To my great surprise the butterfly is still with us. No, I have not named him. Yes, I did indeed go out and buy a bouquet of flowers for his enjoyment. It’s considered “enriching the environment”. It did not occur to me until after I strewed them about that they were going to die because they wouldn’t have water. I’ll either need to accept that fact and do nothing about it, accept it and clean up the dead flowers, or go buy more live flowers for the butterfly. I’ll let you guess which option is the most likely to occur. I’m definitely rethinking my former love of butterflies.
No surprise, WC is still with us as well. We had a day where we were sure that “this was it”. We’ve had many of those days. Yet again WC has rebounded, yowling to be fed if I don’t move quickly enough upon a demure meow. She’s still jumping up on furniture, cruising the downstairs. Checking out the humidifier is of great interest to both WC and BC. WC also likes to let me know when the litter pads need changing. WC likes to keep the staff alert and responsive. She has my husband completely under her paw. I suggested he and I might watch TV together. He looked distinctly uncomfortable and said that there was no room for me on the couch with him and WC, and that besides the couch was messy from her “issues”, and that really I wouldn’t enjoy being next to her. I have been displaced. And you all wonder why I am so cranky so much of the time.
I’m very disappointed in my readership, I must confess. NOT ONE of you posted to let me know how long I might anticipate sharing my kitchen with the butterfly. Do you not realize that I need to climb up on the counter in order to see it? To refresh the water in the saucer? To make sure there is still food rotting in case it deigns to eat? Do you not realize that at this close proximity it is much more like a BUG than a butterfly??? I had to turn to the internet for hope – and you know how dangerous THAT can be. “For example, a swallowtail butterfly generally lives from six to 14 days while a monarch butterfly can live from seven to nine months.” Day 6. (and counting)
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So to be helpful (grin) I checked to see if butterflies can procreate asexually. They don’t – so no need to worry about future generations of that particular one appearing in your kitchen.
Of course, I can’t guarantee it doesn’t have siblings.
You have no idea how much I am hoping this was the sole cocoon on my plants. Thank you for the research!
LOL!! At this rate, judging by WC, you can expect your butterfly to hang around until maybe April. So sorry that you’re now running a bug hostel. I, meanwhile, had another bird inside the house– this is my third one in the past couple of months. We cannot figure out how they get in. I love my birds but as you said about the butterfly, one does NOT appreciate their unique attraction when they are flying frantically from window to window, banging into them each time. WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM??
oh my goodness you had better not be even remotely correct!!!!! what if the butterfly thinks it’s a monarch and decides to live for NINE months??? I can’t put it outside – it can’t fly. omg. you are evil evil to have raised such fears.
birds in the house? Honour raised the possibility of asexual reproduction. Is it possible you have a hidden cache of eggs somewhere?
would you like to borrow a cat? a white cat???
I’m sure i don’t have bird eggs. These are full grown birds– I think they’ve all been wrens. My theory is a nest tucked someplace near a window, but there’s no openings we can find. As for the butterfly, it is a swallowtail, not a monarch. 9 months is out of the question. Maybe Marilynn can tell you more. Her husband seems to be inadvertently raising them at their house.
So sorry, I’ve been swamped with work and this is my first time reading blogs since probably Sunday! That is so wild that the butterfly is still alive! Thanks for providing her with a way to get a drink of water without drowning! I’m also very glad that WC is still with us.