Tag Archives: great southern white butterfly

608

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On Wednesday, May 3, my daughter and I celebrated a pretty exciting anniversary, the beginning of our butterfly gardening adventure. We purchased our first host and nectar plant in 2020 from All Native Garden Center, where I still to this day purchase a great deal of plants.

On our anniversary, my daughter asked how many butterflies we have raised since 2020. Well, today I counted and that number is 608, which includes nine different species! What better way to learn about nature than bringing them to you.

I cannot even fathom how many more butterflies have emerged from our garden, supporting the population in our area. I know we have also helped the lifecycle of the zebra longwing butterfly, cassius blue butterfly, dainty sulphur and the white checkered butterfly.

What started off with three plants has transformed our lives and continues to teach us a great deal of these extraordinary insects. I don’t think we are even close to finishing expanding our garden and inviting more species into our butterfly sanctuary, if you will.

426 monarch butterflies raised and released.

77 gulf fritillaries raised and released.

56 great southern white butterflies raised and released.

25 Julia butterflies raised and released.

3 giant swallowtail butterflies raised and released.

14 polydamas swallowtail butterflies raised and released.

4 sulphur butterflies raised and released.

2 eastern black swallowtail butterflies raised and released.

1 queen butterfly raised and released.

And they continue to emerge

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The great southern white butterflies continue to emerge in the butterfly house. We are up to 38 that have successfully emerged so far. They enjoyed a dune sunflower and scorpion tail today.

15 more

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Today we had 15 more great southern white butterflies emerge in our butterfly house. They had to remain in the house for quite some time as we had a pretty bad storm this morning and the wind was crazy strong. Some of them were super eager to fly away, while others allowed us to bring them to some nectar flowers in our front garden. My daughter was ecstatic that some stayed with her for a while. So special when she talks to them and names them. The passion will continue to another generation.

We had lots of females and males. The females are darker in color and have black cell spots on their forewing, while the males are mostly white.

The best part is we have so many great southern white butterflies flying around all of our gardens. It’s absolutely stunning to spot the white when the males are flying, as well as the darker shades, while the females are fluttering by.

My first

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It was an incredibly successful day in our butterfly house! We had a total of 12 great southern white butterflies emerge, with many more to go. I know I have said this a million times before, but it is incredible to hold a new species, especially when they hang out for a very long time, letting you take a ton of photographs. My daughter even had an opportunity to hold a few at a time.

The great southern white is among the pieridae/whites and sulphur family. The male is white with black forewing apex, while the female is a dirty white to gray with black forewing apex and black forewing cell spot. I have also read that the female become more grayish during the wet season. Their wingspan is about 45-58 mm and can be found in every county in Florida.

Finally done

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As always, it was fascinating to watch the lifecycle of a new species up close and personal in our butterfly house. I am happy to say that our great southern white caterpillars are finally done eating and have all found their final destination to make their chrysalis. They are everywhere inside the butterfly house, some with two or three in a row. I am excited to see them all emerge and flutter away in the garden.

My heart is so happy. Sometimes you have to give yourself credit, so here it goes.

I was surprised with a bouquet of pepperweed today, which absolutely warmed my heart. My daughter found the pepperweed while she was at recess at school and decided to pick it for me because “here, Mom, food for the caterpillars.” The expression on her face was heartwarming. It’s incredible, really, for a 6 year old, to remember what pepperweed looks like among the rest of the grass. This amazing little girl retains so much knowledge.

Almost 3 years ago we began dipping our fingers into the soil planting our first butterfly garden. I have so happy she shares my joy and remembers the names of all the butterfly species, host and nectar plants. The best part – that excitement we share together of this beautiful, rewarding hobby.

So, I think I have finally found a way to regrow the pepperweed after it is picked. I was able to see the seeds when the leaves dried out, which are now in the dirt, hopefully, popping up soon.