Open a New Window
Remember a few months back when I blogged about the new butterfly conservation lab? I mentioned that we would soon be getting a window that would allow visitors ot the Nature Museum to view the butterfly breeding activities. A couple of weeks ago, it went in. Doesn't it look great?
The three cups to the left of the spray bottle on the wire shelves contain female butterflies that are laying eggs for us. The silver-bordered fritillaries have layed over 200 so far. We have a big mass of gorgone checkerspot eggs, too. Gorgones lay their eggs in big masses, so we won't be able to get a good count on them. And with that, the 2009 butterfly conservation season gets into full swing.
Labels: Butterflies, Conservation, Museum
posted by Doug Taron @ 16:23
11 Comments:
Very cool little project, just tuned it to it. I can remember the day I chased Silver-bordered Fritillaries though a tall grassy meadow in northern Virginia to get photos. Then years later in PA one landed right in front of me for a photo.
It's beautiful! Thanks for posting the link!
Great way to bring the visitors into the process!
While it means the staff have to be on their toes and feel a bit like in the zoo. it is good PR - let the kiddies see the fun science things for inspiration
Just no spiders please
Wow, those butterflies make Octomom look like a whimp! Congrats on the window. I hope someday I can come press my nose on it!
That's great for the visitors Doug, but its a bit like working in a gold fish bowl.
What a fantastic idea Doug. I am sure it is going to proof very popular.
Looks like that has changed the whole environment for everything in your lab.....in a GREAT way. NICE stuff, Doug.
What a terrific lab! And thank you for identifying my moth, I made a note and left your link, thanks again.
Chris
VERY cool. I bet it will be a hit with visitors!
Randy- Nice memories. This species is doing poorly on the southern edge of its range (which includes Illinois).
orchidartist- Thanks.
FC- I think that the educational aspect of this work is really important.
Spo- You have already seen our one glass-walled lab. We're getting used to working while on display.
Kathie- I'd love to show you around some time.
Roy- As I said to Spo, we're all getting used to that.
Joan- I hope it is popular. We are going to have lots of activity in that lab over the next few months.
Mark- Thanks. I can't believe how much better this space is than where we were breeding butterflies last year.
Chris- Thanks for the shoutout.
Dave- You should come by and see it some time.
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