View Full Version : Butterflies
When I went into our double garage yesterday morning I found two beautiful butterflies (Peacock) which were settled on the net curtain of the door. Then on the floor I noticed a small one which at first I thought was dead, it moved and I managed to take a photo (tortoiseshell - small) - they eventually flew off. Today when we opened the door there was another one waiting to fly away.
Now I am very confused because every year this happens and we get quite a few at this time of year. In our garage it is warm, has a high pitched roof, lots of wood and garage bits but no food for butterflies! So what I would like to know is ...... how they lay eggs, pupate etc when there is no vegetation to support them??
Does anyone have any idea :huh: ??
I asked Mr O ... I quite innocently said "where do butterflies come from?" .... he replied "from the garage!"............men ....... helpful eh :doh:
(I've posted two pictures on the gallery)
As far as i know Butterflies hibernate , like other animals when warmer weather comes they start to come out which is what you are seeing :)Then probably feed to their hearts content and everything else lol
They wont need food because they will be in a shut down mode , they maybe feel safe in your garage :)
I like Mr O 's answer bestest lol
Thanks Tonica, being ignorant about them I didn't realise they might hibernate :lol:
:lol: not quite, sorry
catterpillars eat all summer, then in the Autumn they go somewhere wam and dry and make a little silken house for themselves....if you ever go into a dry shed you might see little tube things near the windows which can look like paper
the catterpillar sleeps all winter and goes through some amazing changes, I mean you cant get more amazing than a crawly thing turning int a beautiful flying thing :yes:
and then in the spring the new butterfly eats his/her way out of the crysalis and that is why you have butterflies in your garage :yes:
sadly butterflys do not live very long :( and have to mate and lay eggs very quickly
great photos BTW Omega :)
Just found this link :)
http://www.querycat.com/faq/2c5207d2e67ee99f9d7d1167f9132fdf
Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma and Red Admiral all hibernate as adults from October until the first of the warmer weather in March. You will find them in sheds, garages and sometimes in your house looking for a cool, secure site. They are often eaten during hibernation by shrews and spiders as they can not escape.
and this one lol http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/butterflies/qanda.htm
Q: Do butterflies hibernate or aestivate?
A: Yes. Some butterflies hibernate as adults, eggs, immature caterpillars or pupae in order to survive climate extremes, such as cold in the winter, or heat and drought in the summer. Butterflies can undergo a rest period called diapause, during which the vital functions are kept at the very minimum. No growth or development occurs in the egg, caterpillar or pupae, and the adult butterfly just hangs motionless in a suitable place, waiting for better conditions to arrive. Sorbitol and glycerol exist in the blood of some butterflies and function as natural anti-freeze agents.
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Ressurected this topic as I have just found our first butterfly in our Garage :) It was between the net curtain and the window of the door, flapping around to get out into the sunshine. This is a yearly occurrence they breed in there for some unknown reason - this one was a Small Tortoishell and was really pretty, I let it out to fly away. (I got this photo from a website but the butterfly was exactly the same. Wonder if there will be more, got quite a lot of "wildlife" her at the moment :lol: must be Spring after all ...