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 16, 2020 - Day 22 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us.
Do you have a wet area in your yard? Wet or moist problem areas can be remedied with native plants. You could even make an area for a garden with the drain of your air conditioning unit. Some plants that will work well in those conditions are: Button Bush, Aquatic Milkweed, Stemless Primrose, & Frogfruit as a ground cover.
April 17, 2020 - Day 23 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us.
Giant Swallowtails use plants in the citrus family. The Texas native tree in the citrus family is the Hop tree (Ptelea trifoliata). Other edible citrus include Lemon, Lime, Oranges, and grapefruit. Though the caterpillars are large (resembling bird poop), they won’t defoliate your tree. Unlike their other Swallowtail cousins.
April 18, 2020 - Day 24 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us.
You can’t always tell what instar (growth stage) caterpillars are in just by size. For Monarchs, you can tell by the size/length of their filaments. Long with curled ends, typically means they are close to pupation.
April 19, 2020 - Day 25 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us.
When creating habitat, you create an ecosystem that helps so many things eat. This includes birds.
April 20, 2020 - Day 26 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us.
Shaded areas can grow lots of things that are colorful and serve a purpose. From host plants to nectar plants, creating understory is important for any habitat you’re creating. This allows birds, butterflies, and other wildlife to thrive.
April 22, 2020 - Day 28 of Quarantine - Drake White, Master Naturalist and Volunteer Project Manager of the Butterfly Learning Center in Phil Hardberger Park has another video for us.
Passion vines are used as a host plant by four different butterflies (here in San Antonio). The Gulf Fritillary, Variegated fritillary, Zebra longwing, and Julia all use it as a host plant. Once an egg is laid, it will typically take 7-10 days to hatch. But if we are really hot, it will go much quicker. The blooms are loved by all pollinators & hummingbirds.