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Common Dutchman's Pipe (Pipevine) - Aristolochia tomentosa
is a scarce, non-native vine in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. It is a host plant
for Polydamas Swallowtail - Battus polydamas, and Pipevine Swallowtail - Battus philenor, both of which
occur in the LRGV.
Polydamas Swallowtail - Battus polydamas eggs were laid on 8/10/2007
on Common Dutchman's Pipe-Aristolochia tomentosa, in our yard. The eggs were in a scattered mass and were collected
for rearing. The eggs shown above are 5 days old.
Day-7 (8/17/2007) from eggs being laid and the caterpillars begin to
eclose, beginning Day-1 as caterpillars.
Day-7 (8/17/2007) from eggs being laid, and the caterpillars begin
to eclose, beginning Day-1 as caterpillars.
Day-12 (8/22/07) from the eggs and 5 days as caterpillars. It has
been interesting to watch the 12 caterpillars eat and stay as a group, ever since they hatched.
Day-15 (8/25/2007) from the eggs, and 8 days as caterpillars. Today,
I discarded all but two caterpillars.
Day-19 (8/29/2007) from the egg, and 12 days as a caterpillar.
Another caterpillar was discarded, so I only had to deal with one.
Day-23 (9/2/2007) from the egg, and Day-16 as a caterpillar.
Day-27 (9/6/2007) from the egg, and 20 days as a caterpillar, and the
caterpillar forms a "J".
Day-28 (9/7/2007) from the egg, 21 days as a caterpillar and it formed
its chrysalis, overnight (Day-1 in chrysalis).
Day-41 (9/20/2007) from the egg, and Day 13 as a chrysalis.
Day-51 (9/30/2007) from the egg, and Day 23 as a chrysalis.
Day-61 (10/20/2007) from the egg, and Day-33 as a chrysalis.
Day-93 from when the egg was first laid on 8/10/2007; 86 days from when
caterpillars emerged from the egg (8/17/2007); and the Polydamas Swallowtail - Battus polydamas emerges and is released
on 11/11/2007.
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