I have been stewing since last summer about what would be the best enclosure for Mike to build for my guys since I had Rainbow out on the deck in a cleaned up rat cage last summer. He loves it outside and was happily sunning himself while I watched just a few feet away!! A firefly flew in and sat just inches from his head. I will tell you this fat butt can move when I want it to and was over there in a flash. That ended any outdoor time unless they were sitting on my chest or right next to me!!
I finally have a plan that I think will be firefly proof. I'm going to have him build me a 3 sided box with a floor. No top. It will have to be at least 6' long with a board in the middle to separate it into 2 separate compartments. Then I'll buy some of that nylon screening (used for window screen) and sew Velcro down the sides and bottom and staple the other side of the Velcro onto the wood. Then I'll staple the screening on top of the box and cover the area I stapled it down with another board.(hopefully make it inconvenient for bugs to crawl into the enclosure. I'll do that for both sides of the box so each compartment will have it's own separate screen. I don't think it needs to be any more than 2' high. Have not decided what to use for flooring. I only know that tile will get too hot. But I want something that will hold up outside and not need to be replaced every other week. I have not come up with a good plan for shade yet either. Anybody have any suggestions or see any flaws in my plan? The reason I only went with 2 compartments was i think a 9 footer might be way too long!! Mike will need to build me a nice sturdy table to hold this as well!! I'll be doing a whole lot of flirting and eyelash batting. But I know he'll do it for me!!! : )
I finally have a plan that I think will be firefly proof. I'm going to have him build me a 3 sided box with a floor. No top. It will have to be at least 6' long with a board in the middle to separate it into 2 separate compartments. Then I'll buy some of that nylon screening (used for window screen) and sew Velcro down the sides and bottom and staple the other side of the Velcro onto the wood. Then I'll staple the screening on top of the box and cover the area I stapled it down with another board.(hopefully make it inconvenient for bugs to crawl into the enclosure. I'll do that for both sides of the box so each compartment will have it's own separate screen. I don't think it needs to be any more than 2' high. Have not decided what to use for flooring. I only know that tile will get too hot. But I want something that will hold up outside and not need to be replaced every other week. I have not come up with a good plan for shade yet either. Anybody have any suggestions or see any flaws in my plan? The reason I only went with 2 compartments was i think a 9 footer might be way too long!! Mike will need to build me a nice sturdy table to hold this as well!! I'll be doing a whole lot of flirting and eyelash batting. But I know he'll do it for me!!! : )
And if you put it on the grass. The grass will poke through and give him/her a nice soft place to lay!! How nice!! I don't know....Do you think they will climb the screening? I guess it is possible. But I don't see gaps big enough for them to slip through unless they are there when the top is fully down. I'd try to figure something out if you are still worried. Maybe some foam weather stripping on top to fill in the gaps.( I just looked a little closer and saw what you mean) 
