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Return to Life Cycle Studies of Lower Rio Grande Valley Butterflies
Queen butterflies - Danaus gilippus thersippus are
extremely abundant in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. It is fun to watch them gather together in large numbers as they
nectar on a bed of Betony Mistflower-Eupatorium betonicifolium, then all lift
off when disturbed. They can take cooler temperatures than other butterflies found in the LRGV, so they are always the
first butterfly you see in the Fall from dawn to about 10:00am. I was enjoying the butterflies off our patio, and got
to laughing to myself that although I see Queens just about every sunny day and often in large numbers, I had yet to do a
life history photo essay on the Queen. Queens are not very notable, other than occurring in large numbers, so a study
of them might not be very interesting. However, here it is.
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
Mexican Milkweed-Asclepias curassavica In the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV),
there are 16 species of the Asclepiadaceae family (6 milkweeds and 10 milkvines). Mexican Milkweed-Asclepias curassavica is the only one that has been introduced from the tropics, and it
has been cultivated in the Valley for many years. It is sold in every plant nursery in the LRGV, and is planted in pots,
ponds, flower beds, and all butterfly gardens in the LRGV. Mexican Milkweed needs lots of water to survive, thus it seldomly found growing in the natural areas of the LRGV. Mexican Milkweed is showy and it blooms
throughout the year. You can even completely submerge a flower pot containing this plant in a pond or water feature,
and Mexican Milkweed will flourish. It is most easily grown from stem cuttings, but seeding can work, also. If
you have it growing, it is the preferred caterpillar food/host plant for both Monarchs - Danaus plexippus and
Queens - Danaus gilippus thersippus, over any other Asclepias that
you may have planted or is growing nearby. Because it is beautiful, easy to grow and propagate, blooms all year long, and Monarchs and Queens
use it as a caterpillar host plant, homeowners and butterfly gardeners will always have it available.
9/29/2014, I saw a pair of Queens - Danaus gilippus
thersippus mating. As soon as they separated, the female flew to a Mexican Milkweed-Asclepias
curassavica and oviposited a single egg on the underside of a leaf. She would lift off, fly around, and come back
to lay another egg on another leaf; she did this for about 15 minutes, using this and other nearby Mexican Milkweeds.
I collected the stem with the leaf and egg, and brought it inside to begin this life cycle study.
9/29/14, egg was laid.
10/1/2014, Day-3 from when the egg was laid, the caterpillar
eclosed a few hours ago, and immediately started eating, beginning Day-1 as a caterpillar, the caterpilar is 4mm long (I was
amazed at how quickly the caterpillar had developed inside the egg).
10/3/2014, Day-5 from when the egg was laid. Day-3 as
a caterpillar. The caterpillar is 7mm long.
10/5/2014, Day-7 from when the egg was laid. Day-5
as a caterpillar. The caterpillar is 12mm long.
10/8/2014, Day-10 from when the egg was laid. Day-8 as a caterpillar.
The caterpillar is 35mm long. (GROW, BABY, GROW)
10/10/2014 at 1800hrs. Day-12 from when the egg was laid. Day-10
as a caterpillar. The caterpillar is 33mm long. The caterpillar has shrunk some. It has started roaming around
all over the container, indicating it is looking for a place to form its "J".
10/11/2014 at 0600hrs. Day-13 from when the egg was laid. Day-11
as a caterpillar. The caterpillar has formed its "J".
Note the changes in the chrysalis in the following
7 photos' timelines:
**********
10/11/2014 at 0947hrs. Day-13 from when the egg was laid. Day-1 as a chrysalis.
10/11/2014 at 0950hrs. Day-13 from when the egg was laid. Day-1 as a chrysalis.
10/11/2014 at 0953hrs. Day-13 from when the egg was laid. Day-1 as a chrysalis.
10/11/2014 at 1004hrs. Day-13 from when the egg was laid. Day-1 as a chrysalis.
10/11/2014 at 1008hrs. Day-13 from when the egg was laid. Day-1 as a chrysalis.
10/11/2014 at 1027hrs. Day-13 from when the egg was laid. Day-1 as a chrysalis.
10/11/2014 at 1147hrs. Day-13 from when the egg was laid. Day-1 as a chrysalis.
**********
10/16/2014. Day-18 from when the egg was laid. Day-6
as a chrysalis.
10/18/2014 at 2249hrs. Day-20 from when the egg was laid. Day-8
as a chrysalis. The chrysalis is starting to turn color
10/19/2014 at 0646hrs. Day-21 from when the egg was laid. Day-9
as a chrysalis. The chrysalis has really darkened overnight; emergence will be soon.
10/19/2014 at 0718hrs. Day-21 from when the egg was laid. Day-9
as a chrysalis. The chrysalis is starting to open, slightly, near the top.
10/19/2014 at 0818hrs. Day-21 from when the egg was laid.
The male queen emerged ~ 5mins. ago.
10/19/2014 at 0819hrs. Day-21 from when the egg was laid.
The newly emerged butterfly is continuing to fill its wings with fluid.
10/19/2014 at 0819hrs. Day-21 from when the egg was laid.
The butterfly is stretching and flexing its wings.
10/19/2014 at 0819hrs. Day-21 from when the egg was laid. The
newly emerged butterfly is continuing to fill its wings with fluid.
10/19/2014 at 0825hrs. Day-21 from when the egg
was laid. The butterfly is almost finished drying out.
10/19/2014 at 0839hrs. Day-21 from when the egg was laid. The butterfly is ready to be released.
10/19/2014 at 1016hrs. The male Queen has been released
back on the same plant where the egg was collected.
10/19/2014 at 1016hrs. The male Queen
has been released back on the same plant where the egg was collected.
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