
Starr County Butterflies
Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe) Life History

Eggs, 3-14-10

Recently eclosed caterpillar, 3-15-10

Caterpillar of study, one or two days old caterpillar; note orange color, 3-25-10

4-5-10

4-9-10

4-14-10

4-20-10

4-21-10, 10:20 a.m.

12:00:08 p,m. on 4-21-10

12:00:26

12:01:50

12:17, wings are fully extended

Eggs, 3-14-10

Recently eclosed caterpillar, 3-15-10

Caterpillar of study, one or two days old caterpillar; note orange color, 3-25-10

4-5-10

4-9-10

4-14-10

4-20-10

4-21-10, 10:20 a.m.

12:00:08 p,m. on 4-21-10

12:00:26

12:01:50

12:17, wings are fully extended
An ovipositing female led me to the eggs pictured at the right. She was using a regular host, Dwarf Senna, Senna pumilio. One of these caterpillars was raised to maturity.
Meanwhile, I collected a second caterpillar while gathering food for the first. I was fortunate to capture its emergence from the chrysalis on camera, so its life history is presented here.
Original Life History of Sleepy Orange