There are two Julia catepillars that left their plant to molt and enter into its next instar inside their enclosure. I am completely fascinated by the spikes first being white before changing to black. This one will probably go through two more instars before creating its chrysalis.
I am so glad I was able to “adopt” the Julia butterfly eggs from The Butterfly Estates, as this is my first time watching the life cycle of this species.
On November 12, my daughter and I brought home Dryas iulia (Flambeau Butterfly, or the Julia heliconian (longwing) butterfly), eggs. I am happy to say they are growing and changing almost every day.
I fell in love with this butterfly after seeing it at The Butterfly Estates, so when they put word out that they were taking donations for their Julia butterfly eggs, we headed their way. We brought home quite a few yellow eggs, with some starting to hatch the following day.
The host plant is passionvine and I have tons of corky stem for them to eat. The caterpillars have white spots, as well as black spines.
