The Rio Grande Valley's Nature Site

NORTHERN MESTRA - Mestra amymone LIFE CYCLE STUDY

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On 9/6/08, I observed a  Northern Mestra - Mestra amymone ovipositing on Brush Noseburn - Tragia glanduligera .  The egg was collected and taken inside to begin a 27 day life cycle study of the 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
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Brush Noseburn - Tragia glanduligera is a common vine found only in the shady areas of Lower Rio Grande Valley.  This small vine has stinging hairs on each side of its leaves and on its stem.  If put in landscaping, care must be taken to place it where people will not have physical contact with the low-growing vine.  It's sting is very painful, produces welts and large blisters; the blisters can last a long time, and care must be taken to prevent the blisters from becoming infected.  Use gloves when handling this vine.  If wearing shorts in the field, be very careful to not brush up against this short vine.
 
Brush Noseburn - Tragia glanduligera is the host plant for many of the LRGV specialty butterflies, such as Red Rim, Gray Cracker, Blue-eyed Sailor and Northern Mestra- Mestra amymone.

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Day-1 (9/6/08) a Northern Mestra - Mestra amymone was observed ovipositing on Brush Noseburn - Tragia glanduligera.  The leaf and egg were collected for rearing.

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Day-1 (9/6/08) the unusually shaped egg was laid.

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Day-4 (9/10/08) from when the egg was laid.  The caterpillar has eclosed, beginning Day-1 as a caterpillar.  The caterpillar is 1.5mm long.

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Day-5 (9/11/08) from when the egg was laid, Day 2 from eclosing.  The caterpillar is 3mm long.

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Day-8 (9/14/08) from when the egg was laid, Day-5 from eclosing.  The caterpillar is 3mm long.  The caterpillar's is beginning to form "horns" on the head.

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Day-10 (9/16/08) from when the egg was laid, Day-7 from eclosing.  The caterpillar is 6mm long.  The caterpillar has turned green, and the "horns" are becoming well developed.

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Day-12 (9/18/08) from when the egg was laid, Day-9 from eclosing.  Boo!

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Day-13 (9/19/08) from when the egg was laid, Day-10 from eclosing.  The caterpillar is 11mm long.

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Day-15 (9/21/08) from when the egg was laid, Day-12 from eclosing.  The caterpillar is 14mm long.  Its color pattern has changed.

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Day-18 (9/24/08) from when the egg was laid, Day-15 from eclosing.  The caterpillar is 21mm long.

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Day-19 (9/25/08)from when the egg was laid, Day-16 from eclosing.  The caterpillar is 18mm long.

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Day-20 (9/26/08 @ 0956hrs) from when the egg was laid, Day-17 from eclosing.  The caterpillar has formed a "J".

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Day-20 (9/26/08 @1554hrs) from when the egg was laid, Day-17 from eclosing, Day-1 as a chrysalis.

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Day-26 (10-2-08 @ 1449hrs) from when the egg was laid, Day-23 from eclosing, Day-7 as a chrysalis.  The chrysalis continues to darken, indicating emergence will be soon.

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Day-26 (10/2/08 @ 2024hrs) from when the egg was laid, Day-23 from eclosing, Day-7 as a chrysalis.

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Day-27 (10/3/08 @ 0210hrs) from when the egg was laid, Day-24 from eclosing, Day-8 as a chrysalis.  The chrysalis is very dark so emergence is imminent.

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Day-27 (10/3/08 @ 0608hrs) from when the egg was laid, Day-24 from eclosing, Day-8 as a chrysalis.  The chrysalis has lightened in color, indicating that the butterfly has loosened itself from the inside of the chrysalis and is ready to emerge.
 
Emergence takes less than 3-5 seconds.  Capturing the emergence of any butterfly on photographs takes about 5% experience, 5% patience (usually this involves getting up every hour during the night), and 90% luck.
 
Note the time sequence throughout the remainder of the following photographs.

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Day 27 (10/3/08 @0617hrs) from when the egg was laid, Day-24 from eclosing, Day-8 as a chrysalis, and the butterfly has emerged.  The butterfly has ejected a small drop of fluid and is now beginning the process of filling its wings with fluid and drying itself out.

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Day-27 (10/3/08 @0618hrs) from when the egg was laid, Day-24 from eclosing, Day-8 as a chrysalis.  Filling the wings and drying out will continue for about the next 20 mins.

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Day-27 (10/3/08 @ 0619 hrs) from when the egg was laid, Day-24 from eclosing, Day-8 as a chrysalis.

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Day-27 (10/3/08 @ 0620 hrs) from when the egg was laid, Day-24 from eclosing, Day-8 as a chrysalis.

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Day-27 (10/3/08 @ 0621 hrs) from when the egg was laid, Day-24 from eclosing, Day-8 as a chrysalis.

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Day-27 (10/3/08 @ 0625 hrs) from when the egg was laid, Day-24 from eclosing, Day-8 as a chrysalis.

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Day-27 (10/3/08 @ 0634 hrs) from when the egg was laid, Day-24 from eclosing, Day-8 as a chrysalis.

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Day-27 (10/3/08 @ 0644 hrs) from when the egg was laid, Day-24 from eclosing, Day-8 as a chrysalis.  Filling of the wings with fluid and drying out is complete.  The butterfly is ready for release.

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Day-27 (10/3/08) from when the egg was laid, Day-24 from eclosing, Day-8 as a chrysalis.  The Northern Mestra - Mestra amymone has been released back onto the Brush Noseburn - Tragia glanduligera.

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