Momma's Monarchs

 It's the very start of insect season here in Michigan! Here and there I have seen the common white butterflies, but I finally came across an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail! Generally, they are pretty fast, and always got away from me when I was little, but I got ahold of this one today!  He's a male, and I've named him Elce, after a character I made.  I have him set up in my butterfly house with some flowers and sugar water, he seems pretty stressed and hasn't eaten anything yet.  Interestingly, going back to my thoughts on domesticating butterflies, Elce seems very fearful of, and stressed around me compared to my monarchs that I have raised since eggs.  Could butterflies remember faces and learn to trust people?  Or does it come down the difference in species?  Assuming that some of the Monarchs that I raised return to their home plants this year, there could be a difference in their behavior around me.  Does this beautiful and mysterious insect hav...

            Today I let Lucy outside for the first time to stretch her wings and get some well needed enrichment.  She is still a weak flyer, but she can glide in circles very well.  She just cannot fly upwards.  The most fascinating thing happened while we were out there, however.  If I held my hands out to Lucy, she would land in them.  That means there is something significant going on.  She has the intelligence to recognize her momma, whether its because I am a food source or because she knows I am not a threat.                                                                                  I cleaned her cage today as it was starting to smell strongly like butterfly.  I wo...