It's a Girl!
Given Name: Christine Grace
Binomial Name: Pierus rapae (Linnaeus 1758)
July 11th, 2011
HT - 3 cm WT - less than an ounce
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pieridae
Genus: Pieris
Species: P. rapae
The First Photos - Post Metamorphosis
Click on any photo above to see a larger version
Yes she's here! I overestimated her due date and yesterday afternoon was overwhelmed to witness her emerge from her cocoon. The above photographs are in sequence of the moments that followed. Within about 10 minutes, she discharged an orange-red fluid that I soon learned was the excess dye from her metamorphosis. If you look closely, this happened between photos 4 and 5. You can also see her antennae begin to rise between photos 5 and 6.
She began to flutter and fly about 5 hours after she emerged and we opened the windows in the kitchen for her to leave. But she decided to stay one extra night and the first photos above were taken this morning at about 8 am, shortly before she flew outside.
I eventually named her LuLu the PuPa, but when I discovered she was a female, plus received a special package in the mail that I'll blog about later this week, decided she would have a new name as a butterfly - Christine Grace.
Gender of this species is determined by the spots on their wings and although they aren't both visible in the photographs above, she had two spots on the middle of their forewings and males only have one.
Above - it seemed like only yesterday :0) - They grow up so fast!
PS - Thanks to everyone for their input on names, thoughts on the 'creepy factor' and RSVP's for dinner - my home is your home! You're welcome anytime!
14 comments:
so cool - thanks for posting this!
Thanks for posting this most incredible journey -
I have to admit, I was really excited to see this - so excited, that if a moth or butterfly decides to build its cocoon on my kitchen wall now, I will probably leave it there. This is a wonder to behold. She's a beauty!
Amazing you were able to capture this Trudi - great post!
what an amazing post! thanks for sharing!
hugs,
peggy aplSEEDS
Thank you for the follow story! Fantastic!
I was so overwhelmed by this whole thing that the obvious, momentous, truth was overlooked. YOU (the person organizing the great butterfly campaign) YOU have had an honest to goodness, real life, powdery wing, breathing insect, living BUTTERFLY hatch in your house. Along with the millions of other butterflies that fly in through your mail, through your hands, and out into the world to the holocaust museum. I'm completely overwhelmed and gobsmacked by this. Astounding my dear friend. Life imitating art at it's finest. Amazing, Miss Trudi.
Love these photos.
Kathy
i agree with Kathy...this little girl must have known about the butterfly project and decided tot treat you to a live birth..what truly delightful story..thanks for sharing!
Spectacular and so fitting!
xoxo Kim
There are photos and then...there are these particular photos. How fortuitous, and what a guardian you must have been. Awe-inspiring.
Oh you captivated me with your announcement AND the photos are oh SO brilliant as well!
precious post and congratulations!
oxo
Oh, AMAZING(!), and the connection to the Butterfly Effect is really astonishing. Christine is perfect and an adorable baby! Such a delicate pale green color, or at least that's how she looks on my monitor. Wonderful photos!
That is a beautiful present that the butterfly left !
Love from ♥RINI♥
Amazing -- that you were able to follow this transformation!
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