Traveling Hearts Photography: monarch

Showing posts with label monarch. Show all posts

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

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, May 25, 2014

A Birthday and a Butterfly

Yesterday was a big day around here as my youngest turned "5!" We celebrated by having a BBQ, making snow cones and playing a riveting round of mini-golf.

ISO 1000 ~ 28mm ~ f/6.3 ~ 1/3200

We've also been fostering Monarch Caterpillars and had our first Butterfly emerge the morning of my son's birthday! My son promptly named her "Joan" and we kept an eye on her to allow a safe release outside once her wings were dry.

macro shot of her wing just after emerging

ISO 2000 ~ 60mm ~ f/4.5 ~ 1/60 sec

just before she took flight

ISO 200 ~ 60mm ~ f/4.5 ~ 1/640 sec

Have an enjoyable Memorial Weekend, but remember freedom isn't free....

Capturing the Moment,

Corrie <3