Magical Butterly Camp

July 24  Held our fifth annual Magical Butterfly Camp.  It was difficult this year because they were no caterpillars and I had to order them from Rose Franklin.  They arrived on July 22--very tiny. Probably hatched on July 19 or 20.  I received 11 caterpillars plus a milkweed plant with 8 eggs on it which were laid on July 19.  I also received 5 pupas which appear to have another week until they eclose or emerge.

 egg laid on top of the leaf

 caterpillar in second instar--about 1/2 " long

 newly emerged male on top of cage

 and released!  Note the two "dots" that mark him as a male.

July 24  Caterpillar molting.  The caterpillar will eat the shed skin and will molt several more times!

July 25  Caterpillars have grown overnight--nearly doubled their size again.  They are now about one inch long and are one week old.

Eggs hatched overnight as well.  This hot weather encourages them to develop rapidly.

These are approximately 1/8 " long ( the leaf is only 1 inch wide)  When they are first born, they are about the size of a comma on a page.