The Butterfly Experiment

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

11th April 2006

Today a lovely boy (it had a black spot on each of his rear wing) Monarch butterfly was born that was part of this experiment :) he is looking well & is currently sitting on my indoor swanplant by the window so that he can go when he is ready (and so that the cats & hopefully the preymantis wont get him!!)


PS will post some pics when I can

Monday, April 10, 2006

Conclusion

My conclusion is that pumpkin can be used as a subsitute food for a limited time period. The reason for this is because I had almost half of the caterpillers die, plus two crysilis die. I still have 10 crysilis none have hatched yet.But I have found that the caterpillers still prefer the swan plant (milk weed) but will eat the pumpkin when necessary but not as a sole dietry food.

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Day 15 4/04/06

Ok well ive had to do a rethink of how much pumpkin is too much. I have lost quite a few caterpillers & two crysalis's over the last few days. I have completely cleared out the tank of all pumpkin & have gone back to Swanplant only to see if i can rescue the rest. In saying that i now have a total of 4 crysalis and 10 caterpillers (2 due to go into crysalis) and today ive found 3 eggs.

The pumpkin that i have been using is the grey skinned "common" pumpkin found in NZ supermarkets. Swan plant is also known as milkweed & its latin name is Asclepias physocarpa.

Saturday, April 01, 2006

Not much has happened over the last few days. I have had a few caterpillers die, not too sure of the reason. All the remaining caterpillers are eating the pumpkin but do enjoy having some swanplant from time to time for some variety. Three caterpillers have gone into crysilis, with a few more due to go any day soon.