We had a hard freeze last night. The white frosting was still visible on the zinnias after the sun came up. It’s time to put the garden to bed.

The hardiest butterflies were cabbage whites and the skippers, but even those are gone now. Hopefully, the offspring they left behind are in their chrysalises over-wintering in sheltered spots.

Ten Black Swallowtail caterpillars, within the butterfly house, formed their chrysalis in late summer.  We had a couple cold nights in August and this set off diapause, a state of hibernation, in the butterflies. Three of the caterpillars formed their chrysalis on objects within the butterfly house. Seven of them formed on the screening. Those who chose the screens were easy. I checked on them, tied a string to the top, and hung them from the garage ceiling, quite an exclusive high-rise to rest in for the winter. They are far enough up that they would be hard to find by a wandering rodent. When it rains I will climb a ladder and spray a little bit of misty water into the house to mimic what’s going on outdoors.

Three of the caterpillars formed their chrysalis on other items. Two of them on a piece of landscaping stone I had at the bottom of the house to keep it secure when storms struck.

The other formed on a stem. These also need to be in the garage but must have some kind of protective covering. Recently, in the grocery store, I picked up several mesh bags sold for fruit; the perfect solution. I placed them around the objects holding the chrysalis and put them on a garage shelf for the winter. 

The raising of butterflies has never become commonplace to me. I enjoy seeing the butterfly house hanging in the garage. It reminds me Spring will come again and hopefully a bevy of butterflies will emerge.

“Butterflies that go through diapause enter into a hibernation-like state, where physiological processes are suspended. After adverse weather conditions clear, they will come out of this state of suspended animation and return to normal functioning.”

Bugs Under Glass