August and September passed without a newsletter. We apologize! I've been a bit sick and unable to create a newsletter. I'm back on track and catching up! If you wrote to me and haven't received an answer, please write again.

As summer is winding down, we're seeing sings of the end of butterfly season here in north Florida. Yesterday I saw my first two hibernaculums of the winter. One was in the process of being created. Sigh. I miss summer already. (Most of it passed by while I was sick.)

So ... it's time to think about education and preparation for next year's season. Until spring, our newsletters will each contain information about preparing for 2009's butterfly season.

Happy Fall!

Caterpillars have 12 eyes with which to see. Light and dark and possibly a bit of color.

Tiger Swallowtail butterfly caterpillars have blue heads with parts we've never heard of, let alone seen before!

We normally don't think of butterflies as meat eaters. But these beauties found vension enjoyable. This deer didn't make it across the road when it tried to cross by our property. We're not sure who's vehicle is bent and dented!

This is the head of a chrysalis. What appears to be fat cheeks are actually the future eyes of the butterfly. Watch our next issue for more information about Juvinal's Duskywing butterflies!
God has quite an imagination!

Butterfly Farmers Wedding and Event Planners Funeral Professionals

The Association for Butterflies (AFB) 2008 Symposium is scheduled for the first weekend in December.

Friday; Seminar for new butterfly farmers or want-to-be farmers. Learn the basics of raising butterflies in a larger operation.

Saturday; Farmers learn more about diseases, marketing, Monarch migration, and much more. Speakers are lepidoptera professionals, sucessful butterfly farmers, and more.

Sunday; A class teaching about butterfly releases. Learn the basics of releasing butterflies at weddings, funerals, and other events. How-to, safety, when to and when not to release, why they are shipped in coolers, and more. Centerpieces and decorations will be there for you to enjoy. At the end of this class, you will release your own butterfly and receive your 'Butterfly Release Certified' certificate from the AFB.

Winnning Caption: "Aw, Mom! Do I HAVE to thank Aunt Myrtle for the trousers? She ALWAYS buys them too big!"

During the move to a new server, we lost many of our old emails. My records of who suggested what is missing. If you suggested this caption, please email me! I'm sorry.

Captions suggested were;

1. Nymph says, "Hey! What did I miss?"

2. Bill: Geeez!!!! Hillary, do you see what you're putting on?
Hillary: Well, this is the last time I dress in the dark no matter how many times you tell me you need your beauty sleep. I thought I was reaching for my yellow pants suit, and her I am putting on this silly halloween costume.
Bill: Don't worry dear. I'm going back to sleep. And, when I wake up, I'm sure this will all have been a bad dream.

3. "Aw, Mom! Do I HAVE to thank Aunt Myrtle for the trousers? She ALWAYS buys them too big!"

4. "Emergence"

5. "Captain Long Beard"

Until next time, Edith, Stephen, Ester, Michelle, Christina, Rachel, and the gang