Guess what else a cremaster is? A scrotal muscle. Here’s Wikipedia on the subject:
“The cremaster muscle is a paired structure made of thin layers of striated and smooth muscle that covers the testicles and the spermatic cords in human males. It consists of the lateral and medial parts. Cremaster is an involuntary muscle, responsible for the cremasteric reflex; a protective and physiologic superficial reflex of the testicles. The reflex raises and lowers the testicles in order to keep them protected. Along with the dartos muscle of the scrotum, it regulates testicular temperature, thus aiding the process of spermatogenesis.”
It’s like an elevator operator. “Going up!” “Going down!”
Anyone not paying enough attention to how mind-blowingly weird life is has no idea what kind of craziness surrounds us all. And it is taking place EVERYWHERE. Thank you for this. I had no idea.
I forgot to say that I loved your piece, the photos, the video, and the fact that you saved that chrysalis. And bought a mesh house to socially distance the budding butterflies from predators.
Thank you, Two. So far, today, I have already told three people about cremasteric reflexes of the testicles! (And I wonder why no one is returning my calls. Hmmmph)
Milkweed is just that. A weed! Plant it outside, and the first thing that happens: it gets four feet tall. Then, the golden aphids appear, covering the leaves. Then, a few ladybugs happen upon the restaurant. Mayhem ensues. The seed pods, when dry, explode and spread with the wind. Meanwhile, below ground, the traveling roots of the milkweed (especially common milkweed) send up shoots in other parts of your garden. And then you wait for something to happen. Having said that, stick with local varieties of milkweed. Here in CA, showy milkweed (for NorCal) or narrowleaf milkweed (throughout CA) are widely available and attract monarchs. And this warning from (Calscape) a great resource for native CA plants): "To maximize Monarch butterflies reaching their overwintering areas, plant only locally native milkweed species". If you are growing tropical milkweed, you are not helping the monarchs. Details here: https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=56986
I,of course, knew all this. And I buy milkweed that is native to Ca. I dont know why you just ASSUMED I did NOT know this. But as it turns out: I know many things!!
Nice farmersplaining, Fred. You have to ask yourself why you are are unable to tell from her piece and the pictures and the video and the time she took to find out how to save the fallen chrysalis that SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE’S DOING.
I felt kind of bad sniping at Farmer Fred. But yes, I do a lot of research on the damn butterflies. Far more than I need. HOWEVER, I DID NOT KNOW the data that 2 Gazebos wrote to me (above) about cremaster muscles and testicles. I am pretty sure I am never going to forget it.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, your neighbors only 70 miles up the coast, were once part of the British Royal Family and are still considered royalty except by the his bigoted brother, the Halfwit Prince, and Monarch father, King Charles the Gormless. Harry, the Royal formerly known as Prince, is fifth in line to be a Monarch and he and Duchess Meghan are parents to two chrysalises, Archie and Lilibet.
I love this. The Mexico part is something I only learned about a couple of years ago, when I visited a Monarch tagging demonstration in Cape May, New Jersey. Yes, they literally tag butterflies so they can track them to Mexico. Of course a butterfly can't handle a radio transmitter, so they just paste a tiny wafer-thin numbered decal onto the wing, and if anybody catches that butterfly a year later in Mexico, there are instructions about where to report it. This is of course an insanely inefficient endeavor, but they tag thousands of Monarchs in New Jersey and every year a handful of reports come back from equally dedicated butterfly fans in Mexico.
What a great piece. So many levels. You mock Hillbilly Boy and celebrate the mysteries of life in the same story. I got misty about Zontar, especially when the music rolled in. <3 [bad heart] Bonus: After a number of years, I have at least a clue as to the meaning of THE CREMASTER CYCLE, a group of films by artist Matthew Barney. Without ever taking five seconds to look up the word. No wonder academics are discredited.
What a thrill for me to discover that you are a butterfly head; how did I miss that or is it just a figment of my dementia? I am and have been a butterfly head for a long time. I could talk about them pert near forever. I'll try to spare you, but let me just say that I foster 5-7 species of butterflies in my yard. My latest favorite is probably the Giant Swallowtail. But don't get me started!
I knew we had more in common than meets the eye!
Great job on your descriptions, photos, and videos!!
I do not want to get you overly started but,...What plants attract swallowtails? We have been having that discussion around here and I didn't come up with an answer yet. Monarchs make it so easy. Its Milkweed or bust.
I have reared around 60 Pipevine cats this season from eggs and newly hatched baby cats to chrysalides. These are provided to me by fellow enthusiasts who have established “colonies” and have the PVs ovipositing on their vines. These cats are similar to Monarchs in that they grow pretty large and .have prodigious appetites and can sometimes exhaust their food supply. I have plenty of food sources but no visits from egg-laying females. So I foster from friends bountiful supply. (The Pipevine Swallowtail is not what I would consider a “common” species in our area, compared to several others such as Monarchs, Frittilaries, and Sulphurs) These I rear in pop-up mesh enclosures like yours.
I would never have guessed that you can repair a fallen chrysalis. Impressive!
Around here (Northeast), we have black swallow-wort which fools the caterpillars and kills them. I wonder if you have that in CA too. It is everywhere and local gardeners are constantly trying to educate people to identify and get rid of it.
I have never heard tell of this one. Granted I am only in touch with one other person who has any interest Monarchs. But I just read about it on line. And now I know I have SOMETHING ELSE TO WORRY ABOUT. Great! I'll be on the look out.
Guess what else a cremaster is? A scrotal muscle. Here’s Wikipedia on the subject:
“The cremaster muscle is a paired structure made of thin layers of striated and smooth muscle that covers the testicles and the spermatic cords in human males. It consists of the lateral and medial parts. Cremaster is an involuntary muscle, responsible for the cremasteric reflex; a protective and physiologic superficial reflex of the testicles. The reflex raises and lowers the testicles in order to keep them protected. Along with the dartos muscle of the scrotum, it regulates testicular temperature, thus aiding the process of spermatogenesis.”
It’s like an elevator operator. “Going up!” “Going down!”
Anyone not paying enough attention to how mind-blowingly weird life is has no idea what kind of craziness surrounds us all. And it is taking place EVERYWHERE. Thank you for this. I had no idea.
I forgot to say that I loved your piece, the photos, the video, and the fact that you saved that chrysalis. And bought a mesh house to socially distance the budding butterflies from predators.
Thank you, Two. So far, today, I have already told three people about cremasteric reflexes of the testicles! (And I wonder why no one is returning my calls. Hmmmph)
They’re probably cremaster deniers.
Milkweed is just that. A weed! Plant it outside, and the first thing that happens: it gets four feet tall. Then, the golden aphids appear, covering the leaves. Then, a few ladybugs happen upon the restaurant. Mayhem ensues. The seed pods, when dry, explode and spread with the wind. Meanwhile, below ground, the traveling roots of the milkweed (especially common milkweed) send up shoots in other parts of your garden. And then you wait for something to happen. Having said that, stick with local varieties of milkweed. Here in CA, showy milkweed (for NorCal) or narrowleaf milkweed (throughout CA) are widely available and attract monarchs. And this warning from (Calscape) a great resource for native CA plants): "To maximize Monarch butterflies reaching their overwintering areas, plant only locally native milkweed species". If you are growing tropical milkweed, you are not helping the monarchs. Details here: https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=56986
I,of course, knew all this. And I buy milkweed that is native to Ca. I dont know why you just ASSUMED I did NOT know this. But as it turns out: I know many things!!
Nice farmersplaining, Fred. You have to ask yourself why you are are unable to tell from her piece and the pictures and the video and the time she took to find out how to save the fallen chrysalis that SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE’S DOING.
I felt kind of bad sniping at Farmer Fred. But yes, I do a lot of research on the damn butterflies. Far more than I need. HOWEVER, I DID NOT KNOW the data that 2 Gazebos wrote to me (above) about cremaster muscles and testicles. I am pretty sure I am never going to forget it.
This is great!! Love it all!
Congratulations to the author, the filmmaker, the naturalist, and the political activist ALL!!
Your farewell video was brilliant! They are just so beautiful.
Hadley is my fave, a real character with that glimmer of mischief in his eye.
Finally a use for all this floss my hygenist loads me up with.
debate in 9hrs 45 min.....this helped, thank you
Yes. That Hadley. You never know what to expect.
Maureen!
Loved this! Thank you.
Thank YOU, Mr. Abruptly.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, your neighbors only 70 miles up the coast, were once part of the British Royal Family and are still considered royalty except by the his bigoted brother, the Halfwit Prince, and Monarch father, King Charles the Gormless. Harry, the Royal formerly known as Prince, is fifth in line to be a Monarch and he and Duchess Meghan are parents to two chrysalises, Archie and Lilibet.
Yes. I know.
Very educational piece, Merrill. You are a superhero to the Monarch population.
Correct.
What a lovely dang thing. Just beautiful.
".....and yet somehow still not a sociopath........" But hey, the day is still young.
I love this. The Mexico part is something I only learned about a couple of years ago, when I visited a Monarch tagging demonstration in Cape May, New Jersey. Yes, they literally tag butterflies so they can track them to Mexico. Of course a butterfly can't handle a radio transmitter, so they just paste a tiny wafer-thin numbered decal onto the wing, and if anybody catches that butterfly a year later in Mexico, there are instructions about where to report it. This is of course an insanely inefficient endeavor, but they tag thousands of Monarchs in New Jersey and every year a handful of reports come back from equally dedicated butterfly fans in Mexico.
The photos they take of the convergences of millions of these guys in trees or wherever are breathtaking.
What a great piece. So many levels. You mock Hillbilly Boy and celebrate the mysteries of life in the same story. I got misty about Zontar, especially when the music rolled in. <3 [bad heart] Bonus: After a number of years, I have at least a clue as to the meaning of THE CREMASTER CYCLE, a group of films by artist Matthew Barney. Without ever taking five seconds to look up the word. No wonder academics are discredited.
Thank you, Merrill, as always!
What a thrill for me to discover that you are a butterfly head; how did I miss that or is it just a figment of my dementia? I am and have been a butterfly head for a long time. I could talk about them pert near forever. I'll try to spare you, but let me just say that I foster 5-7 species of butterflies in my yard. My latest favorite is probably the Giant Swallowtail. But don't get me started!
I knew we had more in common than meets the eye!
Great job on your descriptions, photos, and videos!!
I do not want to get you overly started but,...What plants attract swallowtails? We have been having that discussion around here and I didn't come up with an answer yet. Monarchs make it so easy. Its Milkweed or bust.
Giant Swallowtail cats feed on Citrus, Rue, Sapote, et al.
Desert Black Swallowtail - Fennel, Dill, Anise, Rue
Anise Swallowtail - same as DBS
Pipevine Swallowtail - certain species of Aristolochia; (fimbriata, tomentosa, macroura, californica, and others.
So do you just find the caterpillars on those plants? Same as with monarchs? Or is there some special magic?
They will come to visit you, especially if you have some nectar sources for them!
So what I think you are sayings is that you don't raise the caterpillars in a habitat....you just see some visiting Swallowtails near these plants?
I have reared around 60 Pipevine cats this season from eggs and newly hatched baby cats to chrysalides. These are provided to me by fellow enthusiasts who have established “colonies” and have the PVs ovipositing on their vines. These cats are similar to Monarchs in that they grow pretty large and .have prodigious appetites and can sometimes exhaust their food supply. I have plenty of food sources but no visits from egg-laying females. So I foster from friends bountiful supply. (The Pipevine Swallowtail is not what I would consider a “common” species in our area, compared to several others such as Monarchs, Frittilaries, and Sulphurs) These I rear in pop-up mesh enclosures like yours.
This is wonderful!
Awww. Thanks Marina.
I would never have guessed that you can repair a fallen chrysalis. Impressive!
Around here (Northeast), we have black swallow-wort which fools the caterpillars and kills them. I wonder if you have that in CA too. It is everywhere and local gardeners are constantly trying to educate people to identify and get rid of it.
I have never heard tell of this one. Granted I am only in touch with one other person who has any interest Monarchs. But I just read about it on line. And now I know I have SOMETHING ELSE TO WORRY ABOUT. Great! I'll be on the look out.