Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Spiderman - around here, there had to be a "Spiderman"
Spiderman, Spiderman,
Hey there! There goes the Spiderman.
Spiderman, Spiderman, Friendly neighborhood Spiderman. Wealth and fame, he's ignored— Action is his reward.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Absolom Aug 11 2010
Absolom arrived today and I was able to catch the breaking our of the Chrysalis immediately as the butterfly opening the first seam.
The following shots are truly wonderful as they are the first that I have been able to catch this process.
The cracking open of the Chrysalis -
Head and upper body come out -
Winds are starting to emerge -
The body is coming out -
Wings and body are out -
The whole baby butterfly is out of the chrysalis -
The butterfly is reaching to hold onto a safe area while the wings both fill out and dry out. The butterfly is very vulnerable at this time as it is not able to fly.
Absolom on my hand -
These are incredible pictures that I was able to record of the baby butterfly emerging from it's chrysalis and I am so happy that I am able to share with you.
Thank-you for reading and there is more to come as there are still more butterflies to emerge - MNN
The following shots are truly wonderful as they are the first that I have been able to catch this process.
The cracking open of the Chrysalis -
Head and upper body come out -
Winds are starting to emerge -
Wings and body are out -
The whole baby butterfly is out of the chrysalis -
The butterfly is reaching to hold onto a safe area while the wings both fill out and dry out. The butterfly is very vulnerable at this time as it is not able to fly.
Absolom on my hand -
These are incredible pictures that I was able to record of the baby butterfly emerging from it's chrysalis and I am so happy that I am able to share with you.
Thank-you for reading and there is more to come as there are still more butterflies to emerge - MNN
Queen LaQuesha arrived Aug 11 2010
This one can rule anyone's world:
Caught her flapping her wings.
I am going to note that I have been incredibly fortunate in being able to have each butterfly walk on me so that I can take a shot. I feel very honoured that each creature will do that.
One more set of shots coming from MNN and THESE are truly awesome shots! MNN
Caught her flapping her wings.
I am going to note that I have been incredibly fortunate in being able to have each butterfly walk on me so that I can take a shot. I feel very honoured that each creature will do that.
One more set of shots coming from MNN and THESE are truly awesome shots! MNN
A surprise from Norman!
Norman Osborne is here....but we might want to rethink the name to "Norma" or "Ms. Norman" -
or "Dude! is a Lady"!
Another gorgeous Monarch was launched today.
More coming from MNN.
or "Dude! is a Lady"!
Another gorgeous Monarch was launched today.
More coming from MNN.
Juliette, Liatris and Mischief Aug 11 2010
Juliette,
and Liatris,
and camera shy Mischief.
more more more to come, MNN
and Liatris,
and camera shy Mischief.
more more more to come, MNN
Peter Parker Aug 10 2010
Peter is in the room!
Uh oh! That is "MS. Peter Parker" to us! How about we just call her gorgeous!
Have a wonderful life Ms. Peter Parker! - MNN
Uh oh! That is "MS. Peter Parker" to us! How about we just call her gorgeous!
Have a wonderful life Ms. Peter Parker! - MNN
AlphaOmega born Aug 10 2010
Here are some beautiful pics of AlphaOmega born Aug 10 2010 -
Enjoy - MNN
Enjoy - MNN
Baby Monarch Mania!
WOW! Lots of popping going on around here.
Who has popped:
Juliette - Aug 10 2010
Peter Parker - Aug 10 2010
AlphaOmega - Aug 10 2010
Liatris - Aug 10 2010
Norman Osborne - Aug 11 2010
Absolom - Aug 10 2010
Queen LaQuesha - Aug 11 2010
Mischief - Aug 11 2010
So far, around MNN, we have had 22 Baby Monarchs this year. This has a huge "WOW" factor for me as I never thought that I would be able to do this. And I am floored that I have been able to have so many lovely baby Monarchs come into the world. My fingers are crossed that the genetics will somehow work and the subsequent generations of Monarchs will remember to come this way.
Samples of what empty Chrysalis look like:
Excess Liquid a monarch releases when "pumping the wings out" -
Butterfly Gabfest -
Lots more pics to come - stay tuned - MNN
Who has popped:
Juliette - Aug 10 2010
Peter Parker - Aug 10 2010
AlphaOmega - Aug 10 2010
Liatris - Aug 10 2010
Norman Osborne - Aug 11 2010
Absolom - Aug 10 2010
Queen LaQuesha - Aug 11 2010
Mischief - Aug 11 2010
So far, around MNN, we have had 22 Baby Monarchs this year. This has a huge "WOW" factor for me as I never thought that I would be able to do this. And I am floored that I have been able to have so many lovely baby Monarchs come into the world. My fingers are crossed that the genetics will somehow work and the subsequent generations of Monarchs will remember to come this way.
Samples of what empty Chrysalis look like:
Excess Liquid a monarch releases when "pumping the wings out" -
Butterfly Gabfest -
Lots more pics to come - stay tuned - MNN
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Caviar delights us - she is gorgeous! born Aug 9 2010
Caviar was born Aug 10/10 and released the same day.
Mothra left Aug 9 2010
Mothra (a male) finally left Aug 9/ 10 after the weather cleared.
Beautiful day!
Beautiful day!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Godzilla is off!
Today when we came home, we tried to release both Godzilla and Mothra - especially as they wee flapping away in the netted hold that I had them in.
We took them downstairs and went outside, somewhat doubtful that they would be able to leave as the temperature is only 22C or 71.6F for my friends south of the border. Butterflies require 30C or 86F to be able to fly properly as they are cold blooded critters.
It turns out that Godzilla was willing to fly and finally made it into a tree - yes, finally, after several tries at flying and also with me holding him in hand for a time.
However, Mothra was just not ready to test these colder temps to fly. Tonight, Mothra is going to roost with us indoors and tomorrow morning I will try and launch Mothra again.
Thank-you for reading and have an awesome evening! MNN
We took them downstairs and went outside, somewhat doubtful that they would be able to leave as the temperature is only 22C or 71.6F for my friends south of the border. Butterflies require 30C or 86F to be able to fly properly as they are cold blooded critters.
It turns out that Godzilla was willing to fly and finally made it into a tree - yes, finally, after several tries at flying and also with me holding him in hand for a time.
However, Mothra was just not ready to test these colder temps to fly. Tonight, Mothra is going to roost with us indoors and tomorrow morning I will try and launch Mothra again.
Thank-you for reading and have an awesome evening! MNN
Godzilla and Mothra born Aug 7 2010
Today, where there is loss, there is also life!
Godzilla and Mothra were born almost simultaneously - and here are the first pics!
Here they are just a few minutes old....
And here they are about 30 minutes old...
Stay tuned for more - MNN
Godzilla and Mothra were born almost simultaneously - and here are the first pics!
Here they are just a few minutes old....
And here they are about 30 minutes old...
Stay tuned for more - MNN
Loss today
I know that I am not supposed to get too attached to my 'pillars, but it does happen when you take care of them and see them grow.
However, today, one little girl finally gave up the fight to live.
Dudette, my little one, had a very difficult moult into the next skin on Tuesday this week. Somehow, for some reason, something was going terribly wrong with her moult and the old skin would not come off. I managed to assist in the very last part of the skin coming off toward her rear end, however, it seemed that things were simply "just not right". At further inspection, I could see that her "mandible" was askew to the left of the head.
And due to this, the caterpillar did not eat. Or could not eat appears to be the best way to put it. I did my best to try and make things better for the 'pillar by providing the milkweed liquid that comes off the end of the leaves when removed from the plant, so that she could "drink" it in. I could see the mandible moving to take the liquid in and the 'pillar was eager to do this.
However, when it came to eating, there was nothing that could be done. I even mushed up the milkweed leaves thinking that maybe this would be a way for her to eat. And to no avail.
I knew what the eventual outcome would be and today, Dudette is now in the Land of Abundant Milkweed.
Rest well little one - you tried so hard. MNN
However, today, one little girl finally gave up the fight to live.
Dudette, my little one, had a very difficult moult into the next skin on Tuesday this week. Somehow, for some reason, something was going terribly wrong with her moult and the old skin would not come off. I managed to assist in the very last part of the skin coming off toward her rear end, however, it seemed that things were simply "just not right". At further inspection, I could see that her "mandible" was askew to the left of the head.
And due to this, the caterpillar did not eat. Or could not eat appears to be the best way to put it. I did my best to try and make things better for the 'pillar by providing the milkweed liquid that comes off the end of the leaves when removed from the plant, so that she could "drink" it in. I could see the mandible moving to take the liquid in and the 'pillar was eager to do this.
However, when it came to eating, there was nothing that could be done. I even mushed up the milkweed leaves thinking that maybe this would be a way for her to eat. And to no avail.
I knew what the eventual outcome would be and today, Dudette is now in the Land of Abundant Milkweed.
Rest well little one - you tried so hard. MNN
Friday, August 6, 2010
That devil Beezleub!
WOW!
-A girl gets up in the morning...
-checks ALL of her monarch Chrysli over a few times to see if anyone is near ready to pop! into a baby butterfly...
-no one is appearing ready to go - at all - I stress...(it is baby butterfly season so I try to make sure all bases are covered before I do things these days).
-so the girl goes out for a few hours...
-and comes home and YIKES!
We have a baby Beelzebub!
Came home and the butterfly was the "strongest" one yet and flapping around in the mesh tent.
So I quickly transferred him to the "moving" mesh tent
and popped downstairs to the outside
and Whoosh!
out goes the butterfly before I could blink.
I got a quick look and indeed, Beelzebub is a devil-boy and not a devil-girl.
Long life to Beelzebub - MNN.
-A girl gets up in the morning...
-checks ALL of her monarch Chrysli over a few times to see if anyone is near ready to pop! into a baby butterfly...
-no one is appearing ready to go - at all - I stress...(it is baby butterfly season so I try to make sure all bases are covered before I do things these days).
-so the girl goes out for a few hours...
-and comes home and YIKES!
We have a baby Beelzebub!
Came home and the butterfly was the "strongest" one yet and flapping around in the mesh tent.
So I quickly transferred him to the "moving" mesh tent
and popped downstairs to the outside
and Whoosh!
out goes the butterfly before I could blink.
I got a quick look and indeed, Beelzebub is a devil-boy and not a devil-girl.
Long life to Beelzebub - MNN.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Tutankhamen-Orr also born on Aug 3 2010 - ahh could not wait until Aug 4.
Tutankhamen-Orr really, really had to come out today. Aghghg - a gaff of my own included today.
I had to run out to a Dr. appt early this morning, so went thru the Chrysalis that I thought should be on "high watch" for opening soon and put them in the appropriate holding area - COVERED!!!
And the rest of the Chrysalis are usually too new or too green in colour for me to think they will "pop" out. And I don't usually cover them - they can get breathing room that way.
Well....OOOPS! I came home to find Tut-Orr flying around my office everywhere! YIKES!!!!! He was in the group of the still green Chrysalis.
So - now ALL Chrysalis are covered and also, I was able to catch Tut-Orr and get him into the meshed hamper that I use to transport my Butterflies from my office down to the great garden of life.
I am getting much more confident handling these little critters and with that, think that if I do this next year, I will look into tagging the monarchs so that they can be tracked. They are truly quite a strongly built butterfly and can be handled - with extreme care - and taken on my hand for example: which I have been doing with the majority of my hatched butterflies.
Here are some pics of Tut-Orr- including the one that shows the 2 "pockets" or "dots" on his lower wings that indicate he is male.
Aphrodite and Tut-Orr together Aug 3 2010
Tut-Orr about 2.5 hours old
and
Awesome picture of Tut-Orr getting ready to go on Aug 3 2010
That is all for now - but keep tuned folks - I know that many of you will be waiting to see how your 'pillar turned out into a Monarch Butterfly.
Thank-you for keeping tuned - MNN
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