We have a Gulf Fritillary maternity ward right now in our butterfly garden in Windermere Florida. I lost count at 15 chrysalis' on my passion vine. They've eaten about 80% of it and I hope it grows fast so the next generation has what they need. They are competing with the Zebra Longwing as several of those each day are also laying eggs. It appears hands down the Fritillary is winning as I don't see one zebra caterpillar. I think all the Fritillary caterpillars ate them but now we have most all the Fritillary in chrysalis form so game is on! Go Zebra Longwing! Every day for the past few days one is born. Today two had emerged at about 10:30 am as the sun finally reaches them on the east side of the yard. They hang for quite awhile next to or holding on to their chrysalis so their wings can fill with blood and become mobile. When they form the chrysalis hanging in the J position their head is down, but as soon as they come out they position themselves head up.
left to right description
- Fritillary hangs in J starting to form chrysalis. Color turns white as it it forms. See difference in color from the bright orange caterpillar next to eat still eating passion vine. See the little tiny caterpillar too. Cute!
- the chrysalis is newly formed
- the chrysalis is mature and hardened.
- the Gulf Fritillary just breaks loose out of it's pupae and positions himself to fill the wings with blood. Notice the different colors to the chrystalis. They are all different and I believe because they all stayed in the pupae for different lengths of time.Also notice in the bottom middle you can clearyl see the face form of the butterfly. I think this is so neat!
Another series
Here are the adults enjoying the nectar in the backyard. The bottom right one the Fritillary is still drying out in the morning sun on the grass after it flew briefly from hanging outside the chrysalis.
