When the butterflies reached the stage of emerging from the chrysalis, Dad put the terrarium inside my Funhouse, which became a temporary butterfly house. For the first butterfly, this happened in the garage, because it was wet and rainy outside. By the time the second one was ready, the weather was better and Dad did it outside:
It took a long time from the time the butterfly emerged from the chrysalis until it was ready to fly: apparently they pump blood into their wings to fill them out, and then the wings have to harden some before the butterfly is ready for flying. So #2 spent time clinging to the parlsey and to the twigs in the terrarium. Dad had the flap to the funhouse open so he could leave when he was ready.
Most of the pictures show the underside of the wings better than the top side. For these butterflies, it seems the underside is more colorful than the top. But it is the pattern of yellow vs blue on the top side that indicates whether the black swallowtail is male or female. We believe this guy is male because there is more yellow than blue on the top side of the wings. Though this last photo is a little out of focus, it is the best one Dad got showing the pattern on the back (top) of the wings.
Mom is home now, which makes me feel better - I like to have all my family together. Also she doles out more food for me! I plan to reclaim my Funhouse tomorrow and spend the day like this:
I also hope to get to all my friends' blogs to comment, since I haven't been able to do that as much as I would like this past week.
Simba, Three Cheers for your Dad to capture this moment! How fascinating.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the butterflies left some good smells for you to sniff in your funhouse...you can only hope!
What a pretty butterfly! It almost looks too good to eat! Your humans did an amazing job of chrysalis-sitting!
ReplyDeleteOh such a lovely butterfly! You did good Simba!!!
ReplyDeleteSimba, you're a DAD! (kinda) You have little butterfly children!
ReplyDeleteWe are so glad your Mom is home. It's nice to have everyone together again. xoxo
That butterfly looks fantastic. Anyone know what it is?
ReplyDeleteThat is a pretty butterfly. It was interesting to see it get ready to leave.
ReplyDeleteWhat pretty butterfly pictures!!!
ReplyDeleteI love the butterfly house ~ wouldn't that be wonderful to have forever? They are so pretty. Enjoy!
ReplyDeletexo Catherine
What awesome pictures, Simba!! How cool that you all got to experience this!! Do you think that butterfly will come back to visit sometime? We hope so!!
ReplyDeletepee ess. it was nice of you to give up your funhouse to let the butterflies "hatch."
I think it was nice of you to not eat that beautiful butterfly.
ReplyDeleteCan I come visit and play in your funhouse?
The butterfly is beautiful! That's so cool you got to see him go from before to after and thanks to your dad, we got to see it too! Enjoy your funhouse again!
ReplyDeleteYour butterflies grew up to be very beautiful! I hope they have a happy fluttery life!
ReplyDeleteOh how beautiful to see them being borned and all fresh and new. I hope they eat lots of flowers and have lots of little baby catepillars!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome. Next year I think your Mom and Dad should plant extra parsley and maybe you will have some more butterfly friends. My Mom is going to do the same. xoxo.
ReplyDelete