Both of the eastern black swallowtail chrysalis changed from green yesterday to brown today. Super interesting. Now they are better camouflaged against the wood of the butterfly house.
Changed colors
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Tag Archives: eastern black swallowtail caterpillars
And done
I now have two eastern black swallowtail chrysalis. I am kind of surprised they are green, rather than brown. Fingers crossed the butterfly emerges in about nine to 18 days.
To see the stages of the caterpillar, check out my page: https://bit.ly/3Qv73PM
Next stage
Two of the eastern black swallowtail have found their spot in the butterfly house to start their next stage, the chrysalis. The other two caterpillars are still munching away on the dill.
It appears that the caterpillar below has its silk girdle done, which supports their chrysalis. The silk girdle, or band, is around the thoracic leg area towards the front of its body. The end of the caterpillar is attached to a silken pad. These caterpillars too will mimic the color in which they attach their chrysalis. So, they should be of a “bark” like color when they are done.
Here are more photos and information about the eastern black swallowtail: https://bit.ly/3Qv73PM
More food
The eastern black swallowtail caterpillars almost finished all of the dill in the butterfly house last night. Three are still on the plant and one has ventured off exploring the butterfly house.
I love going on a “treasure” hunt daily in the garden to find the newest hatched caterpillars, as well as the growth of others. It’s so rewarding to bring them inside our butterfly house to really watch their growth. This particular species has been great to watch as it has changed so drastically since it first hatched.
Other eastern black swallowtail posts with further information on species and photographs:
New caterpillar babies: https://bit.ly/3b0s0BS
Starting to change: https://bit.ly/3tyaaN8
Beautiful colors: https://bit.ly/3O679LS
White saddle gone: https://bit.ly/39w4LiO
Molting
Two of the four black eastern swallowtails were molting in the butterfly house, one of which was consuming its old skin.
The molting takes place because their skin does not grow as they consume more leaves from their host plant. So, to have enough room, the caterpillar first grows new skin underneath before it sheds its old skin. The new exoskeleton is first soft before hardening to protect the caterpillar. The caterpillars below are, I believe, in their third, or fourth instar.
There are three pairs of true legs of a caterpillar, as well as five “pro-legs” that function the same. Interesting fact, the true legs eventually turn into the butterfly’s legs and the pro-legs vanish during metamorphosis.
Another interesting fact: the caterpillar consists of strong jaws, which are connected to a digestive tube that has an opening for the caterpillar’s waste. It’s crazy to think that a caterpillar consumes twice its body weight in a day.
Other eastern black swallowtail posts with further information on species and photographs:
New caterpillar babies: https://bit.ly/3b0s0BS
Starting to change: https://bit.ly/3tyaaN8
Beautiful colors: https://bit.ly/3O679LS
“White saddle” gone: https://bit.ly/3OjOxrs