1st Place ~ Surprised Terra Sphinx Moth

The Aqua Lady Butterfly Bracelet
. . . goes to wingedthing for the adorable Terra Spinx Moth Caterpillar with the surprise look on its face!

2nd Place ~ Black Swallowtail Caterpillar

The Painted Lady Butterfly Caterpillar Kit
. . . goes to Michael Marlow (BugPhoto.net) for the Black Swallowtail caterpillar making a meal of parsley buds and stems in a backyard garden.

3rd Place ~ Hungry Terra Sphinx Moth Caterpillar

The Haven Brand Soil Conditioner Teas – Assorted 3 Pack
. . . goes to Edith at Shady Oaks Butterfly Farm for the very hungry Terra Sphinx Moth!

Cute Swallowtail Caterpillar

We think caterpillars are cute. . . If you do too, leave us a comment about our caterpillar and then vote for the cutest caterpillar in the OWB Flutter-Blog “Cutest Caterpillar Photo Contest“. Better yet, register to enter your favorite caterpillar photograph for a chance to win some great prizes!

Prizes will be awarded to the photographs with the most votes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place!

The OWB Flutter-Blog Cutest Caterpillar Contest ends Saturday, December 3rd, 2011

How To Enter

• Register to enter.
• Post your favorite caterpillar photograph. (click on the post photos link)
• Don’t forget to vote for your favorite caterpillar!
• Share this link with your friends on Facebook or your favorite social network.
• Follow Us on Twitter!

How to Win

• Prizes will be awarded to the photos with the most votes, so be sure to tell your friends to vote! (You can only vote once)
• Tweet up your cute caterpillar entry.
• Share this contest post on Facebook.
• Winners will be notified by email.
• Winners will be posted on the OWB Flutter-Blog.

Rules:

• Entries must be of a caterpillar and submitted by the original photographer.
• Any image deemed inappropriate by Flutter-Blog admin will be removed.
• Contest ends Saturday, December 3rd, 2011 at midnight PST (Pacific Standard Time).
• No purchase necessary.
• Sorry, the Cutest Caterpillar Photo Contest is open to U.S. residents only.

Prizes:

1st Place Prize: Aqua Lady Butterfly Bracelet (value $39.00)
Winged Inspirations Fine Butterfly Jewelry
Sponsored by Obsession With Butterflies

1st PLACE Aqua Lady Butterfly Bracelet Sponsored by Obsession With Butterflies

2nd Place Prize: Painted Lady Butterfly Caterpillar Kit (value $19.00)
Live Butterflies For Release, Classroom Education, Children’s
Parties, Weddings, Butterfly Rearing Supplies
Sponsored by Chase N’ Butterflies

2nd PLACE Butterfly Larvae Kit sponsored by Chase N' Butterflies

3rd Place Prize: Haven Brand Soil Conditioner Teas – Assorted 3 Pack (value $12.95)
All-natural, premium soil conditioner teas for the home gardener, landscaper and farmer. Haven Brand uses only the highest quality manures from livestock that are raised on permanent, native grass pastures at the Haven Family Ranch.
Sponsored by Haven Brand

3rd PLACE Assorted 3 Pack Premium Soil Conditioner Teas sponsored by Haven Brand

Breezes of Spring

Sweet life is borne on Breezes of Spring
A tiny new bud, an egg left by wing…

Caterpillar and flower frolic happily together
With raindrops and rays amidst clement weather

Scarlet-gold leaves herald in changing light
Turning friends to chrysalis n’ seed at Nature’s delight

Creation finds rest in a white winter’s slumber
Silent snow cradles the awaiting season’s wonder

Out of the morning’s dew a yearning sprout does appear
Beholding a familiar winged dancer spying it’s tear

“Oh, bright little blossom, why do you cry?”
“Can you not see I’ve become a butterfly?”

Sweet life is borne on Breezes of Spring
A tiny new bud, an egg left by wing…

˜K. D’Angelo

Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) on Pink Saliva

A male pipevine swallowtail attempts to flirt with a female as she lays her eggs...

I recently visited a grove where the Pipevine Swallowtail’s host plant, the Dutchman’s Pipevine, grew vigorously. Here, in this shaded and otherwise peaceful wood, there was a state of butterfly pandemonium happening.

Male butterflies zealously chased female butterflies hoping to strike up a romance. The maternally driven ladies ignored the amorous males advances, and instead, tirelessly their laid eggs.

Female Pipevine Butterflies Laying Eggs

Other winged chaps spent their time attempting to defend their precious territories. Boldly these fellows chased their counterparts about the treetops, creating flashes of brilliant blue which rivaled the skies above. Stoic females continued to cooly oviposit, again, dismissing out of wing, the males showy displays.

The forest was a frenzy of flutter! Everywhere I stood I was bombarded by the scuttle of a wing. It was courtship chaos where no basking perch, nectar blossom nor host tendril was safe!

Are these Pipevine Swallowtail ingesting their host plant or smoking it?

The pipevine butterflies exhibited crazed mating and reproductive behaviors, as if they had all gone wild with passion. In no other species have I observed the sexes acting out their respective roles in such a fervent manner.

Made me wonder for a moment, if these swallowtail caterpillars had actually smoked, instead of ingested their host plant, the Dutchman’s Pipevine?

This hardy vine does, after all, as it’s name suggests, resemble a Dutchman’s pipe. When in bloom it flaunts, amongst it’s green-hearted foliage, oddly shaped flowers which form in an appearance similar to that of a dutchman’s pipe.

Dutchman's Pipevine (Aristolochia gigantea)

Male Pipevine on Purple Penstemon

Whatever the motivation, pipes or genetics, what was going on in the grove that day was nothing short of spectacular to behold for the butterfly enthusiast. Pipevine swallowtails are indeed vibrant and entertaining creatures at every stage of their development.

Years ago, when less exotic planting choices where available at local nurseries, people commonly grew Dutchman’s Pipevine in their gardens. Often they used it to cover and adorn porches, arbors and fences. Pipevine swallowtails could then be found more frequently in populated areas, even in urban neighborhoods.

To ensure the survival of this species be sure to plant Dutchman’s Pipevine somewhere in your yard. Keep Mother Nature’s show going! Support her dramatic and colorful productions. Then just sit back under your vine shaded porch, sway gently on your swing and enjoy the show… and your Pipe?… vine too! KD

Male Pipevine on Yellow Yarrow

Click the  Pipevine’s Wing below to learn more about this swallowtail…

Pipevine Swallowtail Wing

O’ Cassia Tree, O’ Cassia Tree, how lovely are your branches…

Where some female Sulphurs are concerned, the verse above should read, how lovely are your blossoms. The brilliant yellow buds found on a blooming Cassia plant, are number one on these gals’ Christmas lists.

Christmas Cassia (Cassia bicapsularis), a vigorous, evergreen winter bloomer, decorates itself in golden blossoms of sunshine for the holiday season. It, along with several others, such as Desert Cassia (Cassia polyphylla) and Candlestick Cassia (Senna alata) serve as hosts to a variety of Sulphurs (Colias), including the Cloudless (Phoebis sennae) and several species of Oranges and Yellows.

Although female Sulphurs will place their tiny offspring upon the green foliage of the Cassia plant, they much prefer to set their eggs down upon its tender buds. Here, a newly emerged caterpillar can climb into a safe sun colored burrow which will provide him with food and shelter.

The lovely saffron flowers showcased by Christmas Cassias and others alike, are not only cherished by the female butterflies, but by their young as well. Sulphur caterpillars prefer to feed on Cassia’s bright petals, mimicking their yellow color while doing so.

Then, like a Christmas miracle, when the favored florets are gone and the green foliage must be consumed, Sulphur caterpillars miraculously turn a verdant hue. And, almost as if attempting a keepsake, often they retain, in the form of a yellow stripe, just a hint of the flowers they so adored.

To learn and see more about Sulphur caterpillars click the flower bud found at the end of this blog.

O’ Cassia Tree, O’ Cassia Tree, how lovely are your blossoms!

Christmas Cassia in Bloom

It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, it is the one that is the most adaptable to change. – Charles Darwin

Survival of the Chrysalis...This Anise Swallowtail chrysalis will just have to hang with the cool weather until the spring rays return.

Mom laid this Bronze Copper butterfly egg safely nestled in some dried leaves, close to where its host plant will come up in the spring.

When reflecting on butterflies, visions of warm sunshiny days may fill one’s mind. It is not usual to think of a butterfly and to also invoke images of such things as snow, sleet or sub-zero temperatures. Many species of butterflies, however, have had to, over time, consider, adapt to and survive such wintry conditions.

It is true that some butterflies, such as the well known Monarch, spread their wings and flutter south to escape Old Man Winter, but various others are not so flighty. Take, for example, the Bronze Copper, it withstands the cool weather as a wee little egg. Curled-up leaves, buried deep beneath the snow, create the ideal escape and lodging for caterpillars such as Tawny Emperors, Fritillaries, Crecents and Checkerspots.

Mourning Cloak butterflies need to find shelter in a wood pile or under some bark to survive the first frost.

Swallowtails, Sulphurs and Whites, bear the hardships of winter by hiding out and undergoing metamorphosis as a chrysalis. Red-Spotted Purples and other Admirals build their very own shelter, called a hibernaculum. This is a miniature abode made just for hibernating as its name suggests. Mourning Cloaks, Commas and Question Marks, face the wintertide as adult butterflies. They look for a place to safely hibernate, seeking such refuges as wood piles or tree bark.

Which ever way they do it, hats, scarves and mittens off to the amazingly adaptable butterflies who endure Jack Frost’s torment. Come springtime, I think I can speak for all, in saying how grateful we are for your tenacious and triumphant perseverance!

A Tawny Emperor caterpillar searches for a cozy curled leaf where it can safely hibernate under a blanket of snow.

A Red-Spotted Purple caterpillar emerges from its self-made winter shelter or hibernaculum.

Above are photographs of the butterflies featured pictorially in this blog, going clockwise… Red Spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis), Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton), Bronze Copper (Lycaena hyllus) & Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon) at center.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

I know I resemble a snake or a manatee but can you guess who I really am? Do you know exactly what species I will turn out to be. Leave a comment with your best guess, but hurry I will be revealing my true identity soon!

I am starting to change… Do you recognize me still? I am a different color now but have the same melancholy lavender eyespots. I have turned brown because I am no longer grazing and resting upon green leaves. Now I am a stealthy climber looking for a place to safely switch my identity. I don’t want anybody to see me as I move about the dark colored branches.

Ok, I am guessing you may really have a hard time knowing me now. I have not only lost my lavender eyes but my legs too. Scary Looking Tree Bark is my new look, quite the trend in the Chrysalis World and camouflaging too! Hope you like it and if you think this is cool just wait until you see what I do next!

Oh, there’s a bit of chill in the air now and the days have grown shorter! I have a feeling if I emerge from my chrysalis at this time I won’t have any friends to flutter with. Think I will stay as I am over winter, patiently waiting, resting  inside my cozy shelter.

I will dream of the suns warm rays gently awakening me from my slumber. I can feel the winds raising me up to dance with the heavens. Upon bright wings, gracefully I will soar, adorning skies and embracing sweet flowers.  I am boundless and free as a Butterfly.

I am a Pale Swallowtail Butterfly
(Papilio eurmedon Lucas)

Look to the skies and watch for me and my friends, we will be in flight come springtime.

Newley Emerged Pale Swallowtail Caterpillar

This post is a follow-up to two earlier posts I wrote titled “Pale Swallowtail Butterfly Eggs” and “Butterfly Egg Hatches“.

The life of a pale swallowtail caterpillar is not only rare to experience, but extremely slow and methodical compared to other caterpillars I’ve raised.

The tiny pale swallowtail caterpillar hatches from it’s egg in only 4 days, spending most of it’s first day eating it’s own egg shell before setting out to explore it’s new surroundings.

If you’ve read my previous posts, you know the egg was mistakenly laid on a common fruit bearing peach tree in my neighbors back yard (peach trees are not considered to be a host plant for the pale swallowtails, although peach trees are in the prunus family).

Pale Swallowtail Caterpillar 2nd instar

I had offered the newly hatched pale swallowtail caterpillar a smorgasbord of host plants to eat.  Finally settling on the coffeberry (Rhamnus californica), taking only a small bite on the edge of the leaf, then returning to the center of the leaf to rest for the remainder of the day.

After watching the pale swallowtail for a couple of weeks now, I’ve started to realize there is a mythological pattern in it’s behavior.  First of all, this is a very long time for a caterpillar to still be a caterpillar and the time it takes to molt (intsar) is much slower than other caterpillars I’ve raised. I have rarely seen my pale caterpillar move, let alone eat.  I check on it first thing in the morning, noticing that the coffeeberry has been munched upon and frass (caterpillar droppings) are in the bottom of the container, but the caterpillar is in the exact same position as the day before.  I’ve realized the actions of my pale swallowtail caterpillar are all done privately, in the middle of the night.

Pale Swallowtail Caterpillar 5th Instar

“The larger and more mobile a caterpillar becomes, the more visible and tempting it is to potential predators. Newly interested parties including birds, lizards and spiders are among the large list of dangers a caterpillar can face. Such luxuries as claws, beaks and venom are not at a caterpillar’s disposal. Nor can a caterpillar scamper, hop or fly away quickly from a perilous situation. Fortunately, however, over time these amazing creatures have adopted and learned to survive despite the incredible challenges they face each day.” Excerpt from Butterfly Dimension by Kristen D’Angelo.

Day after day, moving slowly, molting, pooping and eating only at night, he grows. My methodical pale swallowtail caterpillar is in it’s 5th instar, almost ready to pupate into a chrysalis.  I’ll keep you posted.  ~ Vickie

Below is “her” recipe for the Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly…

Start with an itsy bitsy egg. Set it on the tenderest bud of a Cassia senna plant until it turns the color of sunshine.

Then watch closely as the egg comes to life and a tiny bright caterpillar emerges.

Let the little yellow guy munch away at the Cassia senna plant for as long as he likes.

Notice how he grows bigger and then begins to flaunt the green hues of his host plant.

He leaves just a touch a of his sunshine showing through in his stripe.

Now spy him turn curiously into the letter J.

And magically mimic a lovely leaf.

Then Voila, Out comes the Sunshine…

Enjoy!

Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly (Phoebis sennae)