Something I did not expect in Feberuary

[3headedmonkey]

Something I did not expect to see in Feberuary is a flicker of dark movement on the floor by the windows in the living room. I was reading a book waiting for my breakfast to cook and just cought a glimpse of movement, without my glasses on it looked like a black feather floating near the floor

Comments

[ladyiolanthe]

Awwwww, you are so cute, Bronwen. ^-^ Yeah, the butterfly probably likes the heat because insects are cold-blooded. The reason poppies have dark centres is actually because they tend to grow in northern climates where it is cool. It can take a long time in a northern summer for the air to warm up enough for an insect to actually be able to start flying around and pollinating flowers, so it's kind of a mutually beneficial agreement. The dark centres of the poppy absorb sunlight and make a little hot spot for insects to warm up in, at the same time ensuring that some of their pollen gets stuck on said insect which will then carry it to other flowers once it's able to fly.

You might be able to keep it away from Rummy using a lamp to throw some heat for it. Make sure the sugar water is near it so the butterfly can drink so it won't dehydrate while it's basking.

A lot of butterflies do feed on nectar, but I'm not sure whether tiger swallowtails do. They like salt, though! I often see them on wildlife scat in order to lick up moisture and salt. Maybe you could put some water with a tiny bit of salt out for it, in a dish next to the sugar water. Then it can have a choice.

If its wings are all ragged like that it may already be an older butterfly and it may not have long left anyway. Just so you're warned...

What I'm really curious about is how it got into the house. Did it get in last fall when butterflies still were flitting about outdoors, and has it survived this long on its own? More likely it pupated in one of the flowerpots Mom puts out in the summer and brings in for the winter. It may have emerged from its chrysalis indoors, its development accelerated by the heat inside. Normally, I think they'd overwinter in their pupa/chrysalis to emerge in the spring once it's warm again.

[3headedmonkey]

Yeah I know it is not long for this world. I just want to make it as comfortable as possible till that time.

MOm thinks that it came in on one of the cactai she had out in the garden.