you are all
amazing.
i almost
didn't post
yesterday's post
because
i thought
you'd all
just think
i was crazy
or dorky...
thank you
so much
for
being
such
kindred
spirits.
. . .
so i did the
drawing
for the
cream
clutch
purse...
and the winner is...
kristen!
(with crustation
as the runner up)
congratulations!
sorry i can't make
you all a clutch...
you know
that
i would
if i could.
. . .
and what
friday
would be
complete
without
a
favorite
caterpillar?
today's caterpillar
i collected
from a
black willow tree
and had
no idea what
it was
(i am a little
embarassed
about that)...
i was so
surprised
to find it was
a viceroy
Limenitis archippus...
you may know
them better
when they
look like this:
photo above
from here
they are classic
examples
of
müllerian mimicry.
they mimic
monarchs.
monarchs taste bad
because
they eat milkweed.
so predators
learn to avoid
eating monarchs...
but viceroys
are tasty
(or so i hear)
so they mimic
monarchs
and aren't
eaten either
(most of the time).
the caterpillar,
on the other
hand,
looks like
a bird dropping
to avoid
predation.
it just amazes
me how
cool that is!
i love their
"antlers"
and
cute faces.
i hope
you like
this little
guy too.
look for
his buddies
on willow,
poplar, or
aspen.
. . .
i hope
you have
a lovely
weekend...
i am looking
forward
to some
down time
at home.
xo
11 comments:
such a cool caterpillar. nature never ceases to amaze me. i love the corner of your home photo too. stephanie's mushroom is beautiful. enjoy your down time! xox
wow..that's an amazing adaptation.
enjoy your down time and I love how you documented the draw! :)
ps...what's wrong with dorky and crazy anyway
Oh thank you so much, there's a runner-up prize? what a lovely surprise on a Saturday :) Thank you for sharing these fascinating photographs of caterpillars, although I don't quite agree with the 'cute' face, it's always a wonder to be reminded that they transform into butterflies. Have a fabulous weekend!
hope you are having a good weekend gwen. loved the backstory on the caterpillar... amazing! this morning there was a butterfly on my milkweed so i am thinking it must have been a monarch rather than a viceroy.
ps you are neither dorky nor crazy i think... but if you are, we all are as well :)
Yep, loving those antlers... and the clever disguise to avoid an encounter with a predator.
I am so very behind on all of my blog reading... and today I have spent the day in my nest playing catch up, in between a great deal of lolling by the heater.
see you, g xo
· { happy summer .... peace Sabine } ·
I love your bug lessons! Thanks for tell us about that amazing caterpillar.
kewl! i think i may need to do a caterpillar toy, a cocoon doll and a butterfly one. i can see that one in my mind.
and yay for dorky crazies! woot!
very wonderful butterflies!! i just love the antlers!!!
beautiful corner of your home!!
I´m really enjoying your little friends and stories :)
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