I found this today in the seed head of a garlic chive. Do you know which butterfly it belongs to?
Interesting chrysalis
Ummm....I can't figure out what the shape is. Am I looking at it right? Is it one of those ink blot type pics? lol Really tho, are you sure it's a chrysalis?
Here is a better picture. I didn't want to disturb the occupant, but it's gone now.
That's a much better pic. But the whole thing is gone now or just the occupant? I know I should know what that is, but I don't. I'll keep thinking and looking.
Kennedy??
This may POSSIBLY have been a species of Fritillary.
Phil
That's what I originally thought too Phil. I just can't seem to find a pic of anything at that angle.
Darlindeb, do you have passionvines in your yard?
I saw one growing wild down the street about a block. We live in the boonies on five acres. The garlic chive where I found it is located in my butterfly area where I grow milkweed, rue and dill.
Is there one "great" book you would suggest to help identify cats and butterflys?
I have host plants for butterflys. I have nectar plants for them. However, I keep finding different chrysalis in odd places. For example: hanging off the edge of a plastic green planter or attached to the faded green area of the back door. Are there any tips or suggestions on making a safe spot for them to form into the chrysalis stage.
I get all kinds of butterflys through here and what I think are called skippers. Usually the first to arrive is this one that is yellow and black.
That's a beautiful Tiger Swallowtail! It's one of the first big butterflies I have seen in my garden the last 2 years also, but I only see one. They must go your way because they don't stay. ?
The only way to make a safe place for a chrysalis is to raise the butterfly inside in a caged area. Otherwise they are going to do it their natural way, which is find a comfy looking spot to them and stick to it. I've had a few get out of my cages inside too. One attached to the side of a table and another underneath a small ledge of my bottom kitchen cabinets. Early one morning I went in the kitchen without my glasses (thus can not see) and saw this black blob on the floor. I thought it was a spider but lucky for it I went and got my glasses and turned on the light. I thought my cats had gotten ahold of it, but then realized it had just hatched but fell before it's wings opened. I quickly got it something to grab onto and lifted it up, and all was well.
I have a couple of books myself, but neither are great. The one I do hear a lot of people recommend are the "Butterflies Through Binoculars" books. There are ones for the West and East and I think a few years ago a "Caterpillars Through Binoculars" even came out. You can find all of them on Amazon.
There are good pics and info on this site: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/bflyusa/bflyusa.htm
and www.bugguide.net has a lot of caterpillar pics too.
Hope this helps some!
Thanks for your help. I just get a few of the Tiger Swallowtail each year. They always seem to hit the creeping phlox I grow.