Spotted: Butterfly emerging from chrysalis
Nature is amazing!
I found a cocoon attached to power pole on West Old La Honda road a
couple of weeks ago. Went back each day since to watch cocoon; nothing
much was happening day after day.
One day, I thought: “Oh, are you drying out” and then I gave it a small drop or two of water from my bicyclebbottle. No reaction, though I don’t know if there may have been silent appreciation or a frown to indicate “please don’t do that again!”
But, wow!, Friday was the day!
Please enjoy picture of the butterfly coming out of its cocoon.
We all must become better stewards of nature so that future generations
can continue to enjoy our awesome, incredible, amazing ecosystems,
continue to be awed by and appreciate Nature.
Bill Wohler May 08, 2022 at 9:16 pm
Lovely!
Cocoons are silk enclosures made by moths. Chrysalises, what you’ve pictured, are made by butterflies.
I’m glad you didn’t drown this beautiful, and threatened (likely by automobile emissions), checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha bayensis). The butterfly normally emerges from the chrysalis after a few weeks.
Species correction welcomed!
https://xerces.org/endangered-species/species-profiles/at-risk-butterflies-moths/bay-checkerspot
https://friendsofedgewood.org/learn-about-edgewood-park/bay-checkerspot-butterfly
Butterfly Sanctuary Jardin Magico May 09, 2022 at 7:50 am
Correction to the article, butterflies do not make cocoons, only chrysalis or pupae, moths are the ones that create cocoons… 🙂
Thomas Mayer May 09, 2022 at 1:52 pm
I watch this miracle of life hundreds of times as a child in the 50s. It is so sad that it is become so rare as to be worthy of a news article. Beautiful!