Below is a slideshow of images taking you through the process from young cats to adults. Images are available for purchase. Please feel free to contact me for signed copies and note, all images are copyright protected - do not download or redistribute.
Last time I left you, I had a few of the black swallowtail cats pupate into their chrysilis forms. The wait for the transformation was not long - just ten days - and the first two butterflies eclosed, or emerged, from their pupa. Beautiful and delicate creatures indeed with folded wings that needed time to expand. What I thought was a male and a female turned out to be two males. In this photo, you can see the row of yellow spots typical of the male. A female would lack these and have more blue in the hindwings. I had to wait to release them as I had been running errands most of the day and didn't realize these two emerged until late afternoon. Wanting to give them the best chance possible, I inquired on holding them overnight with some of the more experienced butterfly folks of a social media page, Butterfly Enthusiasts on Facebook. I was informed to keep them covered and quiet and release when the sun rose the next day. Of which I did. It was truly a delight to see them take their first flight after warming for an hour or so in the sunshine. One pupa seemed to have died for it turned brown/black and got squishy soft. However, the last two butterflies emerged about a week later a few days apart from each other. Another male and a female for a total of four released back to nature! Below is a slideshow of images taking you through the process from young cats to adults. Images are available for purchase. Please feel free to contact me for signed copies and note, all images are copyright protected - do not download or redistribute.
3 Comments
Petra
5/30/2016 09:53:23 pm
Another great blog post. I'm sorry it took me so long to read it.
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4/7/2022 09:06:14 pm
What an exquisite article! Your post is very helpful right now. Thank you for sharing this informative one.
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Donna Lorello
5/9/2022 05:52:45 pm
thank you! I do hope it is helpful. Although I am now finding it is best to support nature outside through providing host plants. I had a few butterflies hatch inside when it was too early to release. I am now convinced it's best not to bring them in
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Powered by GreetingCardUniverse.com AuthorI am an artist and amateur photographer with a deep love of nature. I love horses and whales most of all, am knee deep in the model horse hobby as a painting/customizing artist, budding greeting card designer, and love watching crime drama shows as well as nature and science documentaries. Archives
December 2021
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