Comments on: feeding a butterfly http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/10/feeding-a-butterfly/ a place where nature, photography and writing meet Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:15:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: burning silo http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/10/feeding-a-butterfly/#comment-30658 Sun, 11 Feb 2007 18:41:44 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/10/feeding-a-butterfly/#comment-30658 Dave & Wayne - See the <a href="http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/11/he-or-she/" rel="nofollow">next post</a> for answers to your questions. Dave & Wayne - See the next post for answers to your questions.

]]> by: Wayne http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/10/feeding-a-butterfly/#comment-30610 Sun, 11 Feb 2007 10:51:42 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/10/feeding-a-butterfly/#comment-30610 Very neat, Bev! Good question, Dave. I was immediately thinking, next step: provide appropriate plant species for laying eggs. Cart before horse - is butterfly female? Can lepidopterans switch sexes? Can they produce fertile eggs through an asexual mechanism like parthenogenesis? Regardless, quite a coup to be able to maintain the dear thing! Very neat, Bev! Good question, Dave.

I was immediately thinking, next step: provide appropriate plant species for laying eggs. Cart before horse - is butterfly female? Can lepidopterans switch sexes? Can they produce fertile eggs through an asexual mechanism like parthenogenesis?

Regardless, quite a coup to be able to maintain the dear thing!

]]> by: Dave http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/10/feeding-a-butterfly/#comment-30537 Sun, 11 Feb 2007 00:08:27 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/10/feeding-a-butterfly/#comment-30537 Far out! Do you know its sex? Have you given it a name yet? Far out! Do you know its sex? Have you given it a name yet?

]]> by: burning silo http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/10/feeding-a-butterfly/#comment-30467 Sat, 10 Feb 2007 16:00:20 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/10/feeding-a-butterfly/#comment-30467 robin - yes, I'm wondering about its longevity too. I suppose that may depend on how long it feels like feeding on the sugar water brew. I was actually thinking of looking for some flowering plants at the store this weekend. I don't usually keep plants, but I wouldn't mind doing so for the butterfly. The only thing I was a little worried about is that purchased plants might have been sprayed with something to kill such things as white flies or the like. If I get anything, I'll be sure to wash it well before setting it out for the butterfly. - Ruth - Glad you liked the "answer" to your question. Although butterflies are fragile, if you handle them with care, they're actually fairly resilient. I find that the main thing is to make sure that they've released whatever they're gripping to with their feet before you try to move them around. I usually try to encourage them to step onto my hand. They can really get those little feet hooked onto things like screen or Kleenex, so you want to be sure they are entirely "unhooked" before you pick them up! Regarding the butterfly conservatory - I haven't been to that one, but I believe I've heard of it. However, I have been to the annual butterfly exhibit in the greenhouse at Carleton University here in Ottawa. The big exotic butterflies from other parts of the world are quite spectacular. robin - yes, I’m wondering about its longevity too. I suppose that may depend on how long it feels like feeding on the sugar water brew. I was actually thinking of looking for some flowering plants at the store this weekend. I don’t usually keep plants, but I wouldn’t mind doing so for the butterfly. The only thing I was a little worried about is that purchased plants might have been sprayed with something to kill such things as white flies or the like. If I get anything, I’ll be sure to wash it well before setting it out for the butterfly.
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Ruth - Glad you liked the “answer” to your question. Although butterflies are fragile, if you handle them with care, they’re actually fairly resilient. I find that the main thing is to make sure that they’ve released whatever they’re gripping to with their feet before you try to move them around. I usually try to encourage them to step onto my hand. They can really get those little feet hooked onto things like screen or Kleenex, so you want to be sure they are entirely “unhooked” before you pick them up!
Regarding the butterfly conservatory - I haven’t been to that one, but I believe I’ve heard of it. However, I have been to the annual butterfly exhibit in the greenhouse at Carleton University here in Ottawa. The big exotic butterflies from other parts of the world are quite spectacular.

]]> by: Ruth http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/10/feeding-a-butterfly/#comment-30462 Sat, 10 Feb 2007 15:20:03 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/10/feeding-a-butterfly/#comment-30462 Thanks for the great answer to my question! The butterfly seems so fragile to handle. I can hardly imagine you cleaning its delicate feet! There is a butterfly conservatory near us in Cambridge ON called Wings of Paradise. I am keen to visit it after seeing your photos. Thanks for the great answer to my question! The butterfly seems so fragile to handle. I can hardly imagine you cleaning its delicate feet!
There is a butterfly conservatory near us in Cambridge ON called Wings of Paradise. I am keen to visit it after seeing your photos.

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