The two pupae that I have been monitoring over the past 2-3 weeks have had mixed fortunes. This stage of a butterfly's life is very hazardous and whilst the Speckled Wood pupa succeeded in becoming a butterfly, the Wall Brown pupa unfortunately failed to make it through.
As ever, it was fascinating seeing the Speckled Wood pupa change colour as the butterfly formed in the pupal case.
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22/4/2023.
29/4/2023.
3/5/2023. Wing forming inside pupa.
Speckled Wood pupa 4/5/2023. One day before emerging butterfly.
On Friday 5th May Lisa came over and wanted to see the pupa again. She couldn't get to me until early afternoon, so more or less as soon as she arrived we went to the site. I carefully looked in the tussock where the pupa was and immediately saw that the pupa was empty. I then picked and lifted the dry grass stem that the pupa was on and suddenly the Speckled Wood that had just emerged sat on my hand. It must have emerged a few minutes before we arrived. Although we missed this final part it was great seeing the butterfly that had come out of the pupa, and also being able to see it was a female.
Female Speckled Wood, newly emerged 5/5/2023.
Preciosas imágenes y estupendo seguimiento. Enhorabuena. Un abrazo.
ReplyDeleteFascinating ! ...and I love that Green Hairstreak lower down the page . I have never seen one like that . Must be only in your area ? 🦋
ReplyDeleteMany thanks both for the kind comments. It certainly was a fascinating couple of weeks following the changing pupa.
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