Hungry Horde
by terranovabay
Newly hatched Atala caterpillars start their ravenous journey to eat their way through the Coontie plants leading to their metamorphosis to butterflies.
Categories: Nature • Tags: Atala, butterfly, caterpillar, Coontie
Tag: butterfly
Ovipositing
by terranovabay
An Atala butterfly lays eggs on a Coontie plant leaf.
Categories: Nature • Tags: Atala, butterfly, Coontie, Eumaeus atala
Caterpillar Crisis
by terranovabay
A horde of Zebra Longwing larvae come together on the few leaves left on the passionflower vine they have mostly consumed. Once these leaves are gone these caterpillars will have to come up with a new plan for a meal. It looks like they may have some traveling in their future.
Categories: Nature • Tags: butterfly, caterpillar, Heliconius charithonia, ORCA, Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area, passionflower vine, Zebra Longwing
Next Generation
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
Neonate Ravishment
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
Camo Chrysalis
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
Forthcoming Chrysalis
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
Born Anew 2
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
Blood Red Atala
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
prominent constituent
by terranovabay
prominent constituent
Categories: Eccentricities • Tags: butterfly, collage, firebush, Hamelia patens, Heliconius charithonia, Neighborhood, Reptiles, Wall, Zebra Longwing
