February 11th, 2007
he or she?
Last night, Dave, left a comment on the Feeding a Butterfly post asking, “Do you know its sex? Have you given it a name yet?”. This morning, Wayne added his comment, “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?”
So, here are some answers - hopefully accurate.
Q:: Is the recently eclosed butterfly a male or female?
A:: Above, I’ve posted two photos of Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) butterflies that I photographed last summer here at the farm (click on images for larger views). The top photo is a male. As you might notice, the inner band of yellow markings is quite distinctive, especially on the hind wings. The photo just below is a female that I photographed in late August. I caught that photo while the butterfly was taking a momentary break from egg-laying on the Queen Anne’s Lace plants in the garden. As you can see, it has fainter yellow markings - the hind wings being very differently marked than the male in the above photo. Here are another pair of male and female butterflies of this species from the Massachusetts Butterfly Club webpages (hopefully those links will work).
Based on its markings, I’d say that, beyond any doubt, our house guest is a male.
Now, on to the rest of the questions:
Q:: Have I given it (him) a name?
A:: No, but maybe we’ll call him Surprise, although when I’m trying to get him out from among some objects atop the bookshelves, I sometimes feel like calling him something else.
Q:: Can lepidopterans switch sexes? Can they produce fertile eggs through an asexual mechanism like parthenogenesis?
A:: Not that I’m aware of - and, no, I don’t think so. I know that people who breed moths will keep the female in some place where her scent will attract males. I haven’t read as much about butterfly breeding, but I’m assuming that males are required in order to fertilize eggs.
Q:: [What are the] appropriate plant species for laying eggs?
A:: Here at the farm, I usually see Black Swallowtails laying eggs on Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota) plants. However, the above-mentioned Massachusetts Butterfly Club website provides a list of other members of the carrot family (Umbelliferae) which can provide food for larvae. At this time of the year, about all I could have done would be to purchase some dill or maybe buy some carrots with tops, and stick these in a jar of water. I’m not sure if the butterfly would have been too impressed!
February 11th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
This adventure would make a great children’s book. Seriously, the story and photos are rich and informative. A perfect combination for raising the consciousness of little ones. Have you ever thought about writing a children’s book? My twin brother has published two, and it’s a pretty interesting endeavor.
February 11th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
robin - Interesting that you should mention children’s books as I’ve been tossing around the idea of trying to do some kind of children’s nature book - perhaps even a small series on various creatures. Recently, I’ve been borrowing children’s nature books from the library to get a feel for what is already out there. So far, I’ve found that most books are kind of vague and light on information. Many seem like a dumbed down rehashing of what one might find in an encyclopedia entry on the creature. I have the photos to work with - and in fact, have sold the odd photo for use in other people’s children books - so the illustrations would be the easy part. I used to write teaching manuals for 4-H projects here in Ontario (I’ve written sets on a number of topics), so the writing part probably wouldn’t be too difficult either. The part I know the least about is publishing - whether to try to pitch the idea to a book publisher, or try to self publish. I’d be interested in hearing more about your brother’s experiences.
Anyhow, thanks for mentioning this as I could probably use a bit of encouragement!
February 11th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
I’ve never done it, but I’ve heard that writing a children’s book is very hard. At least, a good editor will not settle for anything that isn’t exactly right. Still, I’ve seen some dreadful stuff, so . . . what do I know.
February 12th, 2007 at 1:32 am
Bev, you write so well and your photos would facinate anyone, especially children. I like to shop in local bookstores and I have bought books recently from these Canadian publishers. You likely know about them. Big publishers likely have more control over your work, but they do a lot of marketing for you. My daughter is working on illustrations for a set of children’s books written by a local school teacher. The author plans to self publish and market 4 books in time for Christmas.
DESPUB, 2340B Clifton St., Allanburg ON Canada L0S 1A0
Scrivener Press http://www.yourscrivenerpress.com/
February 12th, 2007 at 2:21 am
pablo - I agree that writing children’s books isn’t as easy as it probably looks. I believe you’re right about “the editor” part. I mentioned up above in my earlier comment that I used to write 4-H project materials. It was very formulaic — sentences had to be so many words long. Words had to be no more than so many syllables. Everything went to a committee of adults, as well as a test group of 4-H members to get feedback. It was quite difficult writing something that everyone would agree with as a lot of the opinions were conflicting. Anyhow, I’m not sure if I can write narrative type books. Most of my writing has been technical “how-to” and “activity” stuff, and that’s a very different style than the “story-telling” style.
-
Ruth - Thanks! Also thanks for the name and URL of that publisher. I do know that there is quite a bit of government grant money available to Canadian book publishers (or at least there was), so there seem to be quite a few small presses doing all kinds of books these days. That’s one of the things I’ve been researching. I’ve been going to the library and looking through the juvenile books section trying to get some idea of who is publishing what, etc… I guess the thing I have to figure out is what kind of writing I think I can do, and whether there’s a market for what I think I can write (if that makes any sense!). Anyhow, thanks for the feedback — believe me when I say it’s all very helpful! (-:
February 12th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Thanks for answering my questions!
Bev, I really think you should give children’s book authorship a go! Did you see my mother’s brief review of Sy Montgomery’s books for kids? They are so *not* dumbed-down, it’s possible for an adult who already knows quite a bit about nature to enjoy them and learn a lot of new stuff from them. You definitely have that kind of knowledge, not to mention language skills and photographs.
I have to say, though, that this butterfly’s situation seems better fit for a blues song than a children’s book. He will never mate or even see a flower, the poor s.o.b.
February 12th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Dave - You’re welcome. I was thinking the same about the butterfly’s prospects in life, although he seems to be keeping amused.
Thanks for posting the link to Marcia’s review of the Sy Montgomery books. I’ve just put in a request for a couple of them through out library system. They sound very good. So far, almost everything I’ve requested has been a little disappointing - perhaps geared to younger readers. From the emails I receive from young people asking questions about spiders, butterflies, etc… I know that there are some (perhaps many) 8 or 10 year olds who are looking for some solid information. Based on my own book research, it seems like there’s a bit too much focus on large, or more exotic creatures that the average kid doesn’t see except on television (sharks, tigers, etc..). I’m amazed that there isn’t more written on the smaller creatures that children can actually study in their own backyards or neighbourhoods. I suppose that, spending as much time as I do just wandering around studying insects and spiders here at my own place, I have a very different view of the meaning of “wildlife”. (-:
Anyhow, thanks for the encouragement, ideas and book suggestions. It’s all much appreciated!