A Change in Perspective
Our Maypop (passion flower) vine is loaded with fruit. When the boys and I check on it, we notice the leaves are all chewed up, and we take a closer look.
Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar
The vine is covered with caterpillars, who seem very hungry indeed.They are all actively eating and exploring the leaves on the vine.
Taking a closer look, we notice their spiky bristles and stripes.
Looking even closer, we see their glossy skin, and we feel how sticky their legs are.
And looking closest of all, we find their eyes (they look like they’re wearing shades), and we see tiny little hairs on their bristles.
Nearby, we find one that has formed a chrysalis, hanging on the side of our house.
Checking in our field guide to try to identify the caterpillars, we think they are either Gulf Fritillary or Variegated Fritillary.
{The kind folks at Shady Oak Butterfly Farm helped us identify them as Gulf Fritillary caterpillars.}
A change in perspective can reveal all kinds of details.
What a great job of observation, and so very thorough. I’m slowly getting the hang of figuring out how to identify our local wildlife.
Thanks for linking up to Science Sunday!