Starr County Butterflies
Egg, 9-20-09
Recently eclosed caterpillar, 9-23-09
9-25-09
9-28-09, leaf damage visible
10-5-09
10-7-09; note orange spots along white stripe of mature caterpillar
10-8-09, chrysalis recently formed
10-12-09, pre-emergent chrysalis
Fresh Sleepy Orange, 10-14-09
In September, 2009, I observed a Sleepy Orange ovipositing on Dwarf Senna, Senna pumilio. I monitored the plant and was able to collect the caterpillar when it eclosed three days later.
The caterpillar took 15 days to mature and pupate; the butterfly emerged after 6 days. The journey from egg to adult took just 24 days.
In subsequent experiences raising Sleepy Orange, first-instar caterpillars have crawled inside flowerheads and remained there for a few days. These flower-feeders take on the orange color of the Senna blossom. Older caterpillars have shown little interest in the blossoms. Perhaps the flower eating is a defense mechanism to protect the tiny caterpillars.
When one of these once-orange caterpillars I raised emerged as an adult, I was able to photograph it as its wings extended. That life history may be seen here.