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#11 |
WG Contest Coordinator
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Browns Mills, NJ
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Native plants are food. They are the direct link between sunlight and protein. Non native plants feed nothing. They do provide oxygen and shade and shelter, but they soak up the limited resouces in the process without returning like value. Given two similar plants the only difference being native status, the native plant gives back more than it takes. I have to answer the native vs non-native question all the time. I do favor native plants over non-native plants because non-natives will not provide the conditions and environment that I want to provide. I suppose that is interference to an extent, but I look at it as a restoration of the balance of nature and not interference or favoritism.
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I am a long haired, tree hugging, dirt worshiping environmentalist. |
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#12 | |
Co-Administrator
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Midwest
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" I suppose that is interference to an extent, but I look at it as a restoration of the balance of nature and not interference or favoritism." is, in my humble opinion, the core of the analysis. Nature cannot get into a natural balancing mode until we give her all the parts to work with. We have so much work to do to undo the damage that we have done. And the damage that we continue to do - the neighbors that are still into chemlawns, the crop farmers that continue to increase their use of chemicals, people introducing invasive species, etc. So short answer for your situation, I would protect the caterpillar and pupa until the mature butterfly was ready for release. That could be done in a rearing cage or in a protective enclosure on the host plant. If the protective enclosure on the host plant was feasible, that would be my first choice. Just my $.02 ![]()
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"We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect." Aldo Leopold Last edited by Cirsium; 08-18-2010 at 12:19 AM. Reason: added info |
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#13 |
WG Contest Coordinator
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Browns Mills, NJ
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If I could find a way to remove the non-native insects and birds and what may soon be mammals, I would. I agree with you Cirsium, there is no way to completely or wholly restore the balance of nature unless we bring all parts back into balance.
The rearing cage/container that I am using is a temporary measure. I am leaning toward protecting the caterpillar until it becomes a butterfly and documenting the growth along the way.
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I am a long haired, tree hugging, dirt worshiping environmentalist. |
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#14 |
WG Hospitality & UAOKA recipient
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
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For some reason, I'm glad that you are leaning that way. I'd love to see the pictures you come up with.
I hope you didn't feel that I was attacking you with my questions...I think I lean the same way as you regarding non-interference...I'm sure I will face my own dilemmas in the future. You express your point of view very well which gives everyone who reads it food for thought. |
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#15 | |
WG Contest Coordinator
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Browns Mills, NJ
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Not at all and thank you for the compliment. I am still wrestling with it in my mind. The little critter is doing well, there was quite a bit of frass in the container this morning and he is visibly larger.
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I am a long haired, tree hugging, dirt worshiping environmentalist. |
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#16 | |
WG Hospitality & UAOKA recipient
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
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I know it has to weigh on your mind...I'm glad you are enjoying the experience. I've never been able to observe caterpillar larvae until this year with the Monarch "cats"; it is remarkable how fast they double in size. The other day I spotted another butterfly larva--looks a lot like the spicebush caterpillar's early instar stage--but with antennae like things. I went back today and he is twice the size...and I spotted a second one too! (The first pic is the second, smaller instar.) It is on my quaking aspen--here are some pics. An ID would be appreciated. |
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#17 |
WG Facebook Administrator
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lyme, NH
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We're part of nature too. I think to the extent that we are actively promoting life, as a whole, in all its diversity, that's never bad. Indeed, the Native Americans did that by burning huge sections of countryside - and our plants adapted to that regime very well. By withdrawing human influence by ending those fires, we ended up making things worse for natural habitats in the 20th century.
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"I take the part of the trees as against all their enemies." -J.R.R. Tolkien |
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#18 | |
Butterfly Educator Extraordinaire
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Ventnor City, New Jersey, USA
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"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." ~Hans Christian Anderson http://mslenahan.edublogs.org/ |
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#19 |
Butterfly Educator Extraordinaire
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Ventnor City, New Jersey, USA
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Dapjwy: I did a search with the Natural History Museum website that John shared yesterday. There are quite a lot of species that use quaking aspen as a host, so it will take me a while to google each name to see what caterpillar it is. Give me a few seconds...
HOSTS - The Hostplants and Caterpillars Database at the Natural History Museum
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"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." ~Hans Christian Anderson http://mslenahan.edublogs.org/ |
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#20 |
Butterfly Educator Extraordinaire
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Ventnor City, New Jersey, USA
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EUREKA! Man, I almost broke out in a sweat trying to ID your critter. I am quite proud of myself, sifting through the 65 lepidoptera that use the quaking aspen as a host plant, but I finally found it! Scroll down to see a photo of the larva.
Red spotted purple
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"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." ~Hans Christian Anderson http://mslenahan.edublogs.org/ Last edited by bridget1964; 08-18-2010 at 01:35 PM. Reason: typed wrong species!! |
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