August
3, 2004
For the
last few weeks we've had three caterpillars (of the Anise
Swallowtail butterfly) living in the Visitors Center, munching
contentedly on the samples of anise in the plant identification
display. This one has reached maximum size, about two inches
long.
The day following, this caterpillar was the first to attach
itself to the plexiglass of the display - notice the strand
of silk around its "waist." This caterpillar was now
about one third the size it was on the previous day!
A few days later, the caterpillar had transformed itself into
a brown chrysalis.
The next caterpillar also chose the plexiglass as the place
to begin its metamorphosis – note the fine matrix of silk
it has attached to the plexiglass, thickest at the two points
where the "waist line" attaches and at the lower end
attachment.
A couple
of days later, the third caterpillar attached itself to a branch
of anise and became a green chrysalis – in this species,
they come in two colors. We're
hoping to be on the scene when the butterflies emerge in about
two weeks.
