Red Stain - _TNY_6878
After emerging from their chrysalis and while waiting for the just unfurled wings to dry and harden so they can fly, butterflies excreet a red liquid known as "meconium" which is basically the liquefied parts of its old caterpillar self that isn't needed in adult form.
At the Haga Ocean butterfly house, the chrysalides are haning in rows from long bars (like so: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53568472847/) and looking at this green-banded swallowtail (Papilio palinurus), it appears it was sitting on a lower bar while another butterfly above released its meconium as there is a red meconium drop on its wing here.
Red Stain - _TNY_6878
After emerging from their chrysalis and while waiting for the just unfurled wings to dry and harden so they can fly, butterflies excreet a red liquid known as "meconium" which is basically the liquefied parts of its old caterpillar self that isn't needed in adult form.
At the Haga Ocean butterfly house, the chrysalides are haning in rows from long bars (like so: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53568472847/) and looking at this green-banded swallowtail (Papilio palinurus), it appears it was sitting on a lower bar while another butterfly above released its meconium as there is a red meconium drop on its wing here.