Traveling Hearts Photography: July 2014

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Life Cycle of a Butterfly {Days 26 and 27}

I did not get as many photos as I would have liked of the Chrysalis process as most of it happened while I was away on my work trip. However, I did get to watch the first butterfly emerge from her Chrysalis yesterday morning! Yep, she's a girl!

First Butterfly Emerged from Chrysalis

ISO 500 ~ 60mm ~ f/8.0 ~ 1/50 sec

Second Chrysalis Not Yet Ready

ISO 500 ~ 60mm ~ f/8.0 ~ 1/50 sec

And I found the most wonderful surprise! Moe made it! Yes, definitely a happy ending to her story. She is also a girl and was just released this morning. Two girl butterflies and one chrysalis remains.

Moe!! Or should I say Molly :)

ISO 500 ~ 60mm ~ f/8.0 ~ 1/320 sec

Molly Released

ISO 320 ~ 60mm ~ f/6.3 ~ 1/200 sec

And all those eggs I saw outside, yes they all hatched! I believe I counted 11 caterpillars at one point. They are very large and should by ready to form their chrysalis soon. I'm a little weary about leaving them outdoors, but the husband has had enough of the caterpillars indoors for now. So here's a thought and a prayer wishing those little guys good luck!

Happily Chomping Away!

ISO 320 ~ 60mm ~ f/6.3 ~ 1/125 sec

Capturing the Moment <3

Corrie

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Life Cycle of a Butterfly {Day 16}

It took a little longer than expected, but we finally have a little metamorphosis action happening. This little guy decided to find his perfect spot and then was busy making his silk button. Shortly after this shot was taken, he went into a "J." ISO is high on the photo as it was night time.

Monarch Preparing Silk Button

ISO 2000 ~ 60mm ~ f/2.8 ~ 1/160 sec

I had to leave for a work trip shortly after this, so I left the care of Eenie, Miney and Moe to my "so not thrilled" husband.

He reported to me that by the end of Day 16, Eenie had formed his chrysalis. By Day 17, Miney had also formed his chrysalis. But sadly, by Day 18, I was informed that Moe was no longer with us :(

Apparently, when my husband brought the second milkweed inside (because they devoured the first one), a lizard hitched a ride. It is our thought that the lizard decided Moe looked like a nice dinner.

So we are mourning the death of our beloved Moe...

Capturing the Moment,

Corrie <3

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Life Cycle of a Butterfly {Day 14}

I'm a little surprised that we do not have at least one chrysalis yet. I'm wondering if being indoors with the air conditioning is making their life cycle take a little longer. According to the typical timeline, they should all have transformed into a chrysalis by now.

Fifth Instar

ISO 800 ~ 60mm ~ f5.6 ~ 1/40 sec

I tried having this guy do a lego measurement like the others, but he was not interested in doing anything but eating. I didn't want to bother him, so we did a side by side comparison of his size. This is with a 6x1 lego.

Fifth Instar

ISO 320 ~ 60mm ~ f/4.5 ~ 1/320 sec

G checking out one of the Caterpillars

ISO 800 ~ 60mm ~ f5/6 ~ 1/160 sec

Yesterday morning we found these three all on top of the same branch. G said they were having a meeting to decide what they were going to do for the day. Then he said they decided on "ring around the rosy." I tend to agree!

The Three Amigos

ISO 800 ~ 60mm ~ f/5.0 ~ 1/50 sec

I've lost count on the number of eggs on the milkweed outside. I think at last count we had 7 or 8. We found the eggs in the strangest spots too... this one was found on top of the milkweed flower. Usually I see them underneath the leaf.

Monarch Butterfly Egg

ISO 320 ~ 60mm ~ f/13 ~ 1/125 sec

Judging by the size of these guys, I'd say we'll have some action happening pretty soon. They start to go through a "wanderlust" phase where they become a little crazy and do some caterpillar gymnastics. This is right before they march off to find a safe place to "J" and then to begin their final stage as a chrysalis.

Capturing the Moment,

Corrie <3

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

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Life Cycle of a Butterfly {Day 1}

A few months ago in May, I had the privilege of watching five Monarch Caterpillars grow from small babies, form their crysalis, and emerge as butterflies. I was able to take photographs along the way, but not as many as I would like. When I found this Monarch Egg in my garden a few days ago (click here for a refresher), I thought it would be a great experience to be able to blog his/her life cycle.

Day 1(Approximately)

Monarch Butterfly Egg

ISO 640 ~ 60mm ~ f/5.0 ~ 1/200 sec

Day 4

Monarch Caterpillar Starting to Hatch

(You can see the Black of his/her head starting to push through the egg)

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

When I saw that the Caterpillar was getting ready to hatch, I took the leaf off and brought it inside. I didn't want him/her being lunch for my newly acquired ladybugs. I just missed watching it hatch out completely, but shot this photo just after.

Monarch Caterpillar Just Hatched

ISO 100 ~ 60mm ~ f/5.6 ~ 1/125 sec

My Boys looking at the Itty Bitty Caterpillar

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

When I say this Caterpillar is Itty Bitty, it is truly TINY!

Here's a comparison with a 1x1 regular sized lego

ISO 250 ~ 60mm ~ f/5.6 ~ 1/160 sec

After I got this little guy settled on the milkweed indoors, I looked outside to see if there were any more eggs. I was surprised to see two more newly, just hatched caterpillars, already munching away. I brought those two indoors as well.

We are now the proud parents of three Very Very Hungry Monarch Caterpillars. I hope you'll join us on our journey fostering these little guys through their life cycle.

One more thing... lets take a poll... out of the three caterpillars, how many girls and how many boys? Our last grouping of five Monarchs had four boys and one girl.

Capturing the Moment,

Corrie <3

Friday, July 4, 2014

Ladybugs and the F(l)ight of the Aphids

Our Butterfly Garden is growing and thriving! Milkweed (as it's name suggests) has started to shoot up all over the place. As the Milkweed grows in numbers, the aphids have also begun their hostile takeover. These little yellow bugs have come in droves and I've had a very difficult time trying to contain them.

Essentially, the aphids take over the Milkweed plant. Although they don't kill the Milkweed, they make an uncomfortable environment for the Monarch Caterpillars. I did some research and I kept coming up with the suggestion to get ladybugs and release them in the garden. However, the ladybugs may also eat the Caterpillars, so it is a risk to take. I was hoping to be able to get local ladybugs but was unsuccessful in my venture and only received a lot of strange looks from local garden vendors as I asked.

Ladybug hanging out in a Sunflower

ISO 400 ~ 60mm ~ f/5.6 ~ 1/125 sec

I went ahead and ordered the ladybugs online, however, I may have gone a little overboard as I ordered 2000.... I figured more is better, right??

Ladybugs at their Release Party

ISO 800 ~ 60mm ~ f/5.6 ~ 1/125 sec

While we were outside releasing the ladybugs, it started to rain... I didn't get quite as many photos as I would have liked because of the rain, but it was a lot of fun and the boys enjoyed the process.

G watching the Ladies

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

After releasing the ladybugs, I found a Monarch Egg. I decided to keep a close eye on it so I can bring the Caterpillar indoors once it has hatched.

Monarch Butterfly Egg

ISO 640 ~ 60mm ~ f/5.0 ~ 1/200 sec

Our Fourth of July plans were shifted when our youngest came down with Bronchitis. We are laying low and enjoying the quiet of the weekend.

Remember that freedom always comes with a price... I thank all the men and women who have served, are serving and for those who have payed the ultimate price.

Freedom should never be taken for granted.

Capturing the Moment <3

Corrie