Mountain City Montage
by PAULINE TOM
At any time now, the Gulf Fritillary larvae on my Passion Vine will “chrysalis-ize”. The butterfly (not a true “fritillary”) is also called the Passion Butterfly because the caterpillar feeds exclusively on passion flowers.
Gulf Fritillaries are called “brush-footed butterflies” because their first pair of legs are modified into brushes. The female butterfly uses her brushes to scrape plant leaves and taste plant chemicals. When she identifies a passion flower vine (for the time when her eggs hatch into caterpillars) she lays her yellow eggs, from leaf to leaf.
It’s called the “Gulf Fritillary”, but it’s found across two-thirds of the United States and southward to Argentina.
In reading about the spine-covered larvae, I learned that they will molt as they grow larger. The larva will be blond when it crawls out of its black exoskeleton, and it will eat the exoskeleton. Now, that’s something to watch for.
It’s time to have handy my Pentax Papillon 6.5 by 21 binoculars. They focus to 18-inches. In 2006 when they were new, I mentioned in “Montage” that I watch many a National Geographic show in real time.
Flowers. Butterflies. Spiders. Tarantulas. Caterpillars.
After its final molt, the Gulf Fritillary turns into a cocoon that looks like a dried leaf.
Some plant their butterfly host plants in their butterfly garden behind their butterfly nectar plants, to hide the chewed plants. They’re missing out. These caterpillars are spectacular.
And, the spines do not sting. They’re soft.
While watching the caterpillars with our daughter, Tami (36), we caught a grasshopper for her tarantula, Charlotte, who stayed back in Arlington TX.
Tami saves Charlotte’s exoskeleton each time she molts. Each time, it’s noticeably larger.
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It’s time to remove inoperable vehicles and vehicles without current inspection stickers. Mayor Rick Tarr gave a heads up at last week’s National Night Out at Beth & Everitt Smith’s. Letters will go out soon to those in violation.
Mayor Rick also asked that citizens keep their lawns mowed.
Holly Cass: Your loud tidbit was heard!
It was back this time in 2004 that we were seeing lots of rare-for-Texas Zebra Long-winged Butterflies.
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During Tami’s recent visit she mentioned, “A wren chattered incessantly at the owl house this morning.” What good news! Surely it meant a Screech Owl inside.
Sure enough, as I came close the 10-foot pole with my quiet Black & Decker electric mower (a Mountain City garage sale treasure) that afternoon, I looked up. There Owlfie sat on the ledge of the square opening.
OwlShack is a trademark of Clifford Shackelford, who makes each house in his garage in Nacogdoches with his wife, Julie. My testimony, “They work.”
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Watch for tidbits! Save and send to [email protected] or 512-268-5678
