofthebutterflies.com/ It's a great movie about Monarch migration and if you have the chance to see it, go do it! I cried through half of it; I was so moved. (I cry at most movies, though. LOL!) It's a really beautifully filmed movie that tells the story of how they found out where the Monarchs were spending the winters in Mexico.
On the way back to the car, I saw another Red Admiral. Might have been the one that escaped yesterday!
Melanie
Awesome Melanie!!!
So much in the news lately about their dwindling wintering ground. One one hand I say we have more Monarchs with everyone growing milkweed and having milkweed way stations along their routes. I think more folks are also raising/releasing butterflies. Then I wonder with all the pesticides and cutting of trees in Mexico - what's the end result?
Shorthog...glad you found my links helpful. It's amazing how a little bitty spider or assassin bug can bring down a huge butterfly light a swallowtail!!!
Folks out here laugh because I always stop to get 'butterfly death' shots...then they really laugh when I tell them about the butterfly porn shots! LOL!!!
~ Cat
Thanks Melanie.
I had a couple of visitors today. Loved the pink outline on the first one!
Hopefully more will start showing up as more things come into bloom.
Russell
