Lime Swallowtail Release
The kids have been observing butterfly life cycles these past three weeks at home. It started with a visit to a friend’s beautiful garden, which was alive with butterflies. Our boys collected three Lime Swallowtail – Papilio demoleus – caterpillars. We have lime bushes in the garden, so we were quite sure they would enjoy their new home.
After a week or so as tiny black and white caterpillars, they turn a beautiful green before they chrysalis to live out their protected stage of development and Voilà, finally they metamorphose into beautiful mature Lime Swallowtails.
This morning Aidan stirred the sleepy atmosphere and got his brothers wide-awake, when he announced that the last of the three butterflies had hatched from its chrysalis. An additional bonus to keeping these temporary critters under observation is that it provides an incentive to getting out of bed and downstairs in the morning, as things may just have developed overnight whist we were sleeping.
It was a close call releasing the little guy before our 7am deadline. As the kids and I rushed to get outside, butterfly cage in hand, I skidded across the floor in a pool of cat vomit. Yuk! A quick foot wash and we were back on track. We got the camera ready to document the release and Cut! Pinot the dog walked straight into view behind the net cage, where she proceeded to squat and squeeze out a couple of nuggets before casually exiting the scene. What some do for attention!
Jenny, our wonderful helper and Top Zookeeper came to the rescue and camera assistance and we finally managed to see him off before heading to school.
Keeping lime bushes in the garden, as well as many other plants, means we always have something or some life cycle “on hand” to observe and study. It is an enjoyable and fun process to witness for both kids and adults and with a beautiful ending (most of the time), as they spread their wings, get their feet dusty and pollinate away, ensuring a next generation of limes and butterflies.
