Day 10 - Learning How to Pin Butterflies

    Today was, unfortunately, my final day interning at the HMNS. Hopefully, with the training I've gained from this experience, I will be able to volunteer here in the future! 

    I did a butterfly release in the morning, making sure to wipe down all of the chambers thoroughly and glue down chrysalides from the recent shipment that had fallen. I made

Pinning a Malachite Butterfly

sure to give each chamber a good mist after capturing all the butterflies that were healthy and then releasing them into the Conservatory. 

    Since it was a Friday, it was super busy with a bunch of different school groups scooching through the narrow garden paths. It was incredibly difficult to get by people to restock the butterflies' food, but with Kaeli's help, we managed to get it done fairly quickly! After that, Kaeli showed me how to pin butterflies, which was much more difficult than I originally thought it'd be. First, you had to select a butterfly that was 'relaxed' so you could adjust the wings. To relax a butterfly, you usually have to keep it out for a day or two in a container with holes. After this, the butterfly should be dry enough to adjust easily. Butterflies are very fragile so their wings are super easy to break. If the butterfly is still frozen and/or stiff, it's best not to try and force the wings into place, otherwise, they'll just break apart. The process of pinning a butterfly is first started by pinning the abdomen (with the butterfly on its back) on top of a styrofoam board. Once that is done, Kaeli told me to lift the top wings, place a strip of parchment paper across the wing, and then place one pin (as close as possible to the wing) on both sides. Then you can do the same to the hindwings. Once I did about 6 butterflies, Kaeli showed me how they usually mount the butterflies in a picture frame. Since none of the butterflies that I had pinned had dried, we just used a white Malachite butterfly. She basically just cut a centimetre of a hot-glue gun stick, glued it down, placed some glue on top of the nub, and placed down the butterfly. 

Holding an Atlas Beetle

    After this, I went to lunch with the faculty and tried Bodega's, which had super good Mexican food. It was nice to get to know them a little more, and afterwards, I said my goodbyes! 

    I want to give a big thank you to Kaeli, Celeste, Soni, Teresa, Lauren, and John for giving me the most enriching learning experience I've ever had. I'll never be able to repay you!

Additional Research: 

• What exactly is husbandry?
• Husbandry can mean many things. As a general term, it is used to describe the care of an animal and to rear it. 'Rearing' is when an animal is bred and then raised. In terms of this internship, I was focusing on the 'care' aspect of this process. I cleaned cages, replaced food, and so on. But I suppose the ultimate goal for the Entomology Department was to keep a sustainable influx of insects. They were usually 'reared' behind the scenes. Thinking about it, I did sort through foliage and substrate to find eggs on two occasions, so I suppose I did assist in their reproduction in some way. So, ultimately, husbandry is knowing how to properly care for the animal, which will, in turn, result in successful reproduction. 

Day 9 - Getting a Shipment from Costa Rica

    Celeste let me choose between tending to the reptiles and the Conservatory or prepping the Insect Zoo, and I decided on the Conservatory. I didn't prefer one over the other, though! I just felt I could be more helpful when fixing up the Conservatory before it opened. So I made the turtles and iguanas food (with the special Thursday topping of Vitamin D powder) and topped off the hangers and torches. I hand-fed Charo, and went to the lower level of the Conservatory to feed the cavefish before heading up to do a butterfly release. 

    There weren't too many butterflies today, and a few might have been a part of the Longevity Study, so I made sure to put them in a cage to the side for later inspection. I went through all the same steps of wiping down each chamber and misting and/or changing the paper towels. I also dumped some water at the bottom of the chamber as usual to increase the humidity much more. After I had captured some butterflies, there was a group of kids watching me work, and I let one of them do the release. He was really excited about it, too! 

This is an example of a butterfly's camoflage abilities.
The chrysalides are made to appear as rotting sticks.
This butterfly is currently a part of the Longevity Study.

    Once that was done, Celeste told me that a shipment had just arrived from Costa Rica with more butterfly pupa. We headed to the dock to retrieve the package and open it up in the Chrysalis Corner. Thankfully, there had only been one butterfly that emerged, and the rest were fine. Once we organised the species alphabetically, we began gluing them to a new styrofoam board. This was a lengthy process, and at the end of it we had 2 boards of butterfly pupa. We replaced old boards that had leftover chrysalides and unsuccessful pupa and then misted them to increase the humidity in the chambers. 

Facts I learned: 

• I asked Celeste about how the chrysalides get their pigment, and she said that scientists didn't really know the answer. Sometimes a butterfly's chrysalis changes based on what it's attached to, such as a leaf or a branch. Other times it will simply be a different colour. Some are made to blend in, while others are not. 

Day 8 - Making a Puddling Pool and Polishing Turtles!

    Kaeli was back for today, and the first thing she did was show me how to make a 'puddling' pool. We found an area to place the pool and dug a sizeable hole so the rectangular container could sit flush with the ground. Once that was done, we patted dirt around the edges and added sand, a bit of dirt, and some pebbles. Then we went back to make a mixture of water and soy sauce, which would provide the butterflies with sodium. We dumped this mixture into the container and made sure there wasn't too much liquid so the butterflies wouldn't drown. 

    Once we did that, I did a butterfly release with another volunteer named Fran. There were a lot of butterflies that needed to be numbered, as they were included in the current Longevity Study, so we put them in a cage to be later numbered. We also discovered that one of the Atlas Moths from a recent shipment had hatched, which was unfortunate because their wings hadn't dried properly. They had to be euthanized, but for the other unhatched moths, we placed them in a space where they'd be able to dry their wings without becoming crippled. After removing all the butterflies from the chambers, we released them into the Conservatory, and I headed back down to the office. 

    At the office, Kaeli instructed me to feed the iguanas, cavefish, and tortoises. I went back down to the Conservatory's kitchen, prepped Nacho and the tortoises' food, and placed it out. For Charo (I am certain that is his name- it has to be!) I hand-fed him some parts of his food. He really loved the sweet potatoes, and in this excitement, he nearly bit my finger off! I sustained no injuries, thankfully. The last thing I did was feed the cavefish, and afterwards, I headed back to the office once again. 

Holding one of the torties

    When I arrived there was a meeting in progress, so I sat in on that until Kaeli showed me back down to the Conservatory to collect the tortoises and take them to the kitchen. It was time to polish the tortoises! Kaeli made sure the water was a little warmer than room temperature before placing them in the sink. I scrubbed two down with a toothbrush while Kaeli did the other one. Fun fact, when tortoises are doused in warm water, they poop! And it stinks! So that was fun. After they had a wash we used a towel to dry them off and moved on to moisturising. Kaeli located a jar of coconut oil, dug some out, and slathered it onto one of the tortoises. She made sure to moisturise the shell and the turtle's skin if they let you. Most of the time they just shrunk back into their shells. We let the tortoises run around for a while and then put them back into their enclosures. 

    The last task for the day was to glue some chrysalides to the boards that were on display. These chrysalides had actually been bred by John, who manages the pupa in the greenhouses. So Kaeli counted them all out and I glued them down. A few chrysalides were actually Birdwing butterflies, which I was super excited to see hatch. Once I had glued all of them down (and made sure they had the proper labels), Kaeli had me number the butterflies that Fran and I had previously put into one of the cages. For each one, I labelled the sex, the supplier, and the board number. I was able to correctly label the sex of each butterfly, which is much easier with some species compared to others. The males of this particular species had a narrow abdomen, and the females had a wider one with a slight divet. Once I dusted off the scales and placed a sticker on each wing of these butterflies, we released them into the Conservatory. 

Facts I learned: 

• Tortoises carry salmonella (one of the workers has contracted it from them before!)
• Charo has very sharp chompers
  

Day 7 - Receiving a Chrysalis Shipment

Blue Morphos waiting for their wings to dry.

Butterflies to be released.

Celeste feeding Nagini.

    I started off my day by saying good morning to all of the insects on display and worked on their enclosures to make sure everything was prepared before it opened at 10. After I wiped off condensation and replaced some food, I did a butterfly release. There weren't many that had hatched, but the ones that did were beautiful! There were a lot of Blue Morphos, a few Glasswing butterflies, and one big 'Three-Tailed Tiger Swallowtail'. After I released them into the Conservatory, I topped up the nectar for the torches and hangers. We then tried to feed Nagini the snake (I'm assuming they're a Green Tree Python) with a thawed mouse, but they were not interested- Celeste assured me that this was because Nagini might be ready to moult soon! 

    Next up on the list of to-dos was to change out the substrate in the katydid enclosure- greeeat. Just when I thought I was done with them! The goal was to collect all the eggs they'd laid, which look like long, thin white seeds. After removing the old substrate (which is literally just shredded coconut fibres) that held the eggs, we placed fresh substrate into their enclosure. Thankfully, the katydids didn't scream at us. Celeste then had me sort through the dirt to locate the eggs, which was an incredibly tedious task. After about 30 minutes, I ended up with like 12 eggs. Yas! 

Finding katydid eggs.

    Done sorting through the dirt, we moved on to a shipment of chrysalides that Celeste said had been delayed for a day or two. She showed me to the dock where they received packages, obtained the shipment, and after guiding me back to the Chrysalis Corner (through a secret passage, I may add), we opened it up. Unfortunately, since the package had been delayed, there were many butterflies that had tried to hatch but didn't make it. Celeste marked this down, and if there were unsuccessful hatches or many hatched but were unable to fly, they would stop buying from the seller. Oddly enough, this package actually came from Penang, Malaysia, which I have visited before! In addition, they currently purchase butterflies from all over the world, and get 3-5 shipments 

Glueing down new pupa.

each week! The HMNS's budget for purchasing butterflies is about $60,000 dollars per year, and this shipment of butterflies (of 200 or more) cost $700. That's a lot of butterflies. After sorting through the package, Celeste explained how they mount the butterflies onto the styrofoam boards, briefly reminding me of what Kaeli had mentioned about this process. Since there wasn't enough time to glue all of them down, that concluded my day at the HMNS! 

Facts I learned:

• Butterfly financing
• There is a butterfly mafia in the Philippines, and the headwoman manages the butterfly farms all around the country

Day 6 - Independent Work

    Today I had the fortunate opportunity to do tasks by myself, which was incredibly rewarding. I first tended to the insects that were on display in the Brown Hall of Entomology, and this time I got myself to clean and change the food in the katydid enclosure. It took me a total of 15 minutes to do so, but nevertheless, I was proud of myself! 

    Since one of the volunteers had already done a butterfly release, Celeste had me do tasks in the Conservatory. For the butterflies, I sliced fruit to put on the plates and in the suet cages, and for the turtles and iguanas I cut up leafy greens and a few other fruits and vegetables. I also renewed the banana brew and the nectar in the hangers. After placing Nacho's food and the turtles' food in the Conservatory, I got to hand-feed the elderly iguana (I'm not sure what to call him- it's either Charlie or Charzo) for the first time! He's usually lounging beneath his heat lamps, so when I picked him up to help him eat up he was super warm. When I placed him back down, I just gently offered him strawberries and figs- he refused to eat any of the vegetables & lettuce. After feeding him, I moved on to the torches in the conservatory. I gathered up sponges, torches, stoppers, and the nectar (specifically for the torches). This was a repetitive process: there were nine in total, and for each one, I took the old torch out and replaced it with a new one that had a stopper and a sponge. After that, I topped it up with nectar. Once I was done with this, I fed the cavefish, cleaned the 'deceased butterflies' bin (and dumped it out), and wiped down the kitchen. Success! 

Facts I learned: 

• Nectar is very easy to spill and very sticky!
• To make it easier to feed some insects, change their food and then mist their enclosures- they get a lot more crazy when they've been drenched.

Day 5 - Feeding the Carnivorous Insects

    Since not much of the faculty was in today, Celeste had me do a butterfly release while she fed the carnivorous insects with crickets. One of the butterflies that had hatched was Protographium epidaus, AKA the Mexican Kite Swallowtail, and it's probably one of my favourites! There were also a lot of Orange-Kite Swallowtails which are fast fliers (and very hard to catch). 

    After the release, Celeste showed me how to feed the carnivorous insects that weren't on display. The crickets were kept in a large box full of egg cartons. They can't jump very high, so all I had to do to collect them was take one of the egg cartons and tap it over a container. Each insect gets about 2-4 crickets, except for some smaller insects which eat fruit flies. For the larger insects, this included tarantulas, centipedes, and scorpions. It was the most invigorating thing to watch them eat! It all happens so fast, and it also gave me a chance to finally see the centipedes. Later on I worked on the herbivorous insects (cockroaches and grubs) and also got to transfer newly hatched stick bug babies into the cage that held a bunch of other stick bug babies. They are so cute, but so fast. Goodness gracious.

    The final thing I did was change out all the food in the butterfly garden. First the fruit in the suet cages and on the plates, and then restocking the nectar in the hangers and torches. I also sprayed nectar onto the hanging balls (clown noses and wire) and hanging bananas (bananas with holes surrounded in wire). The final thing to do was empty out the 'Deceased Butterflies' bin into the box in the freezer for later sorting. 

    I forget to take pictures most of the time, but next week I'm planning to create a video about what the Entomology sector does each week. 

Facts I learned: 

• The butterfly garden is very busy on Fridays

Day 4 - Feeding the Reptiles

    This morning most of the faculty helped to clear out a section of the garden outside the HMNS that was full of weeds. This area is eventually going to turn into a garden that has plants for pollinators! I worked on a clump of weeds that had super matted roots, which was a very tedious process until Soni (who manages the greenhouses and gardens) whipped out a hoe. The rest is history! After everyone had finished, we were left with about 10 trash bags of weeds which we tossed into a bin for compost. 

    Kaeli had me do the first butterfly release of the day, and there were a lot of butterflies! There were a few that were a part of the Longevity Study, which the museum does with different species every couple of months. For these butterflies, Kaeli taught me how to place numbers on each one to keep track of them. First, you clasp the butterfly between your pointer and middle fingers (and as close as possible to its abdomen), then take a cotton swab and gently rub away some of the scales on the outside (lower section) of each wing. After that, you gently place a sticker on both sides with the same number and place the butterfly back into the 'release' cage. Kaeli assured me that this doesn't hurt them at all! She also tried to teach me how to identify the sex of a butterfly. It was very confusing. 

    I finally got a chance to care for the reptiles! Celeste showed me how to feet the two iguanas, the three tortoises, the constrictor, and the cavefish. The iguanas and tortoises have the same diet, such as leafy greens, pineberries (white strawberries), snow peas, sweet potato, zucchini, and so on, but their kibble is different. Since the retired iguana is really old, he doesn't get any kibble. You also have to hand-feed him since he is, once again, very old. For Nacho, you just place a plate of food on a ledge and he knows where to find it. For the tortoises (they're absolutely adorable), I just placed their food down and gathered them together so they could eat. Picking them up is like picking up bumpy rocks! For the snake, whose name is Nagini, I just thawed a mouse in a hot water and used forceps to hold it. Since he's a constrictor, he just snatched it from me and wrapped around it straight away! Finally, for the cavefish, I just added frozen fish food to their tank. 

Facts I learned: 

• The retired iguana is 23, and the one roaming around the conservatory is 9. 
• The reproductive organs on butterflies look different for each species

Additional Research:

• Red-Footed Tortoises
• These animals are native to the forests and grasslands of Central and South America. They can live up to 50 years old in captivity and are fairly large creatures. So having enough space for these animals is necessary. It is best to buy these tortoises from a reputable breeder, especially because they are an endangered species (due to the pet industry). They are fairly expensive and can be up to $500. These tortoises are pretty shy and will need areas to hide or burrow. They prefer not to be handled, but they are very docile. They aren't very aggressive or territorial, either. These tortoises do happen to carry salmonella, so it is important to wash your hands after caring for these creatures. Their enclosures need to be humid with a light and heat source, which must be timed. An escape-proof enclosure outside is a perfect place for them, as long as the area you live in is humid. Humidity levels can be measured by a humidity gauge. The temperature during the day should be 85-90 degrees Fahrenheit, and during the night it should never drop below 75. The tortoises will also need UVB rays to make Vitamin D3, and the substrate can be sphagnum moss, orchid bark, or cypress bark (which needs to be changed every 2 weeks or so). Misting might be required, depending on where you live. A puddle will also be needed for them to cool off. A shady area with lots of vegetation is also helpful for these tortoises. Spot-cleaning and disinfecting the enclosure and the water in it will help keep the tortoises healthy. These tortoises will eat leafy greens (main portion), fruits,  vegetables, and pellets (small portion). The best leafy greens are mustard greens, dandelion greens, escarole, and endive. They will also eat carrots, parsnip, sweet potato, papaya, figs, and hard melons. 
• Iguanas
• Iguanas are also native to Central and South America. They need a high level of care and are a major commitment (they can live up to 20 years). They also become very large, so you need a lot of room for them. They must be picked up routinely to learn trust and become more comfortable. Baby iguanas are quick, while adult iguanas are fairly slow and docile. Some even like to climb on their owners! They love climbing, so ramps, shelves, and branches will be necessary for their enclosure. The temperature of the enclosure should never drop below 75 degrees Fahrenheit- it needs to be above 85 so the iguana will be able to digest food. Heat lamps are common in iguana enclosures and recommended. Misting the enclosure or having a water bowl is also good to keep the humidity high. Remove any uneaten food/faeces/shed skin and spot clean the enclosure. Clean and replace food and water dishes daily, wipe down the enclosure with pet-safe cleaner and replace the wood substrate (but they spend most of their time climbing, so it's not too important). They eat pellets, dark leafy greens, some fruit, and calcium supplement. These creatures also have salmonella, so make sure to wash your hands after caring for an iguana. 
• Green Tree Python
• For this reptile, they can grow 4-8 feet, and it is recommended that the cage be 3x2x2 feet enclosures with lots of branches for climbing. The enclosures should not be too tall, or else the snakes will never come down to drink water. Horizontal space is much better than vertical space, as that is how these snakes climb.