Since the gulf fritillary emerged from its chrysalis late yesterday afternoon, it spent the night in our butterfly house last night and released this morning. I have quite a few more still in its chrysalis in the butterfly house, which was covered wtih blankets during our cold spell. Now with the temperatures warming and the sun returning, I would imagine they will start emerging soon. This one marks number 59 that we have successfully raised and released from caterpillar.
We have had an abnormal Christmas this year with temperatures dipping pretty low. Today it’s extremely overcast and in the 50s, which is warmer than the last few days. With that said the butterflies have not been frequent visitors since Friday.
Today, I found a beautiful female monarch sitting on a milkweed stem holding on in the wind. I put my finger under her legs, she climbed on, and I brought her inside. She is now enjoying some strawberries and penta nectar. The best part is she is opening and closing her wings constantly and hasn’t stopped sipping since I gave her the strawberry.
The Julia heliconian butterfly is one of three in the heliconian subfamily – a member of the longwing. I read that the Julia’s legs are covered in short bristles. Their elongated wings can stretch to 9.2 centimeters.
The male butterfly is brighter orange with black spots toward the apex, while the female is duller orange with black bars across the apex.
I am so grateful this beauty stayed with me for a little while before it flew into the garden and stayed even longer. It’s an extraordinary moment when a butterfly rests on your finger, or hand, especially one that has never before! I sure hope this species becomes a permanent visitor of the garden.
As promised here are photographs of the Julia butterfly that emerged yesterday, successfully released today.
It’s been a bit cooler and more overcast this past week, which I think had something to do with my first Julia butterfly emerging after 3:30 p.m. yesterday when the sun was up. I am thankful this beauty decided to emerge in the afternoon, as I stuck my head out on the porch at the exact right time . . . the legs were pushing through the chrysalis.
I first brought Julia butterfly eggs home on Nov. 19, with the eggs hatching on Nov. 12 and Nov. 13. This butterfly created its chrysalis on Dec. 7 and emerged on Dec. 18.
I let it rest in the enclosure last night since it did not move away from its chrysalis. The temperature is still a bit cool this morning. I brought it out into the garden on my finger and it did not budge, so I brought the Julia back into the enclosure and will try again when the sun is high and the temps warm up a little. Stay tuned, I may have more photos later.
The butterfly house is very active today with 10 monarchs emerging so far this morning. It is always exciting to look out the window at the right moment and watch one emerge, or today, six of them.
With cooler temperatures and it being overcast they are emerging from their chrysalis later than usual.
