The birthing process of a Swallowtail Butterfly.

A dream come true, as it is happening right here in the lemon tree at home.

Don't forget to watch the short video also in here.

We have never seen this process before, but I have always wanted to see the entire process of how a butterfly was developed from egg, larvae/caterpillar, to pupa and butterfly. So, when we saw this great gift, my wife researched the process, and it is very interesting. The process occurs in stages, called instars and each instar takes a set period of time.

Have a look at this link below, that my wife found, and it explains the entire process very well. This can be found in the Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies.
https://www.entomoljournal.com/archives/2018/vol6issue1/PartV/6-1-31-761.pdf

Day 1. My wife called me to see what this was in our back garden, and I was nonplussed as I had no idea.

Day 2. Just have a look at this change, so now we discovered that it is a caterpillar of a swallowtail butterfly.

I can tell you that this guy can eat, as he ate all of the leaves on that branch.

I made this video and had a kind friend upload it for me, as we don't have YouTube.

Gradually over the next two days, the caterpillar ate all of the leaves.

Then on the next day this strange posture took place. This is now the pre-pupa stage where he anchors his bottom and top with some silk strands.

Now look at that color change, and this is the spot where the pupa will form.

See the circle of the branch that was cut off below, and look how the pupa is anchored on the left side of it.

Here you can see the silver strands of silk that supports it at the top and he was busy silking up. So now we have to wait, as it takes approximately 2 to 3 weeks for the butterfly to emerge. But we can keep an eye on it every day, especially from day 8 or 9.

We only got to see the process from the fourth instar, what I have called day 1. But let me tell you that it is amazing what nature can do. He was busy moving into the next instar (moulting stage), so my day 2 is the start of his 5th instar. This 5th instar stage lasted 4,5 days. Then came the pre-pupa stage, which lasted for 1 day and a night. As you will see, I took some night pictures at the end.

Some say that the Swallowtail is nature's flying machine, as it hardly ever sits for a long period. It rather flits and takes nectar from the flowers when it hovers, and then it flies off like a rocket. Sadly, it will only live as a butterfly for 3 to 7 days. So, from birth to death, they live for only about a month. Sad that such an amazing creature will only live for a short period to eat, mate, and die but that is the way that nature works.

As soon as the butterfly starts to appear in the pupa / chrysalis, I will take photos again to show you how it emerges as an adult butterfly, and I will share a post again.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures and the story.

Photos by Zac Smith. All-Rights-Reserved.

Camera: Canon PowershotSX70HS Bridge camera.

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