Butterfly Blog

Bog Monster

Bog Monster

Some black swallowtail caterpillars
IMG_1114.jpeg
have been eating and shitting on my dill. I didn’t want to kill them or for them to kill my plant so I put them in a bowl. Gonna use this thread to document their growth.

Day 1:
IMG_1115.jpeg


Gave them some sticks to climb and some dill to eat. It’s been 15 minutes and there’s already a turd at the bottom of the bowl.
 
Day 2: Jailbreak

Went to change the paper towel and the lid was off and the caterpillars gone. I thought a bird had gotten to them, but when I checked on the plants:
IMG_1116.jpeg

I realized they just escaped. Only one was smart enough to go back to the dill. The other two decided to climb my screen.

IMG_1117.jpeg

I returned them to their bowl with some new dill,


IMG_1118.jpeg

and taped the lid down instead using weights.

IMG_1119.jpeg
I really didn’t think I’d make an update today because they don’t do much, but they covered a surprising distance overnight. Hopefully they stay put this time.
 
Bog Monster said:
Day 2: Jailbreak

Went to change the paper towel and the lid was off and the caterpillars gone. I thought a bird had gotten to them, but when I checked on the plants:
View attachment 529181

I realized they just escaped. Only one was smart enough to go back to the dill. The other two decided to climb my screen.

View attachment 529182

I returned them to their bowl with some new dill,


View attachment 529184

and taped the lid down instead using weights.

View attachment 529186
I really didn’t think I’d make an update today because they don’t do much, but they covered a surprising distance overnight. Hopefully they stay put this time.
Click to expand...

dont stop this is curing my depression, they're so cute :3 (top thread of 2023)
 
Day 3: jailbreak 2 electric boogaloo

They did not stay put this time. This morning, all 3 were missing and I could only round up one. I put it back in the bowl and used plastic wrap this time.

IMG_1121.jpeg

This pic is from later in the day. There was more dill and fresh towels this morning.

I wasn’t worried about the other missing caterpillars because the one I found was right in the open. If they got eaten by birds, that one would have been gone too. Lo and behold, six hours later, I found one of them back near the bowl.

IMG_1120.jpeg

That arched “j” pose indicates that the caterpillar is about to pupate, and it had already spun a bit of silk. Because of this, I decided not to put it in the bowl. It was in the same spot some hours later, so I think that’s the right decision.

If it does pupate, these caterpillars are older than I thought they were. It’s for the best; I really don’t have enough dill to feed them for 3 weeks. They absolutely would have stripped my plant bare if I left them alone.

voracious

There’s a really bad storm tonight. They’re under a roof, but this wind is something else. Here’s hoping they’re still there and okay tomorrow.
 
Day 4: Hanging in there
Both caterpillars did fine in the storm. The pupating one is there, j-shaped.
IMG_1123.jpeg
The one in the bowl got its normal dill and towel change.
IMG_1124.jpeg
It finished that dill in only a few hours, so I added more later.

Just a small update today. They don’t do much which is why I thought I’d be posting here less, but it’s been an eventful couple of days.
 
Day 5: Puperty

The main reason for today’s update: he pupating bug is fully cocooned.

IMG_1127.jpeg

It’s on its journey to growing wings and antennae, turning itself into jelly to restructure its body.

The other is still eating like a champ

IMG_1125.jpeg

Another small update today. I don’t expect any changes in the near future, but I’ve been surprised before.
 
Day 6: Vomit Comet

When I checked on the caterpillar today, there was a big green puddle beneath its perch.

IMG_1128.jpeg

It also hadn’t eaten its dill. I thought it was sick, but after looking it up, this is just something they do before pupating: expelling undigested food and liquid. This is consistent with stopping eating. After changing its towel, it was unusually upset with me. It was running around the bowl, and eventually escaped. This time, I was watching.

IMG_1130.jpeg

This is the first time it escaped with food in the bowl. It must be looking for a private place to attach itself. I let it run around for about 15 minutes

and very quickly, at that

(ignore the crow noises. they were having a disagreement)

but it still couldn’t find a comfortable spot. So,
I put it back in the bowl.

IMG_1133.jpeg

If it still can’t settle down, I’ll have to figure something else out. Hopefully it can pupate in peace.
 
Day 16: Soon™️

There have been no updates b/c they’re both just pupae right now. They aren’t doing anything. Metapod_vs_metapod.gif.

But now, the one on the wall is turning translucent. It will emerge soon.

IMG_1135.jpeg

I also realized that I never posted a picture of the other chrysalis. Interestingly, this one is green.

IMG_1136.jpeg

The color of a black swallow chrysalis is not determined by what it attaches to. It’s genetic, like hair color. I think this is why this one was having trouble choosing where to attach. Despite this being a garden area, there isn’t much available greenery that provides shelter.

On the topic of fun facts about black swallowtail caterpillars, they have a cool defense mechanism. They pop out a bright orange thing on their head and release a funky smell. I didn’t want to harass mine for a blog post, so here’s the Smithsonian doing it for me.

I’ll try to get a pic/video of the butterfly when it comes out. It’s most likely to happen at dawn, but there’s no guarantee.
 
Bog Monster said:
Day 16: Soon™️

There have been no updates b/c they’re both just pupae right now. They aren’t doing anything. Metapod_vs_metapod.gif.

But now, the one on the wall is turning translucent. It will emerge soon.

View attachment 533015

I also realized that I never posted a picture of the other chrysalis. Interestingly, this one is green.

View attachment 533017

The color of a black swallow chrysalis is not determined by what it attaches to. It’s genetic, like hair color. I think this is why this one was having trouble choosing where to attach. Despite this being a garden area, there isn’t much available greenery that provides shelter.

On the topic of fun facts about black swallowtail caterpillars, they have a cool defense mechanism. They pop out a bright orange thing on their head and release a funky smell. I didn’t want to harass mine for a blog post, so here’s the Smithsonian doing it for me.

I’ll try to get a pic/video of the butterfly when it comes out. It’s most likely to happen at dawn, but there’s no guarantee.
Click to expand...


i cannot wait for this magnificent day, c u soon butterfree
 
Day 17: Imago

A butterfly emerged!

IMG_1137.jpeg

She was the one in the bowl. And she is a girl, only they have the blue marks on the bottom wings.

I let her out of the bowl and she flew away. I thought I got a video of it, but my phone wasn’t recording.:eeveehide:

I’m a bit concerned for the brown one on the wall. It should emerge soon, but it’s been cocooned for way longer than the other one.
 
Bog Monster said:
Day 17: Imago

A butterfly emerged!

View attachment 533431

She was the one in the bowl. And she is a girl, only they have the blue marks on the bottom wings.

I let her out of the bowl and she flew away. I thought I got a video of it, but my phone wasn’t recording.:eeveehide:

I’m a bit concerned for the brown one on the wall. It should emerge soon, but it’s been cocooned for way longer than the other one.
Click to expand...

Ohayo,

I am hoping for an update cocoon 2?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top