Metamorphosis
Wildlife, Nature, and curiousity about our livinvg planet is my innate hobby. It must be because of my father. He used to take me to the weekly meeting of "Friends for Animals", where i was exposed to many people, wildlife documentaries and conservation activities. When i was in 7th grade, i went to my first Nature camp at Melaghat national Park in Maharashtra. That was a Tiger domain. Walking through the forest on foot was a thrill indeed. Then i went to numerous camps crisscrossing across India. I found that my country is wonderful, breathtaking. In my 7th and 8th grade, i used to study life cycle of Butterflies. I fostered some 25 butterfly species from the caterpillar stage to Butterfly. But i had no camera. So no photos!!! :-(((( I should have had one. It would have been wonderful to document it all. But some months back i got the opportunity. I found the caterpillars of the butterfly named "Common Mormon" This time i had a camera as well. So I am posting here the fotographs of different stages in the life of Butterflies. It feels nice to take such snaps.
Butterfly Caterpillar in the initial stage. Looks like a bird dropping. This is to camouflage it.
The same Caterpillar turning green after some days. This happens by molting off the outer skin
The caterpillar ready to undergo a transformation to Pupa or Chrysalis.
The Chrysalis!!!!! or a Pupa. Isnt this amazing?
The Chrysalis from which the Butterfly is about to emerge out.
The "Female of Common Mormon"(male has all white spots) emerged out. You can see the empty pupa. This is one of the wonders of natural world. It is really beyond explaination as to how all this happens. The Caterpillar of a particular species of Butterfly feeds only on a specific plant. Like the caterpillar of the "Common Mormon" feeds on lemon (and few more) tree. If you keep it on other plants, it will die of starvation. How does female Common Mormon finds exactly the lemon tree to lay eggs? Its all occult. Its very fascinating indeed.
It is very satisfying to observe our natural world. Lets see, i hope to see and explore more of it.
Butterfly Caterpillar in the initial stage. Looks like a bird dropping. This is to camouflage it.
The same Caterpillar turning green after some days. This happens by molting off the outer skin
The caterpillar ready to undergo a transformation to Pupa or Chrysalis.
The Chrysalis!!!!! or a Pupa. Isnt this amazing?
The Chrysalis from which the Butterfly is about to emerge out.
The "Female of Common Mormon"(male has all white spots) emerged out. You can see the empty pupa. This is one of the wonders of natural world. It is really beyond explaination as to how all this happens. The Caterpillar of a particular species of Butterfly feeds only on a specific plant. Like the caterpillar of the "Common Mormon" feeds on lemon (and few more) tree. If you keep it on other plants, it will die of starvation. How does female Common Mormon finds exactly the lemon tree to lay eggs? Its all occult. Its very fascinating indeed.
It is very satisfying to observe our natural world. Lets see, i hope to see and explore more of it.
posted by Makarand at 1:17 AM
6 Comments:
I always knew you were a nature lover ..But this is awesome man..
scientific !!
Makarand,
We're rearing a common mormon caterpillar too, found on our kadi patta plant; how long does it take from the green instar to pupa? Ours has been in this stage (green) for 9 days now. Thanks, Anjali
Hey i have got the same caterpillar on a kadi patta plant. Did u rear this one on a kadi patta plant too?? Just wanted to confirm.
Hey i have got the same caterpillar on a kadi patta plant. Did u rear this one on a kadi patta plant too?? Just wanted to confirm
Your description sounds like its Gerald Durrell describing his childhood on Corfu! :)
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