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View Full Version : meet my new mindees!



huggableshelly
28-03-2009, 10:33 PM
yep I have triplets and waiting for seven more to make an appearance hopefully tomorrow now though.

so here are the pics to show off the new additions to my home.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a374/huggableshelly/familypics/DSCF3375.jpg
caterpillars 2 days old

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a374/huggableshelly/familypics/DSCF3420.jpg
7 days old

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a374/huggableshelly/familypics/DSCF3418.jpg
9 days old

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a374/huggableshelly/familypics/DSCF3414.jpg
10 days old

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a374/huggableshelly/familypics/DSC03874.jpg
11 days old and getting shy
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a374/huggableshelly/familypics/DSCF3444.jpg
11 days old and fully hidden
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a374/huggableshelly/familypics/DSCF3454.jpg
12 days old transfered to butterfly net

huggableshelly
28-03-2009, 10:34 PM
5 days of waiting and WOW
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a374/huggableshelly/familypics/DSC03880.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a374/huggableshelly/familypics/DSC03884.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a374/huggableshelly/familypics/Dryingbutterfly.jpg

then after 3 hours one of them took her first flight

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a374/huggableshelly/familypics/DSC03881.jpg

jellytot
28-03-2009, 10:35 PM
your tubs have remained so clean compared to mine :eek: mine where just dirty little catapillars.

how long do they pupate (sp) for?

jellytot
28-03-2009, 10:36 PM
sorry for some reason didn see rest of pics when I replied :blush:

Demonjill
28-03-2009, 10:36 PM
Absolutely brilliant. Love it.:thumbsup:

Do they all have names? lol:laughing:

huggableshelly
28-03-2009, 10:40 PM
lol the first one that came out was named Betty, then Jamie and Sammy

I hope the others do not emerge whilst I'm sleeping .. they should as its dark now.

will keep them till Tuesday to allow all mindees to see then will be letting them go, its ashame they were not here to watch but atleast my own children were able to see.

Demonjill
28-03-2009, 10:44 PM
Cool names. :cool: and a fab lesson in nature up close LOL

Will you have a special release day where they can all be part of it?

Demonjill
28-03-2009, 10:45 PM
:doh: Tuesday LOL

ha ha its getting late LOL

huggableshelly
28-03-2009, 10:50 PM
:doh: Tuesday LOL

ha ha its getting late LOL

yep LOL sposed to be on a warm dry day too but cant keep them too long or they will die sooner than they would normally.

we have a butterfly feeder on the bird table with plant pots around them too so will release then (all my after schoolers attend on tues)
then the butterflies go off looking for holly and thistle ofcrouse I have neither in my garden so we wont see them again.

Ripeberry
28-03-2009, 10:59 PM
Next week is supposed to be lovely and warm. Let them go then. That's fab :)

Demonjill
28-03-2009, 11:00 PM
Very interesting i didnt know that...:blush: thought they jus liked a pretty flower to sit on without a care in the world for their short life.:D

huggableshelly
28-03-2009, 11:02 PM
ah well ya see they came with a guide book LOL so I feel really cleva now as I knew summin that you didnt know yay gold star for me LOL

they live for 5/6 wks too but think you knew that bit lol

Demonjill
28-03-2009, 11:05 PM
A guide book??

I think they would be comfier on a pretty flower than a jaggy holly or thistle. LOL:D

huggableshelly
28-03-2009, 11:11 PM
yep the instructions on how to care for them lol

have to put sugar solution in there too and they like oranges and old banana .. its just like feeding real mindees lmao only they dont come with instructions

tulip0803
28-03-2009, 11:11 PM
Great pictures:clapping:

ORKSIE
29-03-2009, 12:14 AM
OMG that is just fantstic.
Thanks for sharing that. better than pics any time.

emler
29-03-2009, 07:10 AM
Fab pics :thumbsup:

peanuts
29-03-2009, 07:35 AM
great pictures, i have just ordered a butterfly garden set this weekend. my mindees will so love it.

Shar
29-03-2009, 08:19 AM
Wow!!! Thank you for the pic's, they are lovely. :thumbsup:

madasahatter
29-03-2009, 11:26 AM
I'm planning to order some caterpillars for just after easter. It's a couple of years since we last had any so I have different little ones now (older ones are still the same and will enjoy watching them grow too.

Allie
29-03-2009, 11:30 AM
Great pictures


Allie

PixiePetal
29-03-2009, 11:43 AM
I love hatching butterflies/moths. We get ours from the wild, with a good success rate. If you get the chance of an Elephant Hawk Moth, they are great. Huge caterpillars, pretty pink/khaki moth :thumbsup:

Cinnabar moths are pretty too. Found on ragwort, orange and black stripe caterpillars, red and black moths.:) Ragwort only flowers every 2 years and is often pulled up as poisonous so moths are having a tough time.:(

balloon
29-03-2009, 12:38 PM
have to put sugar solution in there too and they like oranges and old banana .. its just like feeding real mindees lmao only they dont come with instructions
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Fantastic photos! I may have to copy your idea and do this for my little ones if it's not too late now...

nannysue
29-03-2009, 12:43 PM
Lovely pics and what an interesting project. Your little ones will be so excited when they see them ready to fly away.:)

huggableshelly
29-03-2009, 01:04 PM
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Fantastic photos! I may have to copy your idea and do this for my little ones if it's not too late now...

you have until september to order and release so plenty of time to get going

sue
29-03-2009, 09:16 PM
think looking at yours l will have to do this is it easy is there still time to do them this year? picture are great

huggableshelly
29-03-2009, 09:39 PM
it is very easy I didnt manage to kill them like I manage to kill plants yay lol

http://www.insectlore-europe.com/index.html

I now have 8 with 2 more left to open out its just so amazing costly for the bigger set ups i had the net for 10 and was worth it just to experience it in my home with the children.

madasahatter
29-06-2009, 06:20 PM
Oh no my mindees are missing this! I've taken a short video clip on my camera but it's not v good.
My caterpillars changed into chrysalises a week ago and now they are hatching out. Why do they always do it when no one is around. The first one hatched out this morning when they were at preschool. Now I'm sat at the table with the butterfly garden next to me with two chrysalises going haywire, shaking and wriggling like there's no tomorrow. I imagine they will split the shell very soon, but by heck they don't half put some effort into it. It's no wonder they then spend several hours after hatching doing very little.

TheBTeam
29-06-2009, 06:34 PM
Yes we have just released 5 beautiful painted lady butterflies and over the last few days some have come back and perched on the window!

It was a fascinating experience and certainly one i would like to repeat let alone the kids!

shopshelleyd
29-06-2009, 09:02 PM
I did this a few weeks ago and loved it more than the kids. Wish mine had come back to visit though, I was quite sad when they went :( :(

madasahatter
30-06-2009, 12:38 PM
Has anyone had a runt butterfly hatch out? So far 4 of my 5 chrysalises have hatched out, but one of the butterflies still has much smaller and wrinkled wings over 12 hours after hatching out. The other butterflies looked perfect after about an hour.