I did not manage the full cycle, being a first time event trying to identify as much as possible how this cycle concluded, also not qualified so I have researched to try identify, so if any corrections are required please let me know.
Being in the garden regularly very little misses your eye, for some reason I did not video this time for which I can kick myself. In a hanging pot right outside the window checking on the Lobster Flower (Plectranthus neochilus) to see if any buds were appearing yet, not having flowered in a couple of years due to recent drought, I have not been watering either, preferring sub-tropical shady dry conditions, (water wise gardening).
The plant itself is small 500mm x 600mm placed in the hanging pot since they are apparently able to to act as an air purifier, also ward off snakes neither has been proven. This particular day I noticed the caterpillar I believe to be Acraea amicitiae, I thought was eating the plant. On closer inspection I had the delightful surprise of watching it start wrapping up into a pupa, now this is where I could kick myself that I did not video!
A couple of hours later on the 24th January the pupa was fully developed, here started the waiting game, not having a clue as to how long this would take, research revealed approximately a month. Every day went out I photographed and kept a vigilant eye, noticing the same caterpillars working away on the leaves of the plant.
Alas I missed re-birth into a flying beauty, not prepared to put a net around for fear of doing more harm than good. On the 3rd February the butterfly must have emerged between my first look around 9am and second round at 1pm. Eagerly out once more the next morning this is the butterfly I saw making me think it is the one that recently emerged of the many in the garden at the moment, this truly is a guess so I hope I have the right caterpillar matched up with this gracefully beautiful butterfly.
The wild guess, a medium sized butterfly!
Escape to freedom, let the wind take you where it may, perhaps next time I will be fortunate enough to see complete metamorphosis (full cycle) from egg, caterpillar, pupa, butterfly....
Due to good rains, extended period of drought we have been treated to a most incredible display of butterflies this year.
The current Pioneer Caper Whites (Belenois aurota - Pierinae - Pieridae) migration appears moving from the dry Western regions now in Eastern side of the country. Stay Near Me Do Not Fly Away
@adalger where nature is totally amazing every day of the week. Details about contest @adalgerThought for Today: " A butterfly thinks itself a bird because it can fly." ~ African Proverb
All photography is my own using a Canon PowerShot SC730 HS, resized to load easier, writing is my own.
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