Swallowtail Butterfly Trio

Swallowtail Butterfly Trio

Was it around last October?
I spotted a caterpillar crossing the road from the lemon tree next to our house. As I watched it, the caterpillar climbed up a wall and turned into a chrysalis. When I looked around the wall, I saw that two other caterpillars had already become chrysalises there.

In total, three little caterpillars had fed on the leaves of our lemon tree, grown up, attached themselves to the wall, and entered the chrysalis stage to overwinter.

At first, they looked like this. Their vibrant green color gradually faded. As the days passed, they changed more and more and eventually turned into chrysalises.

 

Swallowtail A
Swallowtail B
Swallowtail C

What’s interesting is that all three had slightly different colors. Especially Swallowtail B—doesn’t he look too dark? I’ve heard that sometimes they die inside before they can emerge, so I was a little worried.

I checked on them almost every day—even during the cold days of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Then spring came, and just the other day, Swallowtail A emerged!

 

When did that happen??

He was there just yesterday!
Is this what they mean by “an empty shell”?
I really wish I could have seen him fly away.

I wonder if the other two will make it out.
It would be so special to witness that moment.

(Tamaru2go)

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