PKCaptSun
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I'm raising something new
A couple of weeks ago I made an interesting discovery in the small Hackberry tree by my front door. At first I mistook the odd little cluster for a bristly looking moth. It turned out to be a group of little caterpillars all huddled together. A little research was needed to identify them as IO Moth larvae. I brought them inside and currently have 13 to 14 of them. This is what they looked like when I first found them. I'll have more photos as they grow.
--- BOTM Winner Dec 2008 Aug 2009
PKCaptSun
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6/28/2009, 4:10 pm
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Queenyforever
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Re: I'm raising something new
How interesting......those will be fun to watch as they mature...
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“Freedom and democracy are dreams you never give up.”
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7/1/2009, 5:52 am
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PKCaptSun
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Re: I'm raising something new
They are absolutely huge now and I don't think they have reached their full size yet. I have photos but haven't gotten them online yet. You'll be surprised to see how much they've changed in appearance. I moved them back outside and have them in a caterpillar keeper sleeve so they can be on a live plant instead of cuttings. The sleeve keeps them safe from predators and keeps them where I can locate them.
--- BOTM Winner Dec 2008 Aug 2009
PKCaptSun
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7/16/2009, 10:22 am
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PKCaptSun
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Re: I'm raising something new
It seems that it is getting close to time for them to pupate since one of them decided to spin its cocoon right in a fold of the material of the sleeve. I've brought them back inside along with a pile of leaves for them to pupate in. Here is a photo of what they look like now. The biggest one is about the size of my index finger.
--- BOTM Winner Dec 2008 Aug 2009
PKCaptSun
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7/17/2009, 11:01 am
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Queenyforever
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Re: I'm raising something new
WOW!! They have changed....and are they ever gorgeous!
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“Freedom and democracy are dreams you never give up.”
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7/20/2009, 8:18 am
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PKCaptSun
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Re: I'm raising something new
I ended up with 6 of them and hope that they all survive to adulthood. It wasn't until I took my latest photos that I realized just how much color they have on them. With them deep in the foliage all the time it is hard to see.
--- BOTM Winner Dec 2008 Aug 2009
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7/20/2009, 12:15 pm
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Queenyforever
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Re: I'm raising something new
Wow...6 of them made it? You must be a good 'watcher'...
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“Freedom and democracy are dreams you never give up.”
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8/4/2009, 2:48 pm
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PKCaptSun
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Re: I'm raising something new
I certainly do try. There is a tiny problem though. I need the enclosures so that I can bring in some Monarch and Gulf Fritillary caterpillars that are ready now and some Black Swallowtails once they are bigger. I don't like crowding them and don't usually mix species in the same enclosure. It is likely that I will buy a couple more of the medium sized ones since I'm getting more cats all the time.
--- BOTM Winner Dec 2008 Aug 2009
PKCaptSun
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8/5/2009, 12:16 pm
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Queenyforever
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Re: I'm raising something new
Perhaps a very good investment....
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“Freedom and democracy are dreams you never give up.”
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8/7/2009, 11:51 am
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PKCaptSun
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Re: I'm raising something new
My 3 new enclosures should arrive next week. I ended up using my smaller one for both the Monarchs and some Gulf Fritillaries. They don't seem to be bothering each other so they should be fine for now.
--- BOTM Winner Dec 2008 Aug 2009
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8/9/2009, 4:19 pm
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