Rosita Patch (Chlosyne rosita) Life History


youngest instar found


slightly older caterpillars


mature caterpillar, top view, 8-19-08


mature caterpillar, side view, 8-19-08


recently formed pupa, 8-21-08


butterfly ready to emerge, 8-25-08


just-emerged butterfly, 8-25-08, 4:21 p.m.


4:22 p.m.


Wings fully extended, 4:50 p.m.


Flexing wings before flight, 5:06 p.m.


After first flight; last sighting!

In August, 2008, I observed a Rosita Patch ovipositing on Shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeana, I believe, in the Acnathaceae family). For some reason those eggs never hatched; however, a few days after they were laid I found some unfamiliar caterpillars on the Shrimps. Three were collected and all were successfully reared; they did eventually prove to be Rosita Patches.

The link below will allow you to download an executable file that will play a 25-second time lapse video of a Rosita Patch emerging from its chrysalid. The file is 2.5 MB in size.
Rosita Patch emergence Video