It Hatched!

Category: Garden Wildlife | Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 5:14 pm

Last night when I checked on the chrysalis, I noticed that it was turning black(usually a sign of impending emergence). This morning when I came downstairs I noticed that my cats were WAY to interested in my butterfly "box" . Flapping around inside was a brand new Gulf Fritillary butterfly! I wasn't sure how long it had been hatched, but it was totally dry so it needed to be released very soon. I grabbed my camera, in which of course the batteries were DEAD. I took batteries from the remote control and managed to get this one, very poor photo. I had hoped the butterfly would stick around so I could take a better picture, but he was off and flying before I could get a chance. Here is a picture of the empty chrysalis:

I've collected a new tiny little caterpillar so we can start all over again.

This little guy is about 5mm long! It seems this type of butterfly has a faster metamorphisis than the monarch (It was about 8 days). At least next time I will know when to expect it to hatch.

I found this little fella on the inside screen door handle:

They don't bother me, but my DH is very much afraid of them. Hehehe, I'm leaving the frog here to surprise him. I know, I'm awful, but there is no sound funnier than a grown man screaming like a little girl.

Actually, he is quite mad at them. Now that we are getting wetter weather they've been more active....active as in interested in the opposite sex. We have a pool and they seem to think it is their "Oasis of Love". In the morning we find lots of frog eggs in the pool...which is kind of gross when you want to swim. The eggs are too small to get caught in the net so you have to wait for them to go to the filter. The frogs also get noisy. Their cries of love can sound like a velociraptor from Jurassic Park or like an evil gremlin. Try taking an evening swim and hearing that coming from the bushes! These frogs are an introduced species: Cuban Tree Frogs and they can get quite massive in size. They are voracious eaters, but unfortunately sometimes they eat our smaller native species of tree frogs. We kept one for a pet for awhile and it actually ate itself to death...quite gross. I've been told I should kill them, but I am not good with killing little creatures. I usually try to put them outside the yard. The other problem is that they have toxic secretions in their skin. It makes them undesirable for predators and you do NOT want to get that stuff in your eyes (yes, I know from experience), because it feels like jalepeno pepper oil). If you wash your hands immediately after handling them (which I have always done except that ONE time), there is no problem.

Going off topic just a bit, but I am so pleased that my Grandpa Ott morning glory is blooming!

I think this is the most electric shade of purple that I've ever seen! Can't wait until I have more blooms!!!

Have a great day!

*UPDATE*
Yah! He screamed better than I could have DREAMED! He screamed once when he saw it, and then again when he gingerly tried to open the door and it leapt at him...EXCELLENT!

Last edited: Fri Jun 08, 2007 6:50 pm

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Frank wrote on Fri Jun 08, 2007 6:45 pm:

Nice to see the little guy hatching HB, is it ever possible to not be amazed at the whole process.

>>> We kept one for a pet for awhile and it actually ate itself to death...quite gross.<<<

*gasps* Now that's a voracious eater!

hummingbird3172 wrote on Fri Jun 08, 2007 6:53 pm:

My son was heartbroken that his beloved Maria ate so many crickets that she popped! It was pretty awful.

I am always amazed, everytime I see it. I've planted some Swallowtail larval plants too...I'd love to raise one of them too!