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Papilio Polyxenes

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Davep:
I would like to share this with the idea that it may inspire others, and brag. Wildlife is on the run these days, so my wife and I do hands on activist projects instead of just moaning about it.
I chose to raise butterflies after reading about the demise of the Monarch due to loss of wintering habitat and poisoning of host plants made available by chem giants Monsanto and others ( whole nuther story)
Anyway, I documented Polyxenes " Johnny Walker"  ( #4 this year , brothers Black and Red and Snorky Jr since July 15) . In 2016 I released a total of 22.
Eggs hatched 7/18/17 and there are 13 in this gen 2
In the wild predators consume 90% Rearing increases to 80_ 100%survival

I keep them in specialized equipment - a Chinese food tray and later a hermit crab cage.
You have to gather the anise every day . The 22 I raised last year consumed the entire plant, causing a shortage with the 4 th gen. I have 2 additional food plants this year

Black Swallowtails aren't threatened and we have planted Milkweed for Monarchs, so it would have a more direct effect, but sadly their numbers are low and we've only seen 2 in the area this year. In the future and this year we still hope one will find our plants and glorify our efforts.

 This page edited 6/21/18 for videos that no longer exist


Thanks for reading
 Davep

MDK2:
Very cool Dave.

Ct Yankee:
My wife and I also are very much pro-butterfly.  While we do not hatch our own, we don't use any pesticides in the garden or on the lawn.  We allow native weeds to grow and flower in sections, including milkweed and wild thyme. We also grow a half dozen types of fruit and numerous flowers they favor.  We must have 8-12 (various swallowtails, skippers, and fritillaries) varieties that visit our property, saw the first Monarch of the year yesterday - was it yours, Davep  ;D?  Nice work, sir! 

Fansome:
If you happen to be in the area, this is a must-see:

https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/exhibits/butterfly-rainforest/

ChrisSmolinski:
Very nice indeed. I plant a wildflower meadow each year, and always put in one of the "butterflies and pollinator" mixes. I also have an area of milkweed that I allow to re-grow each year.

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