Tag Archives: polydamas eggs

On the move

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Another stroll through the garden showed that the polydamas caterpillars were on the move, walking the “tight rope.” My husband found a way for my Dutchman pipe to continue to climb to a trellis that already has two Dutchman pipe vines going up.

Some of the tips showed many of the caterpillars fighting amongst the same food.

More eggs.

Then to check on the butterfly house . . . another polydamas swallowtail molting. It’s amazing how fast these caterpillars are growing.

As always, here’s my page that shares more in-depth information, photos, and videos of the polydamas swallowtail: https://sweetbutterflybliss.com/polydamas-swallowtail-butterfly-2/?frame-nonce=a917bf6c0e

Just born

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A walk through the garden this morning revealed a lucky find of baby polydamas caterpillars just emerging from its eggs. Some were still eating the remains of the eggs. I love mornings like this, finding the miracles of nature in my own backyard.

The polydamas lays yellow to orange eggs in clusters of 10 to 14, which can typically be spotted on newly developed stems, or growing tips, of the Dutchman pipe. It takes four to six days to hatch. Once they emerge from their egg, they consume it before going onto the leaves of the plant.

The polydamas swallowtail caterpillars feed in groups when they are small, devouring the youngest leaves, as well as flowers before moving onto the older portions of the Dutchman pipe.

For more information, and additional photos, click on https://sweetbutterflybliss.com/polydamas-swallowtail-butterfly/?frame-nonce=e7c6cffbc2

A bonus find of a monarch caterpillar hiding in the Dutchman pipe, I am assuming getting ready to make its chrysalis.

Eggs galore

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The polydamas swallowtail has been busy laying clusters of eggs on our Dutchman pipe: one of two I found just today. The eggs are about 1 mm in diameter and will look greenish as they mature, ready to hatch, which takes up to six days. According to the University of Florida, the eggs are covered by a “hard, nutritious secretion,” which are laid in vertical bands.

The larger polydamas caterpillars in our butterfly house have been crawling around finding the perfect place to make its chrysalis. This one did not like me getting close, as its osmeterium shot out when I neared. According to the University of Florida, the osmeteria, located on the anterior of the prothorax, is bright orange, and used as defense.

https://sweetbutterflybliss.com/polydamas-swallowtail-butterfly/?frame-nonce=f1b7ce0cea
For more information and photographs about the polydamas swallowtail, click the link above.