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Heart-leaf Hibiscus - Hibiscus martianus is fairly
common throughout the Lower Rio Grande Valley and is one of several mallow species host plants for the Turk's-cap
White-Skipper - Heliopetes macaira.
Turk's-cap White-Skipper - Heliopetes macaira caterpillar collected
for rearing on 6-20-07.
Within a few days, the caterpillar gathered pieces of the green leaves
and built a nest. The leaves dried and the caterpillar never came out of the nest. This photo was taken 9 days
from caterpillar collection.
The nest was opened, slightly, on the same day as the above photo
(6/29/2007) in hopes of getting a photo of the caterpillar. I was afraid I would damage the caterpillar, so I only opened
the nest very slightly.
The re-closed nest was opened again two days later (7/1/2007) to
reveal a pupa inside.
The re-closed nest was opened again two days later (7/1/2007) to
reveal a pupa inside.
The Turk's-cap White-Skipper - Heliopetes macaira emerged
on 7/10/2007, 20 days after collecting the caterpillar, and was released.
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