The Covid lockdown opened up a new hobby for our family: butterfly conservation!Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed (left). After a couple weeks, a tiny caterpillar emerges (right).There are a few newly hatched monarch caterpillars on the stem to the left of the penny, and an egg at the top right.Checking for monarch eggs on our milkweedWe added window screens to an old cabinet to make our Caterpillar CastleMonarch caterpillars form a “J” before they create their chrysalis.
I was so happy to stumble upon this caterpillar in the middle of its transformation into a chrysalis.A newly formed chrysalisLearning by example A bottom up view of the chrysalisesRebirth imminent Potential If a caterpillar forms its chrysalis in an unsafe place, it can be gently removed and relocated A successfully transferred chrysalis ready to emerge into its new life
Monarch emerging with other monarch chrysalis (left) and a swallowtail chrysalis (above)
Western Giant Swallowtail
Western Giant Swallowtail butterfly These swallowtail lay their eggs on citrus leaves. This caterpillar egg is next to the penny for scale.Western giant swallowtail caterpillars have a wonderful camouflage: they look like bird droppings!A female swallowtail lay eggs on our lemon treeGrowing western swallowtail caterpillars Swallowtail chrysalis (top/bottom) and caterpillar (center)Newly emerged
Anise Swallowtail
Anise Swallowtail butterfly An anise swallowtail (above left) lays eggs on our parsley These caterpillars’ vibrant colors change by stageAfter overwintering in its chrysalis, this anise swallowtail emerged in perfect form
