by terranovabay
A Zebra Longwing lays eggs on its larval host plant, the Passion Flower Vine. A cluster of yellow eggs are visible grouped just behind the butterfly’s abdomen.
Categories: Nature • Tags: butterfly, Heliconius charithonia, ORCA, Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area, Zebra Longwing
by terranovabay
A trick of the Zebra Longwing butterfly male is to loiter near the insect’s larval host food plant, in this case the Corky-stemmed Passion Vine. Most of the caterpillars will not stray very far to form their chrysalises in which to metamorphose into adults so the male Zebra Longwing know if he waits in the area long enough his time will come. When the adult Zebra Longwing butterflies emerge, the loitering male adults will pounce to mate with the emerging […]
Categories: Nature • Tags: butterfly, Corky-stemmed Passion Vine, Heliconius charithonia, ORCA, Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area, Zebra Longwing
by terranovabay
The Zebra Longwing caterpillar from a previous post has formed it chrysalis. A marvel of evolutionary camouflage giving the appearance of a dead leaf making for a safe place to undergo metamorphosis while fooling potential predators with its uninvolving appearance.
Categories: Nature • Tags: butterfly, caterpillar, Chrysalis, Heliconius charithonia, Zebra Longwing
by terranovabay
A Zebra Longwing caterpillar prepares to shed its skin and form a chrysalis on its way to metamorphosing into a butterfly in the Audubon House pollinator garden at the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area.
Categories: Nature • Tags: butterfly, caterpillar, Heliconius charithonia, ORCA, Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area, Zebra Longwing
by terranovabay
Another Atala butterfly emerges from its chrysalis amongst the Coontie plants making up part of the landscaping at Audubon House at the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area.
Categories: Nature • Tags: Atala, butterfly, Coontie, Eumaeus atala, ORCA, Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area
by terranovabay
A blood red Atala butterfly caterpillar consumes the Coontie host plant that it needs to eat to survive at this young age. The caterpillar takes up the Coontie’s natural toxins and the brilliant red and yellow coloration is a warning that eating the youngster could be dangerous to would-be predators. The adult Atala butterfly’s coloration is also a warning that it might be toxic to predators. As seen in the Audubon House landscaping at the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area. UPDATE: […]
Categories: Nature • Tags: Atala, butterfly, Coontie, Eumaeus atala, ORCA, Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area
by terranovabay
prominent constituent
Categories: Eccentricities • Tags: butterfly, collage, firebush, Hamelia patens, Heliconius charithonia, Neighborhood, Reptiles, Wall, Zebra Longwing
by terranovabay
A Zebra Longwing butterfly with eye-catching eyes forages for nectar in flowers at the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area.
Categories: Nature • Tags: butterfly, Heliconius charithonia, Nectar, ORCA, Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area, Zebra Longwing
by terranovabay
A Zebra Longwing butterfly is not deterred by a cloudy day at the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area to lay a multitude of eggs on a corky-stem passion vine, the larval plant of the Zebra Longwing’s caterpillar stage. Note just below the butterfly all those yellow ovals on the plant are freshly laid eggs.
Categories: Nature • Tags: butterfly, Corky-stem Passion-Vine, Heliconius charithonia, ORCA, Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area, Zebra Longwing
by terranovabay
The Mangrove Skipper from yesterday’s post seen from a different angle shows its white face and more of the iridescent blue that caught the sunlight so well.
Categories: Nature • Tags: butterfly, Mangrove Skipper, ORCA, Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area, Phocides pigmalion
