Welcome to Week 4 of Drake White video Blog. Drake is a Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park.
She has been venturing out into her backyard every day during quarantine to teach us how to look for butterfly activity in our very own yards or park.
We would love to see photos of what you are finding in your yard or neighborhood! Please share with us by posting your images on social media and tag us! Happy bug-hunting!
April 9, 2020 - Day 15 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us.
Today Drake teaches us that Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetles can devour milkweed overnight. They are huge, and look like giant ladybugs. But these bugs are not something you want on your milkweed. Simply make a small batch of soapy water, and dunk the bug in.
April 10, 2020 - Day 16 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us.
Today, Drake gives us advice on what to do about aphids on milkweed: “Let Mother Nature take its course.”
This chalcid wasp is laying its eggs in the aphids. Their larvae will eat them. Along with chalcid wasps, ladybugs, hoverflies, mealybug destroyer beetles, and lacewing larvae all eat aphids. So let Mother Nature do her job.
April 11, 2020 - Day 17 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us.
Caterpillars breathe through openings on their abdomen called Spiracles.
Spiracles (9 pairs in butterflies) are pores open to the air and tracheae (air tubes) carry air through the body. This is how they breathe.
If you find a caterpillar in water, take it out immediately. Pour salt over the caterpillar and allow to sit for several minutes. This allows the salt to withdraw water out of it. It doesn’t harm the caterpillar in any way. But could save its life.
April 12, 2020 - Day 18 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us.
In nature, and in gardens, plants can intertwine. To properly ID a plant, you have to get up close and do some investigating. Following the plant down to where it’s growing from. This way you can see the flower, leaves, and stem from where the plant is growing. This will help you get a correct ID on something you see.
April 13, 2020 - Day 19 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us.
Today Drake teaches us about Lindheimer senna (velvet leaf senna), which is a host plant for Sulphur butterflies. It is most commonly used by Sleepy Orange Sulphurs, but many other Sulphurs use it too. Sulphur caterpillars can also be cannibalistic, so if raising them, be sure to keep them separate. Until next time #peacelove&butterflies
April 14, 2020 - Day 20 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us.
There are several predators that can harm butterfly caterpillars. Tachinid flies, parasitic wasps, fire ants, and lizards are all types of predators. This is another reason why only 1 out of 100 eggs laid will make it to an adult butterfly. Until next time #peacelove&butterflies
April 15, 2020 - Day 21 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us.
Butterflies go through growing stages called instars. When a caterpillar hatches, it’s first meal is its eggshell, and they are in their first instar. After each shed of skin they become the next instar, with the fifth and final shed being their chrysalis.