As a child, I was lucky enough to become familiar with the iconic butterfly life cycle of the Monarch Butterfly. It starts with a vibrantly tiger-striped caterpillar (larva), then turns into an exquisite pale green jeweled cocoon / chrysalis (pupa), and then slowly emerges as the orange and black veined Monarch. Life Cycle of Monarch
A neighbor had crown flower bushes which we used for making lei. As we picked flowers, I imagine that is how we became familiar with the Monarchs. I remember we inevitably collected caterpillars to “grow” cocoons. I can still remember how the caterpillars felt in my hands!
A neighbor had crown flower bushes which we used for making lei. As we picked flowers, I imagine that is how we became familiar with the Monarchs. I remember we inevitably collected caterpillars to “grow” cocoons. I can still remember how the caterpillars felt in my hands!
Earlier this year, around my house, I have seen a lot of Monarchs flitting about. Or at least monarch-like butterflies; after brief research I see there a number of butterflies that look like a Monarch! More recently I noticed a new type of butterfly frequenting a plant near my house. I was pretty sure it was a swallowtail as I thought I saw the extensions of the wings below but was not positive. Incidentally, when I earlier sighted the butterfly on this plant, my husband asked me whether I wasn’t glad he had not removed the plant when asked. A definite dilemma - keep an unsightly plant or attract wildlife!
As I pondered what to write about this week, I was led to find that my blogging lives a charmed life. I decided to just go sit outside on my deck with my camera and “photo-hunt” the elusive possible swallowtail butterfly that I had seen. Within minutes, I saw the desired butterfly flit by a few times and alight on the targeted plant and focused my camera on the plant. Then the butterfly came to stay and I took a few shots and stood up and got even closer and closer. It did not move! I was so surprised because in the past when I got closer, the feeding butterfly would fly away!
What I noticed:
1) It was a swallowtail of some type. I researched and it is a Citrus Swallowtail (Butterflies in Hawaii).
2) It kept its wings moving the whole time it fed on the flowers. I didn’t realize that butterflies would behave like hummingbirds.
3) It is a relatively a large butterfly.
4) I could see the butterfly feeding on nectar. I did know that in this way, butterflies are like hummingbirds. Apparently like hummingbirds, this one is attracted to red / orange flowers.
As the butterfly amazingly kept at its work, I was lucky to catch some great shots. In the first photo, notice the intricate reflected patterns on the wings of the butterfly.
In the next two photos, look carefully for the LONG black mouthpart which sucks the nectar.
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| Citrus Swallowtail / on plant in my yard / December 2015 |
In the next two photos, look carefully for the LONG black mouthpart which sucks the nectar.
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| Citrus Swallowtail / on plant in my yard / December 2015 |
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| Citrus Swallowtail / on plant in my yard / December 2015 |
In the last photo below, notice the pollen caught on the wings of the butterfly illustrating the mutualistic relationship of the insect passing on the pollen of a plant as the insect uses the plant for food. Mutualism of insects and plants
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| Citrus Swallowtail / on plant in my yard / December 2015 |
Then the butterfly finally left the plant and another came along. I had rarely seen two of these butterflies before! Maybe that is why the one stayed around for so long; it was waiting. The two flitted about in a seemingly ritualistic dance, right around me!
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| Citrus Swallowtails / around plants in my yard / December 2015 |
All of these shots did not come out as well but there a few that are interesting. The second photo is especially interesting as I think the mouthpart is extended and curled in one of the butterflies! I am not sure of the significance of that. Mating "dance" of butterflies
The two butterflies periodically treated me to a few of such “dances” while I watched for better shots.
But there were no shots as good as the first series when the original Citrus Swallowtail providentially posed for me so I could create my “charmed” Watching Out for Nature blog for the week.
Maybe someday I will be able to get closer shots of the Monarch (or monarch-type) butterflies that flit about my yard!
But there were no shots as good as the first series when the original Citrus Swallowtail providentially posed for me so I could create my “charmed” Watching Out for Nature blog for the week.
Maybe someday I will be able to get closer shots of the Monarch (or monarch-type) butterflies that flit about my yard!
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