Rewilding My Lot

Converting a new developer lot into a nature ecosystem — my journey

New Butterflies

Bordered Patch butterflies pupate quickly!

On June 18, 2023 I noticed that a Bordered Patch chrysalis had formed on an American Beautyberry leaf (the pale object under a leaf in the photo below).

On June 19, a second Bordered Patch chrysalis formed on an adjacent leaf. Both chrysalises were a creamy white color.

On June 23, the first chrysalis turned black.

By the morning of June 24, the first chrysalis was empty and the second chrysalis was black.

So then I was on high alert that a second butterfly was likely to emerge that day. Here’s how it looked just before I had to go out.

Unfortunately I had to be away from the house for 2 hours that morning, and of course I missed the main action. When I got back and opened the back door, a butterfly that was sitting on the now-empty chrysalis flew away, so I followed it around the garden until it landed to confirm that it was a Bordered Patch.

So apparently it takes only six days for a Bordered Patch caterpillar to construct a chrysalis, transform into a butterfly, emerge, and fly away. That’s really impressive. I was expecting the process to take longer.

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Posted by:

rewildingmylot

3 responses to “New Butterflies”

  1. TextileRanger Avatar
    TextileRanger

    I have Beautyberry bushes so I will look for chrysalises!

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    1. rewildingmylot Avatar
      rewildingmylot

      Caterpillars tend to crawl away from their host plants to pupate, so in my case I think it’s more relevant that this Beautyberry is near the Sunflower that has a bunch of Bordered Patch caterpillars.

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    2. rewildingmylot Avatar
      rewildingmylot

      Haha, I just went out to eat breakfast on the patio, and there was one of the same chrysalises on my chair! So I guess in 6 days or so there will be another new butterfly.

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About Me

Nature Lover.
Inquisitive Observer.
Student Gardener.

I invite you to join me on my journey to convert my sterile (from a nature point of view) new house lot to a healthy and diverse ecosystem, as I make discoveries, mistakes, and hopefully progress. I am not an expert or professional. The project started in February 2023 and the location is Seguin, Texas, USA.

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