metamorphosis
January has been a crazy month for me. Weekend after weekend of weddings. Good business of course but not without a price. For one of the weddings... either Jac's bubbles/brunia or the wedding before (grace's)... we found a caterpillar from one of the stalks. These are from South Africa so we assume the caterpillar was also from there. We tried to keep it in a glass jar and fed it with leaves. Unfortunately it died during its metamorphosis. Not sure why. Turned black and died.
Another week later, I took out a rag from the flower fridge and found another caterpillar inside! We tried again and kept it in a jar. This time it seemed to be a success. Many days ago we saw it formed a cocoon/chyrsalis. We thought it would die because it was taking a long time. But we noticed the color change not black but to light yellow/white. Then we know this one survived! This morning I came to check and saw that a butterfly was inside the jar. We missed it climbing out of the chrysalis but it is not hanging onto a twig and the wings are still wet and small.
But according to the internet, it is pumping a lifesaving fluid into its wings so it can enlarge, harden and fly. I really hope that will happen. It didn't move for sometime. But then just now it moved a bit to change its position. I saw a part of its bottom secrete a kind of fluid and then it dropped off.
The wings appear to be shimmer pale yellow. I wasn't sure if it was a moth or a butterfly but it has a smooth body without furry texture and its wings has a metalic-like shimmer so my guess is it's a butterfly.
It's so wonderful to be able to witness a metamorphosis first hand. Pity that Chris is out and did not see the butterfly. I dropped a flower in there just in case it is hungry. Now I am thinking if I should go find a garden to let it fly into. It needs to mate in the next 4-6 days and then it will die. I am afraid there are no potential mates in Telok Blangah. Hopefully Chris comes back soon!
Pictures will be posted later. Lunch now!
Another week later, I took out a rag from the flower fridge and found another caterpillar inside! We tried again and kept it in a jar. This time it seemed to be a success. Many days ago we saw it formed a cocoon/chyrsalis. We thought it would die because it was taking a long time. But we noticed the color change not black but to light yellow/white. Then we know this one survived! This morning I came to check and saw that a butterfly was inside the jar. We missed it climbing out of the chrysalis but it is not hanging onto a twig and the wings are still wet and small.
But according to the internet, it is pumping a lifesaving fluid into its wings so it can enlarge, harden and fly. I really hope that will happen. It didn't move for sometime. But then just now it moved a bit to change its position. I saw a part of its bottom secrete a kind of fluid and then it dropped off.
The wings appear to be shimmer pale yellow. I wasn't sure if it was a moth or a butterfly but it has a smooth body without furry texture and its wings has a metalic-like shimmer so my guess is it's a butterfly.
It's so wonderful to be able to witness a metamorphosis first hand. Pity that Chris is out and did not see the butterfly. I dropped a flower in there just in case it is hungry. Now I am thinking if I should go find a garden to let it fly into. It needs to mate in the next 4-6 days and then it will die. I am afraid there are no potential mates in Telok Blangah. Hopefully Chris comes back soon!
Pictures will be posted later. Lunch now!
posted by jumbosstar | 10:59 AM
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