...and yes, they will pupate anywhere

Was out in the field and found another cocoon (am thinking it will be a Forbes' Silkmoth too)...and what I believe is Giant Swallowtail caterpillar (could be a rare Ornythion Swallowtail but since we have more GSTs I'm leaning towards that). Anyway, the GST caterpillar had started to pupate on the cocoon! Way cool!!! :o)

They both use the native colima (prickly lime ash) as a larval host so I guess this was inevitable. Of course, I carefully clipped the twig and brought it home to babysit. Am curious to see what moth and what butterfly emerge :o)

~ Cat

Now that is something you don't see every day. Way cool. I hope they don't mind sharing the space but it looks like they don't.

Leslie

What a delight! I just hope they'll emerge with a little time warning, so you'll be there to take photos TPP!

Very interesting.... post us some pictures...
Elaine

Now that's really amazing! Glad you brought them home to protect, document, and release! Way cool!

well Cat how cool is that lol!!!! You got 2fer1

Too cute! I do recall the GST cats pupating on other GST chrysalises also.

The chrysalis is fully formed...have the pair inside my reptarium. Time will tell.

~ Cat

keeping fingers crossed

Seriously, Cat! What a great photo and opportunity! Keep us posted for sure!! This is almost as much fun to see as your owls! :-)

Dadburnit, TexasPuddyPrint ..

(ohh pahft!) .. lol ..
Looks like you're privvy to havin' all the doggone flutterbye fun .. way down south like you are!

Another one of those 'how much cooler than kool, can that be!' encounters!

Will be keepin' an eye out, for your updates and more photo progression posts, also ..

- Magpye

Neat photo!!

any progress yet???

Am still waiting...and waiting. The swallowtail chrysalis turned dark a couple of days ago...but doesn't look viable. You know how when it ages you can see the wing pattern and as the butterfly is almost ready to emerge you can see it through the shell...no such luck here...but I still keep everything in a reptarium and check on it a couple of times a day.

~ Cat

bump

any progress yet Cat???

nothing yet...the swallowtail chrysalis turned dark a few days ago but no signs of life. Had other chrysalids inside the reptarium and they had little bore holes in them...am assuming they had been zapped by a predators. The chrysalids were dried out...no signs of any bugs inside the reptarium...but perhaps those too died. Weather has been humid and sometimes dreadfully hot. Although the reptariums and other cat cages are under my covered back porch and sitting on shelves...am thinking the climate affected them.

Am still holding out though...checking on the forbes moth cocoons daily...but there's not telling. Since I got those from out in the field perhaps they were already the victims of foul play. A friend said to lightly tap the sides and it I heard a thunk it was viable...I don't hear any thunk...one cocoon seems heavier than the others so perhaps there is a slim glimmer of hope that whatever is inside is still alive...time will tell.

~ Cat

good luck,, little cocoon..... hope you are rewarded for your patience.. Cat
Elaine