How to keep butterflies as pets, part 1.

[enismirdal]

Butterflies have expensive tastes. The butterfly, who we'll call Ernie, turned its noseproboscis up totally at sugar solution. But then I gave it honey and water mix, and its slurping that up happily!

I think this means that butterflies use scent as a cue that something edible is nearby.

ETA: I'm such a sucker. Not only did I feed it with my German honey, I wiped its mouth when it was finished.

Comments

[ewx.livejournal.com]

Do you think it'd stay still long enough for a photograph?

[ewx.livejournal.com]

(I ask because a real butterfly would neatly complement these.)

[enismirdal.livejournal.com]

It definitely would (at least if you used a diffuser thingy on the flash), but I don't have a camera that would focus at a close enough range to get a decent picture, alas.

[enismirdal.livejournal.com]

It's a cute butterfly! And I like creepy crawlies!

[ewx.livejournal.com]

But I do...

[enismirdal.livejournal.com]

Just a normal Kleenex tissue, wet with some warm water. When you poke their proboscis gently it uncoils so you can wipe the tip if you're careful.

[melime.livejournal.com]

You are so cute!! :3

Seriously. I love how you just, like, bring things home to your room, let them roam around freely, and they live happily. Whereas I, when I was younger, always was like, "Look at this bug! I'm going to keep it and call it Steve! I'm going to put it in a jar with some dirt and leaves! Oh no! Steve is dead! How on earth did that happen!?"

I have an urge to go find a butterfly now and let it loose in my room. Although dad would probably come in the room and leave the door open, and then the cat would find it and eat it.

Did you ever do that thing when you were little where you could buy cocoons and watch them become butterflies and then let them go? I did one of those once and it was pretty sweet. I got a Monarch and a Black Swallowtail. So pretty!!

[enismirdal.livejournal.com]

I've never seen cocoons for sale, actually. But when we were young, my brother and I sometimes got nasturtium leaves with butterfly eggs on and kept them in a jar until the caterpillars hatched, grew up and pupated. That was quite fun - but I think they all turned into plain white butterflies. Monarch butterflies are awesome! I wish we had them over here!

I'm not sure Ernie the butterfly is going to last terribly long - Red Admirals usually overwinter in mainland Europe, so I think this one is a migrant who has come here to mate and if it's a female, presumably lay eggs, and then die. It looks slightly worn at the edges, so I suspect it's on its way out. Still, at least in my room it's not getting eaten. I'm trying it with marmalade now.

[anna-wing.livejournal.com]

Hello, were you the Enismirdal who wrote to me through HASA? And if you are, did you get the e-mail that I sent back? If you aren't I apologise for troubling you and softly and silently vanish away.

[enismirdal.livejournal.com]

Yes, that was me! *grins* Sorry for not having replied yet - I meant to pop you a quick "Thank you" message, but then work kind of bit me in the butt. So sorry about that - and yes, I did get your e-mail. Thank you so much - I really do appreciate it! :D

[(Anonymous)]

I suppose being bitten there makes a change from being bruised by cars...
Abner

[enismirdal.livejournal.com]

*giggles* Well, variety is the spice of life! :D