Mystery Liquid, Pt. 2 - _TNY_6625
Inside the chrysalis, the butterfly caterpillar goes through its metamorphosis into the adult butterfly, the imago.
When emerging and after pumping up its wings and while waiting for them to dry and harden so they can fly, like this lime swallowtail (Papilio demoleus) is doing, they can release a red liquid, known as "meconium" which is basically the liquiefied parts of its old caterpillar self that isn't needed anymore.
The swallowtail here however is excreting something else, and I am not really sure what it is. They can excreet excess water later in life after eating, but this one has only just crawled out of its chrysalis so that shouldn't be it. And the green part was actually there (albeit not as prominent when I photographed the same butterfly a while later).
Regardless of this, this species is one of my favourites of all the species I've found at the butterfly house.
Part 1 (slightly closer) here: flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53517180070/
For a shot showing the other side of the wings, have a look here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53357859844/
Mystery Liquid, Pt. 2 - _TNY_6625
Inside the chrysalis, the butterfly caterpillar goes through its metamorphosis into the adult butterfly, the imago.
When emerging and after pumping up its wings and while waiting for them to dry and harden so they can fly, like this lime swallowtail (Papilio demoleus) is doing, they can release a red liquid, known as "meconium" which is basically the liquiefied parts of its old caterpillar self that isn't needed anymore.
The swallowtail here however is excreting something else, and I am not really sure what it is. They can excreet excess water later in life after eating, but this one has only just crawled out of its chrysalis so that shouldn't be it. And the green part was actually there (albeit not as prominent when I photographed the same butterfly a while later).
Regardless of this, this species is one of my favourites of all the species I've found at the butterfly house.
Part 1 (slightly closer) here: flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53517180070/
For a shot showing the other side of the wings, have a look here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53357859844/