Thanks for sharing good informational video! I've been searching for info since the middle of June to figure out how to get three 4th instar cats off my potted Sassafras tree into an enclosure I've used to raise Monarchs. My first pupated 6/14/24. After spending many, many hours with them not knowing how long it takes to actually pupate, the last one pupated yesterday. Now I wait for them to eclose. According to your video, it looks similar to the Monarchs. Now I wait and hope to get lucky to watch at least one of my Spicebush Swallowtails eclose.
I planted Spicebush and we had the first caterpillar this summer. I was so excited. Then our county sprayed for mosquitoes and it died along with Monarch caterpillars. Since Swallowtails don’t migrate, I’ll try rearing one next year.
I'm sorry to hear that. Yes, mosquito spraying often involves non-selective insecticides that kill lots of other non-target species, including our pollinators. You may be able to call your county spray program and be taken off their spray list. That's what we've done. This website has some helpful resources, too: www.beyondpesticides.org/resources/mosquitos-and-insect-borne-diseases/overview
Fascinating! Great video, so informative.
So glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for sharing good informational video! I've been searching for info since the middle of June to figure out how to get three 4th instar cats off my potted Sassafras tree into an enclosure I've used to raise Monarchs. My first pupated 6/14/24. After spending many, many hours with them not knowing how long it takes to actually pupate, the last one pupated yesterday. Now I wait for them to eclose. According to your video, it looks similar to the Monarchs. Now I wait and hope to get lucky to watch at least one of my Spicebush Swallowtails eclose.
Good luck and fingers crossed!
I planted Spicebush and we had the first caterpillar this summer. I was so excited. Then our county sprayed for mosquitoes and it died along with Monarch caterpillars. Since Swallowtails don’t migrate, I’ll try rearing one next year.
I'm sorry to hear that. Yes, mosquito spraying often involves non-selective insecticides that kill lots of other non-target species, including our pollinators. You may be able to call your county spray program and be taken off their spray list. That's what we've done.
This website has some helpful resources, too: www.beyondpesticides.org/resources/mosquitos-and-insect-borne-diseases/overview