Elada Checkerspot - Texola elada ulrica Life Cycle Study

The Rio Grande Valley's Nature Site

Elada Checkerspot - Texola elada ulrica Life Cycle Study

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On 10/31/2012, I observed and photographed an Elada Checkerspot -Texola elada ulrica ovipositing on a Carlowrightia parviflora in my yard in Mission, Hidalgo Co., TX. I collected the leaf with a cluster of 9 eggs and brought them inside to begin this life cycle study. This tiny butterfly (dime-penny size in length) is fairly common, here in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. I separated one caterpillar from the nine to study, but kept the others in another box, just in case I might lose the study cat. After 5 days, I turned most of them lose on their host plant, but still kept 3 others to follow along. Interestingly, the 3 that I kept emerged 1 day earlier than my study 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

Smallflower Wrightwort - Carlowrightia parviflora is the caterpillar food plant for the Elada Checkerspot. It is uncommonly found in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Elada Checkerspots - Texola elada ulrica mating

Elada Checkerspot eggs oviposited on 10-31-12

Elada Checkerspot eggs oviposited on 10-31-12, beginning Day-1 of this study.

Day-4 from when the eggs were laid. The caterpillars eclosed on 11-4-12, beginning Day-1 as a caterpillar. The cats are 1.5mm long.

11/6/12: Day-6 from when the eggs were laid. Day-3 as caterpillars. The cats are 2mm long.

11/8/12: Day-8 from when the eggs were laid. Day-5 as a caterpillar. The cat is 3mm long.

11/10/12: Day-10 from when the eggs were laid. Day-7 as a caterpillar. The cat is 5mm long.

11/13/12: Day-13 from when the eggs were laid. Day-10 as a caterpillar. The cat is 8mm long.

11/16/12: Day-16 from when the eggs were laid. Day-13 as a caterpillar. The cat is 11mm long.

11/19/12: Day-19 from when the eggs were laid. Day-16 as a caterpillar. The cat is 17mm long.

11/20/12, 2155hrs: Day-20 from when the eggs were laid. Day-17 as a caterpillar. The cat is making a silk pad.

11/20/12, 2255hrs: Day-20 from when the eggs were laid. Day-17 as a caterpillar. The cat has turned around and attached its back end to the silk pad.

11/20/12, 0610hrs: Day-20 from when the eggs were laid. Day-17 as a caterpillar. The cat has formed a "J".

11/21/12, 1237hrs: Day-21 from when the eggs were laid. Day-18 as a caterpillar. The caterpillar has shed its skin and formed a chrysalis, beginning Day-1 as a chrysalis.

11/21/12, 1644hrs: Day-21 from when the eggs were laid. Day-18 as a caterpillar. Day-1 as a chrysalis (The stick where the chrysalis is attached has been laid on its side for easier photography)

11/25/12, 1905hrs: Day-25 from when the eggs were laid. Day-4 as a chrysalis.

11/26/12, 2030hrs: Day-26 from when the eggs were laid. Day-5 as a chrysalis. The chrysalis has begun to darken, indicating emergence is not long off.

11/27/12, 0052hrs: Day-27 from when the eggs were laid. Day-6 as a chrysalis. The chrysalis continues to darken.

11/27/12, 0621hrs: Day-27 from when the eggs were laid. Day-6 as a chrysalis. Wing spotting and antennae can be seen.

11/27/12, 0818hrs: Day-27 from when the eggs were laid. Day-6 as a chrysalis. The chrysalis has expanded slightly lenghth-wise, and the butterfly has begun breaking loose from the interior of the chrysalis.

11/27/12, 0923hrs: Day-27 from when the eggs were laid. Day-6 as a chrysalis. The chrysalis continues to expanded slightly.

11/27/12, 0924hrs: Day-27 from when the eggs were laid. Day-6 as a chrysalis. The chrysalis is moving, slightly. Emergence is eminent

11/27/12, 0937hrs: Day-27 from when the eggs were laid. Day-6 as a chrysalis. The Elada Checkerspot has emerged. Of course, I missed lthe "coming out".

11/27/12, 0939hrs: Day-27 from when the eggs were laid. Day-6 as a chrysalis. The butterfly continues to pump fluids to fill its wings, and is letting them dry.

11/27/12, 1035hrs: Day-27 from when the eggs were laid. Day-6 as a chrysalis. The dime-size butterfly has been walking around and is ready to fly. It will be released in the yard on the same plant where the eggs were laid.