A week and a half ago, I got the chance to have a live caterpillar. It came with some leaves and stayed with me for a few days. After a while, it slowed down its movements. Since I did not have any more leaves, I decided to transfer the caterpillar onto a makeshift cactus plant.
Being busy, I did not have a chance to see it undergoing its complete metamorphosis. It was like, I had a caterpillar. Then I had a pupa. And, today, YES, today, a butterfly came out. Not just coming out in front of my eyes - but already out and ready to go! I was like, "am I missing something?"
Anyway, I was not so much into documenting the whole process as these can easily be googled from the internet. I was hoping that I could see a butterfly coming into this world, and flying out of my balcony freely. Yes, I got my wish. It waited for me. :D
To give it a head start, I got hold of one part of a pair of chopstick and coated some diluted honey for the hungry insect.
Most of the images were taken with my mobile phone, except for the few close-ups which I used my Canon EOS 60D with a old inverted lens.
The cactus belongs to my wife. I moved the "very slow" caterpillar here so that I could observe it. It was sluggish and moved like a sloth. For some reasons, I did not take a photo of the caterpillar!
Here is a shot from another angle. The pupa looks firm and healthy. The caterpillar has eaten its fill well and I was so glad that it went positively. At the time, I had no idea when it would emerge. This and the shot above were taken four days ago.
A macro view of the pupa. There is a lot of things going on inside it. A full chemical and biological change that confounded mankind even until now.
When the butterfly finally emerged, I was not present. It could be sometime in the morning. Since it is noon now, and it is pretty docile and not flying off, I thought it was just getting ready, and went off to prepare some energy food for it.
Here is another view of the butterfly taking a good rest. It was up earlier, except that it was just "walking" around. I was so happy that it has decided to stay for a while to take some solid food before flying off.
A close-up of the butterfly resting and waiting for its body to get stronger. While it was resting, I used the other chopstick to get some diluted honey onto it and eventually managed to coax the butterfly to "climb over" and get its food there.
A view from the side. Notice how it "rests" its proboscis onto the stick? I mean, if there is no need to "stick it in (as into a flower), a slap will do".
It changes its position, according to how it wants to get the energy food into its body. I tried to make a really diluted honey water so that the butterfly's legs would not get stuck onto it. I guess it worked.
Here is a closer view of the butterfly lapping things up. At the background, we can see its wings are in full spread, probably trying to balance itself as it takes its time indulging on the honey.
And, finally, a front shot. Small as it may be, there are tonnes of intricate coverings and design patterns on this little fellow. Just in case, this looks intimidating - butterflies do not bite!
When it had all that it could take, it flew off - from my highrise balcony into its free and easy world. I am sure it will do well.
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