Orange or Blue depending on the Season
For over two years I have been observing a plant outdoors which attracted my attention with caterpillars enjoying the leaves. Now I have researched and confirmed both plant and insect, life is so interesting, please, never tell me you bored!
Lets start with the plant, it is the Plectranthus caninus (family Lamiaceae), planted most probably 20 years ago in this wall pot.
Under hard lockdown 2020 I noticed the caterpillars, most probably they have been enjoying the plant for years, yes lockdown's can make us open our eyes to nature around.
Plant has nickname of Scaredy Cat Plant apparently smelling like dog urine which will keep both cats and dogs at bay, never actually smelt it so I will take their workd for it. I have it in shaded area, whereas it prefers full sunlight, note to self perhaps will have to try plant a cutting in direct sunlight in another pot.
Butterflies and Moths are holometabolous, which is just a fancy way of saying they have four distinct stages in their lives
• Egg - Have seen butterfly eggs, never sure which species, no pictures evident on this plant.
• Larva: better know as a caterpillar
• Pupa: when they have formed their silk cocoon known as a chrysalis,
• Adult: better known as a butterfly or moth
Let's start with what captured my eye first, the caterpillar, with definite markings and spikes warning do not eat or touch it was fascinating watching up to 6 at a time on this small plant.
The Gaudy Commodore belongs to the Nymphalidae-Nymphalinae family of butterflies. Its habitat is predominantly savannah and it occurs throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The caterpillars of the Gaudy Commodore are about 45 mm in length and they are tawny brown in colour, banded with black. They carry branched spines along the length of their body and a pair of spines on the head. Source
One day in April 2020 caterpillar started to form itself into the pupa formation, readying itself for the next stage of it's lifecycle as seen in the following photograph.
By 09h00 the next morning it was fully formed pupa, the pupa also changes from copper/reddish brown colour to more black, I believe from people on the forum some will turn dark grey.
A few days later more settled....
On Friday much earlier in the season due to rains possibly - I witnessed the butterfly drying out wings before flight, at long last I could learn more by identifying Southern Gaudy Commodore - (Precis octavia ssp. sesamus). By clicking the link one will quickly realize why this is referred to as a jewel of the insect kingdom.
Seasonal change in colour of butterfly, now who would have thought that possible, well they are robust orange/red in summer and gorgeous blue in winter, damn these butterflies are difficult to identify it really takes concerted effort!
Learn something new everyday I thank African Butterflies & Moths - LepSoc for forums and assistance from volunteers around the country helping clarify what you have seen, this too assists with tracing health in environment and life in the insect world.
Empty house, now I will be on the lookout in August/September to see if I will witness this butterfly in blue!
All photography my own using Canon Powershot SX730 HS camera. Any queries or requests please drop a comment below or make contact with me, have a wonderful day! Photography without tripod, go with the flow wherever life takes you. NB: Amateur photographer in nature, keep smiling!
Thought for Today: "If an insect as ever bit you when you see it, you kill it or run away. - African proverb
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I can relate to that, I remember noticing and appreciating nature and the small things around me more, things I never had time for when the government didn't forcefully locked me up at home.
Always admire your photos, it seems there's lots of patience you put into capturing those shots
This small sometimes forgotten plant has been getting eye balls each time I go past 😅really glad I have seen which butterfly and it is amazing how the same is blue in a different season, yikes if only humans were so clever.
Good to see you are still well, have not been catching you of late so thanks for the visit and keep smiling.
!LUV
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Lol humans are cleaver I think, probably not too clever!
Its all good, we just can't catch up everyday this place is so big we have to check up on other friends too...
Totally agree, good to know you OK though, crazy times we live in!
Ironically speaking, I started memorizing insects' names since pandemic started :D I love your photos @joanstewart :)
With rains almost over the garden comes back to life again with butterflies, they don't fly in rain 😅. Have always walked around looking for butterflies and birds, now it's fair game on anything new to learn about.
!LUV
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Awe! Ain't that sweet??
What an amazing experience! I love that you are following the stages of pupation. Do you have dogs or cats that can test the theory about the scaredy cat plant? I also didn't know that was its name
Have a cat and a dog in the garden, pot is high up so they never take notice of it. Did rub the leaf this morning and actually think it has a very herbal pungent smell.
Oh yuck. If it's anything like my goatie boy in season I hope you won't stink all day!
Hands totally sanitized when I got indoors, haha it came with a warning when reading about it!
🤣🤣
Like always, great post!
Long time in making, got there eventually!
That flower is from another planet, insanely beautiful. I´m impressed how you managed to follow on the butterfly evolution, that's big patience.. respect!
Caterpillar, then pupa not a problem, waiting for butterfly to emerge then identify was fun. Now to patiently watch when eggs are laid knowing which butterfly I am looking for. Thanks for visiting and kind comment.
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I can see all the effort that was needed to identify the caterpillars/butterflies @joanstewart, but all so worth it. The colour of the pupa is very pretty and funnily enough the red colour of the Southern Gaudy Commodore butterfly. I am so impressed at your persistence with observing the whole process, you are indeed a scientist at heart. 👏
Was extremely keen on doing biology after school years, girls were not considered going to study further, fortunately my Mom always had a saying "feast your eyes, it is right in front of you."
Got to love our wonderful Moms @joanstewart, my Dad did not see any future in a tertiary education for young woman either and was very vocal about it. He considered it a waste of time since I was going to be come a housewife! But Mom very quietly encouraged me to have a career and to always be independent with an income. I listened to my Mom and it was not until I completed my Masters which was my 4th lot of study that Dad stopped being negative.
I have gone back to studying throughout the years, working, raising children, my Mom was adamant no woman should ever be totally reliant on a man being the only one earning.
Mom, myself and little sister all went out to be employed, look back sometimes considering why I never ventured into being an entrepreneur at a younger age. In the end I was the only one to achieve a University pass eventually in 2005.
Never say never, woman especially should help each other with many regions still under the same disillusioned frame of mind.
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Nature is just amazing and how did lockdown open our eyes right! I love this plant. It flourishes here in the Western Cape. I just break pieces from it periodically, stick them in the ground (in the winter rain season) and they grow new bushes! But they do not smell that nice. Or at least to me.
I will try move some cuttings into a sunnier spot, it does tend to get lanky where it is currently.
When I originally purchased I am sure they said it helped keep the mosquitos away, now it specifically says dogs and cats well it's not on the ground!
Thanks for info and visiting!
!PIZZA
!BEER
Funny story, my dogs loved those bushes. Or they loved whatever hid away in them. For they always smelled of these bushes. When I water the garden and I smell that smell I get a pang of longing. But it never deterred them haha.
Apparently they smell of dog pee, perhaps they enjoy mingling? Never smelt anything off them but never worked with it either to check. 😄
Yes, maybe! They have a strange garlic smell on this side of the pond. I am not that big of a fan of the smell, but the plants are awesome.
Rubbed a leaf yesterday, found it to be a very pungent herbal smell, will try a cutting on sunny side of the garden.
I hope it takes! Best of luck. If they take they will cover your garden (or that section) in no time.
What an amazing story and you illustrated it so nicely, Joan 😊
These caterpillars look great and the butterfly even more - so beautiful 😍 and the transformation from the caterpillar to a butterfly is amazing.
!BEER and !WINE - both make a nice dinner with !PIZZA :)
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Have been patiently waiting a long time to see what emerged, right place right time since I don't know anything about assisting them other the right plants around the garden.
Thanks for visiting and have an amazing evening Johann.
!LUV
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@joanstewart(9/10) gave you LUV.
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Right place and right time indeed, and you have been patient enough to wait and see what would emerge from the cocoon - great 👍
Wishing you also a pleasant Sunday evening, Joan 😊
!PIZZA and !BEER served with !LUV - sounds like a nice dinner :)
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Average of 6 hanging around waiting to explore the world, I had to see one eventually 😄!
Happy Monday, let us see what the new week brings on last day of the month!
!LUV
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I think if one would decide to place it's cocoon on our balcony I would love it and our cats would probably try to eat it 😁
The new week and month brings a lot of work for me - my boss is at home with Covid and now I have to do his work too ... it isn't much though 😂 !LOLZ
!PIZZA and !BEER served with !LUV - sounds like a nice dinner :)
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Cocoon does not take much space, cats would be entertained when something emerges.
Covid thing is still doing the rounds here as well, young boy we know 8 years old tested positive yesterday, now parents are waiting for their results, daughter is clear.
Tell your boss to put his feet up and chill, when he gets back his desk will be 'neatly piled up' with work waiting 😅
Have a great day, or make the most of it! !BEER and !PIZZA for later.
Onyx, our gray cat, eats anything regardless if he's hungry or not, and as soon as he sees a movement the butterfly will not be able to dry his wings, I am sure 😋 !LOLZ
Our restrictions have been loosened quite a bit, but almost every day we hear from a colleague who is tested positive, but they don't have to stay at home for weeks anymore, like we had to last year.
Since I am the boss as long as he's gone I can delegate much work, so it will not be that bad 😉
!PIZZA and !BEER served with !LUV - sounds like a nice dinner :)
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Hello dear friend @joanstewart good day
The garden is the best place to be in situations like the ones we are experiencing, it is a way to relax the mind and forget situations that we do not want to live
What beauty you have found in the garden, I appreciate very much that you have shown us these beautiful photographs
Have a happy start of the week
Thanks for reblog and kindness always @jlufer have thoroughly enjoyed watching these caterpillars going about business!
You captured these fantastically. Natrue really is amazing, and the life of the butterfly is so quick, you are right during lockdown our eyes were opened more. Now we need to keep them open!
We learn to keep looking, always have loved watching nature since young, perhaps my hobby!
Wow, how beautiful it is to watch this so up close… the entire transformation.
Thank you for sharing @joanstewart 😊🐛🦋
I think the caterpillar is as attractive as the butterfly, now to wait and see after winter one in blue transformation.
Yes, both are stunning @joanstewart 🥰
Maybe you will… 🤞🏻
Always stunning in colours and species, so many!
They truly are… 🥰
Beautiful butterflies, who would have imagined that in the end the caterpillar became a butterfly!
Waiting and watching is fun when they using a plant so close to the home.
WOW, what a capture!
You managed to document the caterpillar until it became a beautiful butterfly!
Nah, we are never bored!
Life is too short, @joanstewart!
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Now to watch for when they lay eggs, full cycle still not quite captured.
Life has much to offer right in front of us more often than no.
Have a great day and thanks for visiting !WINEX
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The beauty of nature and living things is the perfect content that exists in this natural world, such as some of the photos you gave here which are a blockhain that I love very much, and the picture is very amazing, I like the photo of your plant that was planted for a very long time, even until now the plant still looks very fertile.
Watching closely then being able to share brings joy, we have so much to enjoy yet seldom take/make time to sit quietly enjoying their lifestyle. Thanks for visiting and enjoying with me.
I love them, you shot them perfectly... Have a nice day guys.
this are one of the things that always amaze me... make me always say how great thou art :) thanks for sharing joan!
So much to learn, see and do, leaves me awestruck at how seldom we take note of what riches we have right on our doorstep.
true and yet people still get bored ... how funny is that
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Great photography Joan. Enjoyed your blog
Thanks for visiting, butterflies are out along with many months at this time of year.
They're so pretty
How fun to watch the caterpillars turning into butterflies! That Gaudy Commodore is amazing. Thanks for sharing your wonderful pictures!
Scaredy Cat Plant — ha ha. Great name for a stinky plant.
Really hope to see the blue version toward end of winter, that would be exciting too!