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Return to Life Cycle Studies of Lower Rio Grande Valley Butterflies
On 11/7/2010, I observed a
Northern/Common Buckeye - Junonia coenia laying eggs, singly, among the foliage of the ground cover, Snake herb -
Dychoriste linearis in our yard. I collected the egg and brought it indoors to begin a life cycle study. Northern/Common Buckeyes are a common species in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. It took 34 days from egg to emergence
for this butterfly. Starting around 11/23/2010, it was fun to enjoy the somewhat bizarre changes on the "face"
of the caterpillars. All Buckeye species like to bask on open trails, making them easy to study their field marks and
to enjoy their beauty.
All photos on this site are by Jan Dauphin and are copyright protected
and may not be used or published elsewhere without the permission of Jan Dauphin
Snake Herb - Dychoriste linearis is
uncommonly found in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Snake Herb is a low-growing ground cover that occurs in the grassy,
drier areas of the LRGV in Starr and Hidalgo Counties. Snake Herb (also
called Polkadots) is one of several caterpillar food/host plants of the Northern/Common
Buckeye and can be purchased in most LRGV nurseries. It takes a few years to spread,
but Snake Herb's lavender flowers (the
plant blooms from Spring through Fall) make it worth waiting on. Snake Herb is, also, the caterpillar food/host plant of the Cyna Blue - Zizula cyna butterfly.
Valley butterfliers plant Snake Herb, mainly, to attract the Cyna Blue.
11/7/2010. Observed the Northern/Common Buckeye
laying eggs, singly, on Snake Herb in our yard. I collected one of the eggs and brought it inside to begin this study.
11/7/2010. Day-1 as an egg. The egg is
a bright green color, camouflaging well amongst the leaves of the Snake Herb.
11/11/2010
at 0526hrs. Day-4 from when the egg was laid. The caterpillar has just eclosed, beginning Day-1 as a caterpillar.
The caterpillar is 1.5mm long.
11/14/2010.
Day-7 from when the egg was laid. Day-4 as a caterpillar. The caterpillar is 4mm long.
11/18/2010.
Day-11 from when the egg was laid. Day-8 as a caterpillar. The caterpillar is 13mm long.
11/23/2010.
Day-16 from when the egg was laid. Day-13 as a caterpillar. The caterpillar is 22mm long.
11/27/2010.
Day-20 from when the egg was laid. Day-17 as a caterpillar. The caterpillar is 33mm long.
12/1/2010.
Now that's one strange looking face.
12/1/2010. Day-24 from
when the egg was laid. Day-21 as a caterpillar. The caterpillar is 46mm long.
12/3/2010
at 0841hrs. Day-26 from when the egg was laid. Day-23 as a caterpillar. The caterpillar has formed a "J.
12/3/2010
at 1539hrs. Day-26 from when the egg was laid. The chrysalis has been formed, beginning Day-1 as a chrysalis.
12/9/2010
at 0838hrs. Day-32 from when the egg was laid. Day-7 as a chrysalis.
12/11/2010
at 0950hrs. Day-34 from when the egg was laid. Day-9 as a chrysalis. The chrysalis has turned very dark,
so emergence is imminent.
12/11/2010
at 0950hrs. Day-34 from when the egg was laid. The caterpillar has emerged.
12/11/2010
at 1500hrs. Day-34 from when the egg was laid. The Northern or Common Buckeye was released outdoors.
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