Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Sunday Miracle



Saturday I read TexWisGirl post Have you fed your flowers?   DO NOT MISS IT  She was talking about feeding butterflies fruit. I grabbed this basket and hung it on the fence and put a sliced banana in it late yesterday.


Sunday at 7:51 AM I found this Gulf Fritillary caterpillar hanging on the chain over the bananas.


In ONE HOUR this little guy hung upside down, and started to swing  back and forth, while I stood and stared and of course Snapped! from above  to below in under and hour. I checked on the web and found this info.
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) caterpillar sheds skin to reveal a fresh chrysallis underneath. The swinging motion is to shed the skin. it only took 10 minutes to go from caterpillar to below.





 just a few hours and  it looked like this, if you enlarge the below photo you can see the outline of the wings.

15 days and we should see a butterfly.  I can't WAIT




I found 8 Zebra and 4 Gulf Fritillary caterpillars. I have not been able to stop watching as they strip the leaves.




WELL, YES, OF COURSE THERE WILL BE MORE PICS
this is what i saw while watching my Sunday Miracle, I found this on YOUTUBE, and hope to see this myself.


33 comments:

Janie said...

I love seeing your catapillars - what an interesting post. Take the time and watch that piece on Utube.

Ginny Hartzler said...

Oh my goodness!!! And you have lots of them. Maybe if you stay outside and keep snapping, they will think you are their mommy when they change, and will flutter after you everywhere!! Wonder if I should put some banana under our wire fence or somewhere? I really don't know if these caterpillars are pretty or ugly, I can't make up my mind! I need to go read that blog. Still loving your beautiful and cherry Moss Roses!!!

Ginny Hartzler said...

I just saw her blog, I have already asked Phil to rig up some kind of plate to hang in the lilac bush, we always have lots of rotten fruit, Phil eats a plateful every other night...are you going to have Bob make something to hang for when they all become butterflies?

Betty Manousos said...

great and informative post, sandra!


love those macro shots of caterpillars. simply gorgeous!

xoxo

SquirrelQueen said...

After I read her post the other day I've been trying to figure out a place to hang some fruit. I would love to see more butterflies in the yard. The way they shed their skin is amazing.

The caterpillars are so pretty. I can't believe you have so many.

Declan said...

Oh we do envy people who live in parts of the world with such exotic creatures. They sure beat the hell out of our Cabbage Whites!! Deccy x

Anonymous said...

Wow! Thanks for sharing the awesome pics and video. I also adore your header photo. Hope you have a nice day, Sandra.

crafty cat corner said...

omg, the video is absolutely gorgeous, bet you can't wait to take shots of that happening.
Isn't nature the most wonderful thing/
Briony
x

Remington said...

Very cool post! I learn SO much from you! Thank you!

Unknown said...

Amazing what you can find in your back yard. I hung a new bird/squirrel feeder,"Got the idea from TexWisGirl and Squirrel Queen". I will try the butterfly thing but I have so many birds I don't think I'll have much luck.

From the Kitchen said...

Awesome! It's amazing how much we miss by not looking around us. Can't wait to see how it all turns out.

Best,
Bonnie

Amy Burzese said...

Wow, what fun! I need to do this!

Ruth Hiebert said...

This is truly a miracle. I am looking forward to seeing MANY more pictures as the events unfold.

EG CameraGirl said...

What fun! I love that you've attracted so many caterpillars into you yard.

Unknown said...

Your photos are amazing! Such detail!! I have never seen anything like that either. I enjoyed the video too. Another of God's amazing creatures.
Love, Madeline

TexWisGirl said...

it truly is amazing. makes you appreciate the butterflies even more. :)

Marie said...

Such a cool and beautiful post! I'm trying some banana today on a little bird feeder. :)

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

My gracious!!!!!!!!!!

Christine said...

So amazing! Ugly caterpillar to beautiful butterfly.

RoeH said...

I wish somebody would have shown me that video in 1955 when we learned that this happened in nature. So fascinating.

Reena said...

This is awesome. What a great capture! Can't wait to see the arrival!

Beth said...

What an awesome post! You always amaze me, my friend!

DawnTreader said...

Keep watching and snapping ;)

Deb said...

that is so neat....

Anonymous said...

Wow! Loved those pictures, you get to see so many interesting things just in your backyard...that's cool.
Have a lovely day!
Big hugs
Eva

theconstantwalker said...

Wonderful Sandra... I will be following your posts like an expectant parent lol.
Good luck xx

Chatty Crone said...

How long did it take you to find and photo that? It was amazing. Love, sandie

Susannah said...

Fabulous. This was much more than I expected to see! I am so glad you are snapping"! Lots of information...thank you so much!

Ann said...

Well that is fascinating. How cool that you have that right in your yard to watch and snap.

Angela said...

You are one lucky ducky Sandra! I haven't ever seen that in person. So cool!

Rose said...

I just today saw her post about the butterflies and plan to put out a banana tomorrow!!! Hope I have some sort of success!

Michaele said...

These are AWESOME shots! I love caterpillars - not sure why.
BTW I am your newest follower. I would often see your comments on blogs I follow and decided to check you out : ) Glad I did. I will be back - that's for sure.

Debra Dickinson said...

Oh, wow. This is amazing! Can't wait to see pics of the butterflies. :)