This one is different than the ones I had a couple of weeks ago. I don't know what the name of it is, but it sure is pretty. This one had just hatched out and was just hanging there on the side of my son's wagon. The cocoon looks different too. Any idea of what ya call it??
That coloration sure made me want to say swallowtail, but there aren't any "tails" It's a red-spotted purple.
This is what it looks like with its wings open.
That's definitely a Red Spotted Purple.
Is the chrysalis still on the wagon? If it is, will you take a photo of it? I don't know what it looks like.
I'll go check now, the kids have been playing with the wagon so not sure if its still there. If it is, I'll take a pic.
Well I am out of luck, its still there but I can't seem to get a clear shot of it. I took like 15 pics and all of them are too fuzzy to see.
However, I did find a website after much searching, that shows it.
Sorry I couldn't get a good shot. Maybe I can try again tomorrow.
http://www3.pei.sympatico.ca/~david.fraser/rastyana.htm
Thanks Mollybee, I checked the web site. That's an ugly cat and chrysalis!
Hee hee I know! If I had found the cat, I probably would have thought it was a bad one and squished it. Good thing I didn't see it in that state of its life.
O my goodness!! I just went back and re read the link myself and it said they feed on Willow!! I have a wheeping willow tree that I have been fighting the worms for all summer!! I don't remember exactly what the cats looked like on the tree but you better believe I am going to go out first thing in the a/m and check it out. The willow tree was nearly striped of all its leaves (its still a young tree, only about 4 years old) So you can see why I was so worried about the cats eatting all the leaves.
I could just kick myself for not taking pics of the cats and posting them on the ID forum.
I'll let you know what I find in the a/m
Wish me luck!! Who knows maybe I can bring them in and raise them like I did the monarchs!
You should be able to bring them in and raise them inside, Mollybee. Don't feel bad about killing them all summer. The first time I had White Peacock butterflies on my water hyssop (Bacopa monnieri?), I didn't know what they were and squished some of them. I picked the others (about 7) off the stubs of the bacopa and took them to the butterfly guy at the Farmer's Market to ID. When he showed me what the adults looked like, I was very upset with myself. Now I can't get a White Peacock in my yard to save my soul! (Word must've gotten out among the b'flies that I was a cat killer). The butterfly guy has even given me a couple of the chrysalides to hatch and release in my yard. They didn't stick around very long. Just long enough to warm up and let me snap a couple of quick photos...
Well I think I am outta luck too. It looks as though the ones on my willow are not the same as the ones above :(
These roll leaves up around the babies, and close it shut with webbing. There is always next year though.
Ever since finding the Monarch's in my garden I have taken aliking to bugs and cats LOL
