Sometimes the best finds are the unexpected finds.
While Jeanne was looking at something on the ground, she spotted a winter cat! I don’t remember what she said she was looking at, perhaps the moss had caught her eye. On occasion this winter, I have spotted a few cats. However so far they had just been moth cats like cutworms or something similar. This one was pretty exciting. Of course, it now joined others at the Curry Foster Home.
Picking it up, the cat went into a defensive mode by curling up. It certainly was harder to pick up.
First order after I got home was to take the studio shots. The underside was first because that was how the dead grass wanted to hang. LOL
If the grass was going to hang, then take that shot, eh!
But sometimes you need to get the subject on the horizonal. A few clamps do the trick.
The cat is actually covered with short hairs! The next step after all the portrait shots was to give it a comfy home. So I grabbed a hand full of grass litter since we found it in the grass. Fingers crossed that it was the appropriate habitat.
Seven days had passed…
This was hanging by a silk on the grass for the morning bed check in the habitat jar. You can easily see four of ocelli (simple eyes).
And to my immense delight the chrysalis! The above exuvia was actually on the left end of the chrysalis. However it fell off as I tried to do the photo setup.
The animal might be the Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)! Or it could be the Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme). Reading up on its life history, Wagner’s book says the only way to confirm its true identity is by raising it. So fingers crossed. And like any parent, I will be just happy for a healthy adult!
Beautiful chrysalis. Thats an exciting find. Cant wait to see butterfly.
😃
Am reminded of the Gordion worm found at Dixon.
I thought the same. It was a neat worm. 😃
I love its texture!
Can’t wait to see the result!