Now, we wait.
7.31.2009
A Chrysalis of a Different Color
One day, on the bronze fennel in the butterfly garden, a little black swallowtail caterpillar munches away...
A few days later, it has become a caterpillar with attitude. Note the forked, orange thing protruding from the caterpillar's prothoracic region. It's called an osmeterium and it is a smelly little thing that the caterpillar can extend when it feels threatened.
A few more days and the caterpillar has grown and my bronze fennel has shrunk. Such little eating machines ;)
A day or two later and I find the cat in a telltale position down at the base of the plant - time to pupate!
One day later and the cat has formed its chrysalis. Interesting that this one, while being the same shape as the others in the previous post, is all tans and grays. The better to camouflage itself on the stem of the bronze fennel.
Now, we wait.
Now, we wait.
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4 comments:
Excellent! This should be good.
I can't wait to see what comes out of the oven...
FC,
"Should be" and "will be" are often worlds apart ;)
jason,
Hopefully I will be in the right place at the right time to actually see what comes out of that oven.
Is that really the same caterpillar?!? Who'd've thought that brown speckly thing would become that gorgeous green striped caterpillar? It's almost as amazing as what's happening in the cocoon!
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