Say ‘Good night!’ and Go

I have been preoccupied with the lime bush that’s located at the side of the house for the past few weeks. Why? Well, I’ve only just noticed the caterpillars happily munching on the lime leaves. These caterpillars were in various stages of development too, from the minuscule orange speck, to the bright green caterpillar that was ready to pupate. I was fascinated! Braving the mosquitoes that were always ready to attack my arms and legs, I’d peer at every leaf and stem. Sometimes, I would take photos of them.

It was quite by accident that I discovered these caterpillars’ defense mechanism, their osmeteriums. I blew at one caterpillar on a whim and was treated to a display. Since I can’t quite describe it in words, I’ll just use a photo.

There, those red things on the top of its head is the osmeterium. It secretes a foul-smelling odour that would deter any predator such as an ant or a bird. However, I have noticed that some of these caterpillars choose not to defend themselves. I guess they’re the first ones to be eaten.

There was a time when I counted at least 17 caterpillars dining on leaves in various parts of the lime bush. Before the week was up, there were only two left (excluding the two that I took when they turned to chrysalides). Distressing signs were a dark liquid staining the leaves where the caterpillars were last seen on. Patrols of nasty Kerengga ants through the lime bush meant disaster too, as they efficiently killed and removed the caterpillars.

I had saved one caterpillar from this fate. It was on the ground, seemingly lifeless until I prodded a leaf at it. Knowing that it would be bird/ant food in no time, I quickly snapped a lime branch, took the caterpillar with it and inserted it into a plastic container that formerly held a soft drink. I was nervous, because I have never kept a caterpillar before. When the caterpillar didn’t eat, I was anxious. Would I see a dead caterpillar the next morning? My fears were put to rest when I saw that it had adopted a familiar position. It was getting ready to pupate!

Unfortunately, due to injuries it received during the ant attack, the pupa turned yellow. It had died. I placed it outside and it soon became food for other ants.

Well, I was lucky that the first ever pupa I had kept did eventually become a butterfly (seen on the top of the page). Eleven days and nights of anxious waiting and I was rewarded. I woke up early on the 11th day and it had already emerged from the chrysalis. Its wings were unfolded and I quickly took it out to the lime bush. It crawled onto the lime branch and dried its wings in the sunlight, pumping fluid into its wings at the same time. I snapped over 70 photos and soon my battery dried up. I went back in to recharge the battery and upload the photos. When I went out to see the butterfly, it was still on the lime branch. As I got closer, it fluttered its wings with uncertainty, and then flew over the neighbour’s chain-link fence.

I’m not sure if I’m ready to take another pupa. There is one caterpillar on the lime bush that seems to be ready to pupate in a day or two. If it survives to pupate, I might. I recall seeing a caterpillar that was already suspended on a thread and not an hour later, it was gone. So it’s never safe out there.

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