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Return to Life Cycle Studies of Lower Rio Grande Valley Butterflies
On 6/12/09 @ 1215hrs.,
near the Rio Grande River just south of Mission in Hidalgo Co., I observed a female Cassius Blue - Leptotes cassius cassidula
ovipositing on a Hairypod Cowpea Vine - Vigna luteola, even though White Plumbago - Plumbago scandens (its
known caterpillar food plant) was nearby. Several pale blue, pebbly eggs with a dark spot in the center were
laid on the flower buds of the vine. I collected part of the vine with the eggs, and took them home to photograph
and attempt to start a life cycle study of this butterfly.
All photos on this site are by Jan Dauphin and are copyright protected
and may not be used or published elsewhere without the permission of Jan Dauphin
Hairypod Cowpea - Vigna luteola
White Plumbago or
Pitillo - Plumbago scandens is the caterpillar food plant for the Cassius Blue - Leptotes cassius cassidula
butterfly.
6/12/09 at 1215hrs.
A Cassius Blue - Leptotes cassius cassidula is ovipositing on the flower buds of a Hairypod Cowpea Vine - Vigna
luteola.
6/12/09 at 1215hrs.
A Cassius Blue - Leptotes cassius cassidula is ovipositing on the flower buds of a Hairypod Cowpea Vine - Vigna
luteola.
6/12/09 at 1215 hrs.
About 10-12 eggs were oviposited on the same flower bud head of the Hairypod Cowpea Vine.
6/15/09 at 1331hrs.
Day-4 from the egg; The caterpillar has eclosed, beginning day-1 as a caterpillar. The caterpillar (which is on the
Hairypod Cowpea Vine) is 1mm long. Three caterpillars were left on the Hairypod Cowpea Vine buds, and three caterpillars
were moved to the White Plumbago flower buds. We know White Plumbago is a caterpillar food plant for the Cassius Blue,
as we have seen numerous Cassius Blues ovipositing on our White Plumbago. White Plumbago has often been reported
as the host plant of the Cassius Blue. I have found no information that the caterpillars will feed on Hairypod Cowpea
Vine.
6/15/09 at 1331hrs.
Day-4 from the egg; Day-1 as a caterpillar. The caterpillar (which is on the Hairypod Cowpea Vine) is 1mm long.
Note the egg case just to the left of the caterpillar.
6/20/09 at 1434hrs.
Day-9 from the egg; Day-6 as a caterpillar. The caterpillar is 7mm long and is on White Plumbago. All caterpillars
on the Hairypod Cowpea Vine have died.
6/22/09 at 1022hrs.
Day-11 from the egg; Day-8 as a caterpillar. The caterpillar is 9mm long. I found the caterpillar on the collar
of the water bottle that contains the White Plumbago, but later it was back on the flower buds and feeding, so it has begun
to wander around. The caterpillar is changing color, and past experience suggests it is about to form a chrysalis.
6/23/09 at 1624hrs.
Day-12 from the egg; Day-9 as a caterpillar. I found the caterpillar has attached itself with silk under the lip
of the collar of the water bottle. The caterpillar is 8mm long.
6/24/09 at 2231hrs.
Day-13 from the egg; Day-10; Day-1 as a chrysalis. Note the shed skin to the right of the chrysalis.
6/26/09 at 1024hrs.
Day-15 from the egg; Day-3 as a chrysalis. The chrysalis has darkened just slightly.
6/29/09 at 2141hrs.
Day-18 from the egg; Day-6 as a chrysalis. The chrysalis is only slightly darker in color.
6/30/09 at 0656hrs.
Day-19 from the egg; Day-7 as a chrysalis. Big change in color, overnight. Very blue wings can be seen, indicating
the butterfly is a male. This vast darkening indicates that emergence will be very soon.
6/30/09 at 0656hrs.
Day-19 from the egg; Day-7 as a chrysalis. Big change in color, overnight. Very blue wings can be seen, indicating
the butterfly is a male. This vast darkening indicates that emergence will be very soon.
6/30/09 at 1416hrs.
Day-19 from the egg; Day-7 as a chrysalis. The male Cassius Blue emerged between 1200hrs. and 1400hrs. Chilled
it down in the refrigerator so I could get a photo. It never fails that 90% of the time, I am unable to get photos of
the emergence!
6/30/09 at 1419hrs.
The Cassius Blue - Leptotes cassius cassidula was quickly released after being chilled for a photograph. Interesting
that it all began on a vine that could not support the caterpillars, while White Plumbago - Plumbago scandens (its
known caterpillar food plant) was nearby.
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