This is the Dainty Sulphur’s (Nathalis iole) story who came to stay in my foster home for critters. The only part that I’m missing is an egg. Check this out for an egg photo on BugGuide.
In the field photo on 2022-09-26 on Palafoxia callosa. This is not a host plant listed in BugGuide but is in the Asteraceae family which sources say they use.
Indeed, I was excited about this one with its cute little red horns! It got the in-house treatment as soon as I got back to the house. With BugGuide’s help, the ID was thought to be a Dainty Sulphur. Some cats you do have to raise it to know for sure.
2022-09-29 Three days later from collection date, it started to attach silk to the stem and the horns had turned clear.
2022-09-30 The next day, a chrysalis!
2022-10-08 Color changing as it got older.
2022-10-09 The chrysalis on the morning it emerged. You can see the colors vividly at this point.
In anticipation, I pointed the iPad camera at it. And gosh, did it come out fast. I slowed the movie down to five frames per second to see exactly how it pushed it way out.
Confirmation! It was the Dainty Sulphur! So fun to watch my babies grow up!
How neat! I love this!
Oh wow this is great!
This reminds me of a song by Alan Jackson:
“I’ll fly away, oh, Glory
I’ll fly away (in the mornin’)
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by
I’ll fly away.”
Yep that song came to my mind too Suzanne.
This is so neat that you captured the process. Thank you!
I have seen a lot of Dainty Sulphurs this fall.
Wow!! Patience pays off.
I don’t know that song, but I love it! Thanks!
Super – beautiful baby!