Gulf Fritillary hatched, now I can fill the birdfeeder again

Discussion in 'Butterfly / Moth' started by toni, Jul 4, 2013.

  1. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2006
    Messages:
    19,634
    Likes Received:
    5,059
    Location:
    North Central Texas, Zone 8a
    Youngest daughter gave me this cool bird feeder for Mother's Day. If any bird or critter heavier than a Cardinal lands on one of the perches the outer part slides down closing off the feeding holes. Really works too, now I have it filled with black oil sunflower seeds and the smaller birds have a feast.

    Today the Gulf Fritillary whose chrysalis has been hanging from one of the perches finally hatched so I can fill the feeder again.
    This one changes it's hanging direction frequently. One day it's hanging straight down, the next sticking out from the perch and then there is this direction.
    [​IMG]
    Chrysalis on the move ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden )

    Found it hatched out and drying off this morning.
    [​IMG]
    New Gulf Fritillary this morning 7-04 ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden )

    Chrysalis after the newest addition to my garden flew off to find nectar and probably lay more eggs.
    [​IMG]
    After the Fritillary flew off ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden )

    [​IMG]
    Different view ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden )

    Now there are 4 Gulf Fritillary butterflies flitting around the garden feeding and laying eggs. I want more, more, more.

    I have 7 Passionflower vines all starts from the original two so the front and back gardens ought to be filled with the orange beauties all summer long.
     
    Frank, Henry Johnson, TheBip and 5 others like this.
  2. Loading...


  3. cherylad

    cherylad Countess of Cute-ification Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    May 5, 2009
    Messages:
    11,679
    Likes Received:
    3,099
    Location:
    S. Liberty County - Texas (8B)
    That's super Toni! I have still only seen a few Frits around. One was laying eggs on the Passion Flower vine the other day. So... there's hope that I'll have some later on.
     
  4. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2006
    Messages:
    19,634
    Likes Received:
    5,059
    Location:
    North Central Texas, Zone 8a
    Because of the mild winter we had, I saw my first Fritillary in the garden back in February. Other than Petunias I had bought and the Dianthus that had bloomed all winter there wasn't much for her/him to sip on, not sure what happened to it. Being a loner there wasn't another one to mate with so no eggs were laid that early and the Passionflower Vine had not broken dormancy that early so there was nothing for the caterpillars to eat anyway.
     
  5. Tooty2shoes

    Tooty2shoes Hardy Maple

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2011
    Messages:
    3,264
    Likes Received:
    1,510
    Location:
    Denmark, Wis.
    Ohhh that is so beautiful and neat to see. Lucky you. :stew1:
     



    Advertisement
  6. Sherry8

    Sherry8 I Love Birds!

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2007
    Messages:
    4,395
    Likes Received:
    1,825
    Location:
    Wisconsin...zone 5
    Really interesting and different looking from the Monarchs...thanks for posting it.

    Great pictures too...
     
  7. eileen

    eileen Resident Taxonomist Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2005
    Messages:
    29,088
    Likes Received:
    6,277
    Location:
    Scotland
    I don't know how I missed your post Toni but I'm green with envy. I've seen very few butterflies of any type here in Scotland this year. The dreadful spring we had seems to have affected them badly. I'm so pleased that you have some of those lovely Gulf Fritillaries around and let's hope many more follow to lay their eggs on your plants.
     
  8. cherylad

    cherylad Countess of Cute-ification Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    May 5, 2009
    Messages:
    11,679
    Likes Received:
    3,099
    Location:
    S. Liberty County - Texas (8B)
    The butterflies have been very sparse around here too this year.
    I have seen a few more caterpillars over the last week or two. So hopefully they'll be some around in early to mid Fall.
    I miss them. :'(
     
  9. Netty

    Netty Chaotic Gardener Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2006
    Messages:
    18,338
    Likes Received:
    5,156
    Location:
    Southern Ontario zone 5b
    No butterflies here either. Beautiful Toni, you are very lucky.
     
  10. Frank

    Frank GardenStew Founder Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2005
    Messages:
    18,084
    Likes Received:
    2,170
    Location:
    Galway, Ireland
    I missed this post somehow Toni. I always love following the adventure of the butterflies in your garden.
     

Share This Page