Fly Away! Fly Away! Fly Away!!!

I guess this is going to be a norm in my garden story:
Rearing Butterflies.
For the record, this is the 3rd butterfly in captivity.
(2 more pupa to go & one caterpillar)
Born on last Tuesday - 6th October.
This one was already to go.
More like "Open me up! Open Me Up!! I want to FLY!!!"

After opening the box, she landed on the ground, gently flap her wings, like ready to take off and then flutter gracefully. This one was fast, no hiccup, no wet wings or delayed flights.

My 6th year old son was watching the whole episode with laughter and excitement.
And he bid farewell by naming her and saying,
"Goodbye Jessica!!"

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Yesterday: 8th October night.

Status: 2 pupa & 1 caterpillar.

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I hope you can notice something,

I put the flash on so you can view the difference.

Can you see it?
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The pupa had changed its colour.

The normal one is green but this one is black.

I guess that is the sign which means the butterfly is going to pop out its cocoon by tomorrow morning.

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Notice the difference?

This one had not yet ready to turn into a butterfly. (still green)

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True enough, the butterfly had came out this morning, I had prepared my camera ready with the rechargeable batteries charged last night. I managed to take these few pic.

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The butterfly seemed to be too active and fluttering very aggressively.

I didn't want to exhaust it and also noticed that the rain clouds had gathered and it did rain after half hour after the release.

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Hope this butterfly knows where to take shelter...

Am I kidding, I'm sure nature will have prepared these creatures with their survival instincts.

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Look at the beautiful patterns of these wings.. So admirable

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Off you go. Freedom to Fly carelessly to Life's Joy!!

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Ok, I have decided to reveal my secrets in getting these caterpillars into butterfly.

Well, not so much of a great secret -

just some tips and tricks which I found out in these moment in raising caterpillars.

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TIPS

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1) Feeding leaves instead of letting them help themselves.

I started with a caterpillar, I don't think I may able to notice their eggs.

But if you do, you can nip the leave and keep them separately.

I think its good to feed the caterpillar by taking clean cuttings from the plant instead of letting the caterpillar chomping away the plant.

Its disheartening to see the half eat leaves everywhere.

So, my suggestion, feed the caterpillar by whole leaves instead of leaving them on the main plant.

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2) Careful with moisture - especially glass bottles.

I had raised few before and they died without even turning into a pupa. I was very puzzled about it and later found out that they cannot manage water intake in their sensitive skin membrane.

So, do not let water or moisture from the leaves to stay in the caterpillar (box or container)

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Once I was watering my plants and I accidentally sprayed water on the container and it got wet.

Sadly, that caterpillar didn't survive.

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3) Clean the droppings.

This will keep the air clean and take away whatever water droplets or residue from the eating.

I use them as fertiliser for my plants. Don't think they are too few to notice, the leaves are stripped clean and appear to be in grains.

Make sure there is enough air to go through - too tight may suffocate the caterpillar.

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4) Dormant stage

If you find that the caterpillar crawl up & just stay dormant, remember that its turning into a pupa. Normally it takes a day or two. You will notice that it would not eat the leaves that been fed to it.

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5) Pupa stage.

There will be 2 strings attached to it, actually its silk.

The silk is very important for the balance, if you rip-off the pupa from the hanging silk, the butterfly is going to suffer and may take awhile to dry it wings or survive.

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Occasionally the pupa will throb,

wriggle and move in few seconds.

Watch out for ants,

they may burrow into the helpless pupa and kill it.

(so don't leave it uncared for even though its a pupa stage)

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Check the colour each day,

the moment it turns its colour,

it means its going to turn into a butterfly in the next morning.

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6) Butterfly.

Well, What are you waiting for, Get your camera ready.

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Safety factors: (Very Important)

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I noticed that these Lime Butterflies caterpillar have a "horn like" spear that only appear when threatened. I guess that must be its defense mechanism.

Some Caterpillars are Poisonous.

So don't take for granted that all caterpillars are cute & cuddly.

Especially when placed in the hands of children.

Unbreak My Wings

It was a cold and raining on Saturday morning.
Good to snug with pillows and wrap tight a warm blanket. Yet, the snooze didn't last long as children were having cold and I have to go and buy breakfast & lunch.
I noticed one of the cocoon had popped and the poor little thing is all wrapped up wet.
Oh.. no, its raining and there is no sign of sun shining. This butterfly had her wings rolled up waiting for the sun to dry her.

She is the second pupa that turned into butterfly in captivity. (or considered in a small plastic box container)

I placed her on the stool, yet she was so motionless, just barely living, I hope she will survive.
Don't die, not today.. I don't want to think about all the effort of eating my lime leaves going to waste, not now.

Then, the sun slowly peeked from the clouds and this butterfly slowly showing sign of hope. She started to flap and I placed her near to leaves where the sun shone the brightest.

Finally, she stretched her magnificent wings and gave her maiden flight!

That was close...
or else I have to have find a spot for a cemetery.

Lime Butterfly

It all started with this little lime plant which was passed to me by my mother in law. It was growing well and had started out new shoots. After few weeks, I found some grains on the tender leaf shoots and most of them had bite marks on them.

I had carefully inspected it and found that the culprit was hiding at the lower mature leaves. I don't think I want to leave it to continue chomping up the rest of the plant. I got a clear box to put this caterpillar inside and feed it with the leftover half done leaves.

About a week later, it had turned into a pupa and another few week later into a beautiful butterfly. I guess this must be the Common Lime Butterfly (Papilio Demoleus malayanus)

I had set the butterfly free just after taking pictures of the hen & the chicks, there were 10 births on the same day and you can only guess the excitement that took place during the holidays.

Just hope it doesn't come again and lay more eggs!

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I visited my in laws during the holidays and found few caterpillars where chomping their existing lime plant.

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I had taken these "worms" and also pruned the heavy bushy lime plant. I also noticed that the ants had burrowed on some of the pupa and had feasted on them

(pity those butterflies - they never knew that they got ambushed)

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I didn't know that this plant caused so much pain as it is full with sharp spiked thorns which continuously pierced my hands while I was pruning.

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First time I saw so much blood in my hands!

This lime plant is worst than roses & cactus put together!

Black swallowtail Butterfly

I was going for my lunch (near my office area) and spotted this butterfly flew passed me and settled for this bougainvillea flowers. I was so excited and armed myself to take these shots.

The butterfly is so close to my hand and I'm snapping & snapping with many shots, (but none of them do justice to what is happening right in front of me) The butterfly as too fast yet it teased me by coming so close to me settling on the flowers.

Suddenly, I felt like I was a little kid again, mesmerised with the wonder of butterflies. It was a few minutes of magic, I realised that it was a wonderful moment to think about, that nature had blessed me that I'm able to share this with others.