I'm so pleased with the progress of my "Project Butterfly", and wanted to update progress! My original post describing the project in more detail is here: "2014 Begins Project Butterfly".
My main aim is to raise and release more of our native Butterfly species, to help boost their numbers. In my area, there's been a notable decline in numbers in a relatively short amount of time. After a Winter spent researching, I completed planting not only the adult butterflies favourite food source but importantly also their caterpillars favourite food plants too. Once that was up and running, I ordered 3 species of Butterfly. I bought the chrysalis from reputable website WWB, while the Painted Lady kit came from Amazon. Although I have worked in the past as a vet nurse, a pet store assistant manager and even worked with reptiles and various other animals and insects, this is a totally new experience, so I wanted to start small and build my experience gradually. I feel more at ease getting the basics right then branching out. I began with a Painted Lady kit as they came with everything supplied and it seemed a good way to gain some experience.
The Painted Ladies are totally self sufficient in their kit, so the next day when the Peacocks arrived, my first task was to glue the Peacock chrysalis to a stick, so they could emerge properly. They arrived loose in a cardbox box, carefully wrapped in soft tissue. While they could successfully emerge loose, I prefer to replicate natural conditions as much as possible. Carefully learning how to do so first, I began gluing them to a suitable stick raised off the ground where I wanted them to emerge. (Indoors so I could keep an eye on them) It's important they hang free of any objects right away after emerging, as within seconds their wings begin to take form. I won't beat around the bush, it was nerve wracking taking them individually and gluing them! I kept checking and double checking they were facing the right way, as it's fatal to glue them wrong. If accidentally gluing them at the head instead of the tail, it means sealing them in. Fortunately it's easy to tell, so with great care, baited breath and slightly fiddly fingers, I securely fastened them, supported them while they dried, then lifted them in to the correct dangling position.
The Peacock chrysalis remained unchanged for some time, then suddenly and simultaneously, their wing cases changed from lime green and yellow to pale orange. The next day, they changed to a mottled dark mix of shades as shown below:
The day after, they gained their wing patterns. They emerge with their largest set of wings folded over, so it's possible to identify the chrysalis if unsure:
Early the next morning, around 8am, crumpled, yet surprisingly strong, they emerged. One by one they burst out head first, arranging themselves to dry unaided. They emerge soundlessly, so witnessing it is lucky. It's amazing witnessing the speed of their emergence, and how quickly their wings expand. Within seconds their wings both lengthened and straightened. I thought it would take longer, yet the wings are very quick to form. Some small movements such as unfurling and furling their proboscis. One swayed endlessly from side to side, but the others were statue still.
After an hour or so of rest, they began to exercise their wings and walk around, so I gently moved them into a butterfly netting area so they could recover some more in safety. At this point they aren't quite ready for release, their movements are a bit slow and they are still finding their way. But it doesn't take long!
It was the perfect day to release the Peacock Butterflies as it was forecast warm sunshine all day. As mid-day approached, they suddenly began flying around the cage in earnest. It was obvious they were ready, so I took them outside and released them in the wildflower garden. It was such joy seeing them take off! Some lingered, some fed and some disappeared almost immediately. Apparently it's a good idea to release them around midday on a warm sunny day, it gives them a chance to feed up, bask, orient themselves to the area and also find places to overnight before the temperature drops a little. I did wonder if they would breed this year, on taking advice I learnt they won't breed this year but they will busy themselves in the next few weeks feeding up ready to hibernate. Next year they'll come out of hibernation ready to breed. It would be fantastic to see some early Peacocks next Spring! Fingers crossed.
It has now been 6 days since their release, and in the days following, sightings have come daily. They enjoy feeding on the flowering Privet and various flowers in the wildflower garden mostly. A neighbour reported one almost coming indoors, and I'm hearing regularly of them out and about in the vicinity!
Today my Painted Lady Butterflies also emerged! One chose to emerge in the evening, the rest around 8am the next morning. With the kit, I could not choose which species I had. Although not native to the Uk, they do sometimes arrive from abroad. I witnessed it once, several years ago. A beautiful and considerably sized Painted Lady spent a couple of weeks feeding on Lavender, disappeared and I haven't seen one again. So while not my first choice as they do not tend to breed here or survive our winters, they were of interest and I would gain valuable experience watching them mature and change.
I thought the kit might be a good way for me to be introduced to raising butterflies, as it comes with relative safety. I received the 5 tiny caterpillars in the post, already in a pot with their gel-like food provided inside, on the 26th June 2014. At first they were motionless in a pristine pot, yet within 15 minutes they were moving around, eating and thriving. They successfully changed through every stage, shedding, eating and pupating on the paper just under the lid. At this stage I removed them and hung them in the butterfly net to emerge. They emerged and just like the Peacocks, were given time to recover before release. Just after midday, they became more active. I took them outside and had a successful release. They immediately fed on Yellow Long Strife and the flowering Privet. As I watched the Painted Ladies feed, a Peacock butterfly appeared alongside. It was amazing to see all 3 species of Butterfly together! They were too high above my shed to photograph, yet it was a wonderful sight. I can't remember seeing more than a rare glimpse of a butterfly in my garden for so many years, so this was a treat. It's wonderful to hear neighbours reactions too, there's something so uplifting about seeing them, especially feeding and pollinating our plants!
I highly recommend starting a project like this, it has been both rewarding and fascinating. I wasn't sure how it would go, but now I know how easy it is, I wish I'd got involved sooner!
There are 5 Red Admiral chrysalis arriving in the post at any time, no date given yet, as waiting for availability and they are a species that tends to appear later in the year. I don't know what the chrysalis look like, as I prefer a surprise when I unbox. I've filmed both unboxings so far, and hope to make a video of each species progress. I thought it would be nice to look back on.
I do have some more exciting and unexpected news to come - will update in a new post shortly.
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