What a journey, from tiny caterpillar to butterfly in 18 days. It all begins with a Queen caterpillar in the back yard, and then a cold snap bringing Phoenix nighttime temperatures into the upper 30s (degrees F)
I observed the caterpillar on an Asclepias subulata on 11/5/2020
On 11/9, noting that temperatures were projected to dip into the upper 30s, I placed it in a jar with plenty of fodder. The caterpillar, Heimlich, ate voraciously and grew at an amazing rate - here is it's photo on 11/13:
The caterpillar seemed to like the leaves and flowers best, but also ate stems when necessary - I stocked the jar daily.
On 11/14 Heimlich transformed into a Chrysalis, and what a beauty
Early on 11/23 I noticed the Chrysalis had become very dark, a view of the butterfly within, so I knew the butterfly would be emerging soon
And late that morning was rewarded with a view of a beautiful butterfly
I placed the jar, lid removed, into a shady and protected space in the garden, near a nectar plant, for release back into the wild.
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