Camberwell Beauty (UK) - Mourning Cloak (USA) (Nymphalis antiopa)
Near my house in France (Vosges region) I found a big caterpillar nest after a storm caused some damage (a big willow tree went down and with the tree a nest of caterpillars). The dark caterpillars were walking on the path searching for fresh leaves and I collected them and replaced 2/3 of them in a willow tree behind my house in France. The other part of the caterpillars I took home to the Netherlands to take care of them and a big part of them returned to the Vosges to release them were they came from. Inbetween I had some opportunities to photograph the transformation processes; the emerged butterflies received their freedom in the Netherlands.
For photos of the other stages please link to my 'regular' page about the Camberwell Beauty.
For photos of the other stages please link to my 'regular' page about the Camberwell Beauty.
Sequence 1: Transformation from caterpillar into chrysalis (metamorphosis)
Sequence 2: Tranformation from chrysalis into butterfly (metamorphosis)
Sequence 3: Tranformation from chrysalis into butterfly (metamorphosis)
Sequence 4: Tranformation from chrysalis into butterfly (metamorphosis)
Sequence 5: Tranformation from chrysalis into butterfly (metamorphosis)