And here's what it looks like from the back!
My Zebra Swallowtail Thread
Good job with the pictures, Melanie. : ) That's so interesting.
~Lucy
Here's another shot of my new butterfly. One of the ways you can tell the difference between a moth and a butterfly is that moths tend to have fuzzy antennae while butterflies have antennae that look like little clubs (or hockey sticks for all you Canadians).
Thanks Lucy! This guy was having a lot of fun walking on the ceiling.
Mel!
Brilliantmpictures! Thank you so much!
Adrienne
I have to run to Target (and Walgreens, don't forget Melanie), but here's something to whet your appetite until I get back. My third one eclosed today! We became fast friends.
Melanie
Ooooh, the colors are so purdy. And he is furry looking. What big eyes.
Good job, Melanie. : )
Lucy
Thank you, thank you everyone. I couldn't have done it without all the people on this forum sharing their wisdom. Now, to share a little knowledge I have...I made sure to take a pic of the chrysalis just before he came out. Since I wasn't at work this time I didn't have to worry about taking the lid off and having caterpillars all over my desk. Some of my employees are afraid of critters. We got one of those Cuban anoles (lizards) on our floor (25th!) one day and of course he goes to the desk of the person who is most freaked out. But like I told her, if you have all those nice pothos plants around, the lizards are going to want to hang out in them. Anyway, here's the chrysalis from the top side. You can see the black and white stripes on his body.
These guys were posed so nicely together I thought it would be a nice picture to demonstrate the color variance of the zebra ST cats. It's like a Benetton ad, LOL!
I already had this conversation with Mom, but the other day she asks, "What are those black caterpillars going to turn into?" And I reply, "You mean the ones in with the zebra swallowtail cats?". She says yes and I tell her, "Those are also zebra swallowtail caterpillars." Apparently, she wasn't paying attention the first time I told her that.
Here he is hanging from the top letting the wings dry.
No one ever told me that butterflies tickle. When I first held him he went running up my arm and boy did that tickle! Finally, I got him settled into hanging off my finger. I do like their fuzzy little bodies and their big eyes. Here's a closeup of the head in case you want to see it.
Spreading his wings...I wonder what I taste like? I know they taste with their feet so I couldn't help but wonder. I'd been sifting compost and dividing bromeliads so hopefully I just tasted like plant. I did set him down on a plant (to get some cool pictures) but he came right back on my finger after so I guess I didn't taste bad. I thought maybe the heat from my body felt good, too. Plus, I kept blocking the wind which I'm sure he appreciated.
Mom likes this photo. I guess I kinda knew this but hadn't thought about it until I saw the butterfly up close, but their wings are really four parts. You can tell that from this picture but it's something I had forgotten. Check out those red eyespots to detract predators!
Here he is posing on the porterweed for me. By the way, they don't seem too interested in nectaring right away. I know we had talked on here about keeping them overnight or if the weather's bad and do they need something to eat, etc. I set this one on porterweed and plumbago and he didn't seem at all interested. So I guess it's not critical that they eat right away. After he got his wings dry (and squirted me in the process) he flew on the sleeve of my shirt, walked around to the back, then took to the sky and landed in one of our many oak trees. Yesterday was pretty overcast and windy so I was glad to see he had a safe spot for the night. And I guess it shows that they really will fly off when they're ready.
I think he likes you Melanie. : )
~Lucy
He loved me! I walked around the yard with him dangling from my finger. I went to the patio door and showed Mom, I sat down in the yard for twenty minutes or so with him. We're bff! I just hope he goes out there and finds another ZST and makes lots more little ZSTs! Oh, and I did make a wish when I let him go! : )
Melanie
He'll probably hang around and find a mate, and you will be raising his kids, and their kids. : )
I'm too young to be a grandma, LOL!
LOL : )