And...here I am again. That didn't last long.I woke up around three to hit the inhaler and noticed my Zebra Swallowtail chrysalis had really darkened up while I was gone yesterday. I figured I better get it out of the small container it was sharing with the Pipevine cats and put it in the pupation chamber (that's the Critter Keeper I have that's just full of chrysalises). Need to clean that thing. I think they're all empty now. Anyway, I woke up again around five, hit the inhaler again (sensing a pattern here), and put my face up to the Critter Keeper (no glasses) but even I could see it was out! Since sleep seems out of the question, at least for a while, I took it into the bathroom, hoped it didn't know how to fly yet, and took some photos!
I'm actually planning to go to the preserve where the Zebra Swallowtails hang out later today, but I have to wait until it's light outside. I also have to wait until Visionworks opens because my new lenses came in and they need an hour to replace them. So I'll have time to kill, and something I want to acquire...
Back in butterfly news, one thing I think is cool about Zebra Swallowtails (my fave butterfly, in case you forgot) is that their tails get longer in the summer. I know it's not summer yet here, but it's hot enough for me. Hmm...let me check something. Okay, here's a pic I took of a wild Zebra ST that has its tails intact. I took this Mar 18 so that was probably the brood that overwintered in the chrysalis. Then, compare it to today's generation (once again, in the stellar lighting of my bathroom).
See the difference? Now, I was reading about a different butterfly whose males have longer tails in the winter. And that butterfly is...drum roll...the Goatweed Leafwing! Yup, BAMONA got back to me.
Here's the sighting page:
http://www.butterfliesandmoths...
And here's the species page:
http://www.butterfliesandmoths...
As you can see from the map of reported sightings, they only hang out in the top part of Florida, and everyone knows central Florida is way better.
But that means I'll have to travel if I want to see one of these things in person.
Okay, I'm off to make a pot of tea and have a muffin. Oh, in Melanie health news, I lost five pounds!
At least when I see my doctor in two weeks I'll have something good to show her!
