Post by rockpickerforever on Nov 22, 2016 3:18:47 GMT -5
Sorry, no, spiceman . Just doing it for the experience, lol.
I almost wasn't going to post this update, but maybe someone else will learn from it. The metamorphosed butterfly eclosed from the chrysalis on August 3. Unfortunately, its wings never did fully unfurl and stiffen. Once again, it did not read the manual, which would have informed it that it was supposed to hang from the chrysalis (upside down) to let gravity assist it with the wings opening and stiffening up. I found it (in the bottom of the cage) already hatched one morning when I got up, no idea how much time had elapsed since it had emerged.
Once it became apparent that it was doomed, I looked online for information. It seems this happens a lot in nature. They MUST get those wings pumped up within an hour of emerging. While I was a little bummed about it, I was nowhere near as upset as the lady that had posted on the blog I was reading. She "humanely euthanized" her damaged butterfly by putting it in a bag in the freezer. I put mine out in the orange tree where the hatched egg had been found. I'm sure it was snatched up by a passing bird, Mother Nature can be cruel at times. At least it got to be free for a short while.
Looking down into the empty case.
Timeline:
7/6/17 - Found freshly hatched egg in navel orange tree.
7/20/16 - started to pupate
8/3/16 - eclosed from chrysalis
Two weeks as caterpillar, two weeks as chrysalis. Four weeks start to finish.
I would do it again if I have the opportunity.
Lesson learned. Always provide something for the butterfly to hang from on the ceiling of the cage, and a way to get to it.
Ain't that the truth!
