The Monarch chrysalis I found hanging on the old apple tree.
The chrysalis darkened, and one could see the colours of the butterfly, shortly before it emerged.
The butterfly emerged, all crumpled, but slowly the wings expanded and smoothed out.
He hung out by his empty chrysalis, for some time, looking like a hanging leaf swaying in the breeze. No wonder they are hard to spot!
He took to the air, circled the apple tree, then landed up in it, opening and closing his wings for a while, then sailed off over the milkweed patch. See the dark spots on the hind wings? That is a male. The female doesn't have the spots and has thicker wing veins.
Previously I've mentioned that we are having an influx of Lymantria dispar dispar, previously known as Gypsy Moth. This is a picture of a female with a large egg mass beneath her.
Recently we spotted this pretty guy on the side of a building. It is a Garden Tiger Moth. We have more often seen the furry caterpillars of this moth, Woolly Bears.
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What fantastic shots of the Monarch butterfly emerging. But, oh darn, those Gypsy Moths! I know it's a cycle of nature but such destruction. Personally, I'm hoping for that long, really cold stretch this winter that might do them all in. Right along with the fruit fly larvae that have destroyed our raspberry patch.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mama Pea. I was busy in the kitchen that day, but kept running out to check on the chrysalis. I missed the butterfly actually emerging.
DeleteEntomologists say we need two weeks of -30C (-22F) or colder, to kill the eggs. It is doubtful if that will happen, but we can hope!
Beautiful Rosalea, other than the Gypsy Moths. I've heard lots complaining about them this year.
ReplyDeleteThanks Martha. That moth was a super find, so pretty with its orange hind wings. The Gypsy caterpillars were just patchy, here and there, this year. But next year will be hell with the worms unless the eggs get frozen. The worms get very large and can strip a tree in no time.
DeleteFantastic photos! Our problem bug this year is wasps and hornets. We have some sort of ground bee under the milking room that is really aggressive. One of the guards recognizes Dan and chases him away any time he's on that side of the barn!
ReplyDeleteThank you Leigh. There is always a problem bug..or two! I guess it is Nature's balance, but sometimes it seems the scales are weighed heavily on their side! Hopefully Dan is not allergic to stings?!
DeleteFascinating Rosalea! You photos really capture the beauty of all of them! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks wyomingheart. I am fascinated with all critters, big or small. There are just so many of those Gypsy moth egg masses though, on our fruit trees and the oaks in particular. There is no way to scrape them all off, way up in the canopy. We are really hoping for a frigid winter!
DeleteWow Rosalea what lovely photos, so nice to see the butterfly emerge like that. I've never seen one in the cocoon so thanks for posting the photos! What a lovely moth too!
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