"Hair Pencils"? What?

CORRECTION!!!

So, in my ongoing attempts at blogging a growing interest in Lepidoptery... I GOT SOMETHING WRONG! The worst part is, I actually had learned years ago what the spots on the hindwings of a male Monarch Butterfly are called (Androconial Spots or Androconial Patches), and just plain forgot when I was writing about Monarchs earlier this year. I called them "Hair Pencils", which is a completely different structure, but in my defense, is also a structure used by male Lepidopterans to release scent chemicals, pheremones. Grrrrrrr.


Hair Pencil (image from TYWKIWDBI )

I could write a post about Hair Pencils, but MINNESOTAN over at TYWKIWDBI did a marvelous post on them back in October. CHECK IT OUT HERE


The black Androconial Spots are quite apparent on the hindwings of this male Queen Butterfly (Danaus gilippus).

IN THE PARK - Caterpillars

male

SPICEBUSH SWALLOWTAIL (Papilio troilus)

Though Spicebush Swallowtails have been plentiful in the park, we haven't really seen many of their caterpillars in the park. The host plants for their caterpillars are Spicebush, Sassafras, Bays, and Camphor Tree. We haven't had of these plants in the park. With the addition of a pair of young Camphor Trees (Cinnamomum camphora) last year, we were happy to find multiple caterpillars this Spring behind the house.


female


Camphor, a plant not native to North America, native to East Asia, is a host plant in residential areas, where it is often a landscape or garden plant.


Spicebush Swallowtails usually lay their eggs on the bottom of the leaves of their host plants.


The young, freshly hatched caterpillars resemble bird droppings, which is a trait found amongst a few species of Swallowtail butterfly.


As the caterpillar grows, it loses the bird dropping appearance and usually turns green with large false eye spots, somewhat resembling a small snake.


The caterpillars are often found in refuges made by curling the edges of the leaves of their host plants with sticky silk.


The caterpillar may less commonly also be yellow or orange.


Like most Swallowtail caterpillars, they have an Osmeterium, as scent gland that resembles a snake tongue or horns, and releases an chemical odor reportedly repellent to other insects, a strong mix of Turpenes.


the chrysalis, which is usually held against vegetation by a line of silk


Though usually brown in color, the chrysalis may also be green or yellow.


an adult Spicebush nectaring at flowers

New In The Park - Caterpillars

Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)

Well, its been a relatively mild winter here in Houston, with few really cold periods. The cold snaps we had, though fairly cold for the region, didn't last for more than a few days at a time. This and the the current warm February and March weather has lead to early wildflower bloom and butterflies laying eggs weeks early. We already have Monarchs on the Milkweed and Gulf Fritillaries on the Passion Vines.

Something I noticed a few days ago were a few Black Swallowtail caterpillars on the Dill and Fennel plants in the park's herb garden. This isn't that common an occurrence in our park, regardelss of the early appearance, so its quite a pleasant surprise.


A close up view of 2 polyxenes caterpillars on one plant. The mother only lays 1 or 2 eggs on each larval host plant.


The Black Swallowtail caterpillar can extend its osmeterium when threatened. Only the Swallowtail caterpillars (there are man varieties of Swallowtail) have these. The osmeterium releases unpleasant odors when extended, and may help to visually shock a predator.


2 Caterpillars on the flower stalk of a Dill plant (Anethum graveolens)


Black Swallowtail caterpillars are always found on plants in the Carrot Family (Apiaceae), like this Green Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) in someone's garden.


The chrysalis of a Black Swallowtail, which are much harder to find than the caterpillars.


Adult Papilio polyxenes mating


The very tiny egg of the Black on the leaflet of an Italian Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)

LAS ORUGAS!!! - pt. 2 Gulf Fritillaries

We are also raising the caterpillars of Gulf Fritillaries, which subsist on Passion Vines. It is a tropical butterfly, and the gulf coast of Texas is at the Northern end of it's range. This is not a species whose caterpillars do well in cold weather, so we fear that they may be doomed by the season. Here are some pics of the Gulf Fritillary at various points of it's development

* Oh, I almost forgot... both the caterpillars and adults of both the Gulf Fritillary and the Monarch are poisonous, due tho the poisonous plants they consume (as larvae).


Native Passionvine sp.


G.F. egg


G.F. eggs right before hatching








G.F. Chrysalis




Newly emerged butterfly with chrysalis
and caterpillar preparing to form chrysalis


Adult G.F. butterflies feed at a variety of
nectar plants.




Mating


Egg laying

LAS ORUGAS!!! - pt. 1 Monarchs

Even though we are approaching winter, and the days are getting colder, we in the South are still able to enjoy butterflies and their caterpillars (sometimes well into December). I still find Monarch caterpillars on the Mexican Milkweed. We are trying to raise them to adulthood in the building, hoping that on the day of emergence we have temperate enough weather for them to survive. Here are some pics of the different stages of development.

MONARCH BUTTERFLY
Danaus plexipus


Mexican Milkweed


Egg






Caterpillar on a Milkweed plant, Monarch
caterpillars only feed on various species of
Milkweed, genus Asclepias






Caterpillar hangs from perch by back legs,
making the distinctive J shape, preparing
to form a chrysalis.


Caterpillar to chrysalis




The chrysalis on the left contains a butterfly
close to emerging.


Butterfly emerges from the chrysalis


Although the caterpillars only feed on Milkweed,
the adults will utilize a number of nectar plants.


Notice the 2 spots on the hindwings. These are
Androconial Patches, which only the males possess, and
release scents used to attract females.