We have spent a lot of time learning about butterflies in the past three years. We are lucky enough to have our own Monarch over-wintering
site just a few miles away. But, right in our own front yard, we have a
Gulf Fritillary habitat.
Eggs are laid on passion flower vines. They quickly grow to this size caterpillar, eating most of the leaves of the plant along the way.
The caterpillars, after reaching their full size, crawl away to a safe place to make a chrysalis. We call this stage "J-hooking" (although after looking at many pictures, the "J" is always facing the wrong way, hmmm).
The chrysalis is mighty weird looking. To make them even stranger, they move, bending away from the place of attachment throughout the day. If you touch one gently, the flinch away from your finger. We think they are able to match their color to the background. We've got a few that are hanging from a bike tire and, no kidding, they are almost black. Pretty cool.
This one has been out of its chrysalis for many minutes and the wings are already fully expanded and nearly dry. The red droppings are meconium, or metabolic waste products from the pupal stage (not blood).
Here is the finished product. Or maybe this is really just the beginning.
Eggs are laid on passion flower vines. They quickly grow to this size caterpillar, eating most of the leaves of the plant along the way.
The caterpillars, after reaching their full size, crawl away to a safe place to make a chrysalis. We call this stage "J-hooking" (although after looking at many pictures, the "J" is always facing the wrong way, hmmm).
The chrysalis is mighty weird looking. To make them even stranger, they move, bending away from the place of attachment throughout the day. If you touch one gently, the flinch away from your finger. We think they are able to match their color to the background. We've got a few that are hanging from a bike tire and, no kidding, they are almost black. Pretty cool.
This one has been out of its chrysalis for many minutes and the wings are already fully expanded and nearly dry. The red droppings are meconium, or metabolic waste products from the pupal stage (not blood).
Here is the finished product. Or maybe this is really just the beginning.
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