This last few weeks I've been reading up on some that I've found out in the yard. The one I was familiar with is the monarch caterpillar. I caught two on one of my new plants in my garden. Another one is called a Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. See image below:
Now before I researched on what exactly this was, hubby had already killed a few of them. One of their defenses is to emit a very foul odor when it feels threatened. So he thought it was some bad bug. (snort snort) I have to admit it freaked me out at first as well. Those spots on it's back are not eyes but just made to look that way to scare off any predators like birds. At this stage they are at the fourth instar phase. When they move to the fifth instar phase they turn brown. Then they change to the Chrysalis at which point it hangs by a silk thread around it's thorax (top upper half) and a silk pad from it's very bottom tip. Here's a pic of one of mine in this stage :
Notice that little thing hanging off the back? That's the outer skin layer it shed while morphing to this stage. Now I'm waiting for it to complete this stage and become a beautiful Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly! Isn't this interesting?? C'mon you know you think so. haha
I'll update when it decides to make it's debut!
Here's a link to check out how pretty it's going to be.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Tiger_Swallowtail
Update!!! April 29th.
Okay, I said I'd update when he made his debut! This isn't the exact one above but another one that just came out today! I'm so excited! Yes, I'm easily excitable. lol So here he is! (Not sure if it is really a male but they tend to be the more colorful ones.)
Don't worry, it's hanging out up in a tree now, free to roam the countryside and make more beautiful butterflies!
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