Chrysalis Fest 蝶蛹的世界

2nd Out Nov 13 am

This time there are three caterpillars on the lemon tree at the same time! One already turned into a chrysalis a couple of days ago. Last night the other two caterpillars were busy scanning the tree branches; for hours they went about and explored from a branch to the next, without stopping or eating. At some junctions, they extended their head into the air, appearing to be sniffing out something. When there was a particular branch they liked, they went away and back two or three times until they finally settled down on it in the middle of the dark night. This morning, both turned into the pre-pupa (chrysalis) stage by bending and tight-clinching the tree branch from their head and tail, with a thin silk thread clearly visible around their neck attaching to the tree. Next day or two it will turn 180 degrees with the head facing outward to become a chrysalis, hanging from the tree by the silk. Within another day or two, the chrysalis adopts a outer green coat, covering up the legs and under belly of its former self the carterpillar. In about a week, the outer coat will darken resembling the old and wrinkled tree bark before the butterfly breaks out. In this colder season, it takes longer for the butterfly to form and come out. The first one that came out was in the morning on 9 Nov, which took about 12 days; in addition, the outer shell did not change much colour even the day before, remaining greenish throughout the dozen days.

Transition from caterpillar to chrysalis

Green chrysalis

Nov 9 Butterfly Came Out!