The Butterfly Life on the Prairie (Part One)

Where there are millions of flowers, there are millions of butterflies.
There are unexplained mysteries involved in the lives of butterflies; thus their heart-lightening beauty is matched by intrigue.

fineart in the flint hills

butterfly on zinnia mary todd

(Having been blessed with a Mother who taught by example:)

I have collected tiny caterpillars and photographed their metamorphosis. What a journey...blind sluggish power-eating interrupted by a mystery of focused work;

 then deep transformative sleep and then--freedom, light, bliss!

Among the myriad of species living in Kansas, the various swallowtails are some of the most beautiful. 

Here are some of the almost-grown caterpillars:

 fineart in the flint hills

swallowtail caterpillars mary todd

 fineart in the flint hills

Swallowtail Caterpillar Poster mtodd

Here is a quarter inch

beginning:

fineart in the flint hills

When the time is right, the caterpillar stops eating, and begins the metamorphosis into the pupa, or chrysalis stage. (video at bottom of post)

The chrysalis of the various swallowtails take on the color and texture of the surface where they develop.
This is truly awesome to see. Here are some of the chrysali I photographed one summer:

fineart in the flint hills

fineart in the flint hills

fineart in the flint hills

fineart in the flint hills

fineart in the flint hills

After 2-3 weeks, depending on environmental conditions, the chrysalis becomes transparent and you know that within a few hours the butterfly will emerge. I take them out side, gather my cameras, and wait.
However, if you run in and get coffee you might miss the emergence!
that happened to me... i hate when that happens...

There is a very nice slide show displaying this process HERE

When the butterfly emerges, the wings are damp and crumpled. The little creature will sit or walk about on your hand for a while. 

I have many films of this and will post some in another butterfly post.

Part One:

  Part Two: (With Hummingbird)

Here is the Beautiful Girl who started the whole thing, laying eggs earlier in the season...


fineart in the flint hills

 fineart in the flint hills

fineart in the flint hills

fineart in the flint hills

 fineart in the flint hills

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when you have the chance, vote and urge others to vote to keep deadly unneeded herbicides and pesticides away from our highways and farms.


Butterfly Life Part Two: Click HERE