Welcome to Week 2 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 2, 2020 - Day 8 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us. This one is about how long it takes to grow milkweed.
Drake reminds us to practice patience with native milkweeds. It’s normal for milkweed to die back several times throughout the year. When it’s not showing above ground it is busy underground growing a strong root system. Once that root system is in place, it will be able to withstand all sorts of environmental conditions.
April 3, 2020 - Day 9 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 we learn that butterflies need a specific plant to lay their eggs on for their caterpillars to grow. You may see a caterpillar on a different plant, which can be VERY confusing. Because as they lay their silk, for either shedding or pupating, it can look like they are eating the plant. But every single caterpillar (including moths) are host-plant specific.
April 4, 2020 - Day 10 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us.
Wash your hands before handling caterpillars!
Any chemicals you may have on your hands could harm or possibly kill caterpillars. All chemicals are toxic to them, so wash your hands well.
What chemicals are toxic? Hand lotion, sunscreen, mosquito spray, flea/tick medicine from petting our pets, perfumes, and many more. It’s always just best to wash your hands, or not handle the caterpillars at all.
April 5, 2020 - Day 11 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 she is showing you her set up for raising butterflies
April 6, 2020 - Day 12 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us.
This time she advises that it is normal for native milkweeds to “dieback” several times while they are young and growing. They do this to put energy into growing their roots to become bigger and stronger.
April 7, 2020 - Day 13 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us.
Some caterpillars look the same. But here’s how to tell the Gulf Fritillary & Variegated Fritillary apart.
April 8, 2020 - Day 14 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 we learn that some butterfly caterpillars are cannibalistic. Pipevine Swallowtails are a species known for this. Another reason why only 1 out of 100 eggs laid, make it to an adult butterfly, which is why it is so important to provide plenty of habitat for them. Thousands of eggs need to be laid to provide a few dozen butterflies. They are an important part of the ecosystem and food chain.