Traveling Hearts Photography

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Life Cycle of a Butterfly {Day 12}

Eating, Growing and Moving....

These guys are getting big, fast.

Second Instar

(along with a sneaky aphid)

ISO 400 ~ 60mm ~ f/4.0 ~ 1/60 sec

Third or Fourth Instar

ISO 400 ~ 60mm ~ f/4.0 ~ 1/60 sec

I wouldn't be surprised if the larger two caterpillars were looking for a safe place to transform by tomorrow or Tuesday. They are getting big and eating everything in sight! The smaller caterpillar (the one from the egg I found) seems to be about one instar behind the larger two.

Usually how I find them...

upside down and eating to their hearts content

ISO 1000 ~ 60mm ~ f/4.0 ~ 1/60 sec

(ISO was pumped up high. It was raining outside and not a lot of window light to work with.)

G and I were out looking at the milkweed outside and found 5 new eggs! Not sure if the husband will let me bring more indoors... I'll keep you updated :)

Capturing the Moment,

Corrie <3

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Life Cycle of a Butterfly {Day 7}

I've named our three caterpillars "Eeny, Miney and Mo." They are chowing down and growing! I believe that 2 of the caterpillars have made it to the Second Instar, but I'm not sure. The tiny one (the one that came from the egg) is still in it's First Instar.

Second Instar (I think)

ISO 800 ~ 60mm ~ f/5.6 ~ 1/80 sec

Peek A Boo!

ISO 500 ~ 60mm ~ f/5.0 ~ 1/100 sec

What are Instars you ask? Well, they are the 5 stages that the caterpillar goes through as it grows and sheds it's skin. The larval stage lasts about 14 days. So if I calculate things right, we should have 3 nicely formed chrysalides (I had to google the plural of chrysalis, who knew?) by next Tuesday. That's a lot of chomping to do between now and then!

Milkweed for Lunch

ISO 500 ~ 60mm ~ f/5.0 ~ 1/60 sec

The Monarch Caterpillar has a 90% mortality rate of reaching adulthood (Butterfly). I'm just trying to do my part to help preserve this beautiful butterfly <3

This was From our Last Grouping of Monarchs

ISO 200 ~ 60mm ~ f/5.0 ~ 1/320 sec

Capturing the Moment,

Corrie <3