Through The Woods
  • Home
  • Blog
  • A Hiker's Guide
  • Plant Profiles
  • One Year Studies
    • Johnson's Woods >
      • Johnson's Woods
    • Barnes Preserve >
      • Barnes Short Loop
      • Barnes Long Loop
      • BP Pond Overlook
    • Walton Woods Wildflower Sanctuary >
      • Walton Woods Lower Trail
      • Walton Woods Burning Bush
    • Brown's Lake Bog >
      • Bog Boardwalk
      • Bog Loop
    • Wooster Memorial Park >
      • Sycamore Tree
      • Trillium Hill
      • WMP Prairie
  • Shop
    • Shop
    • Photography

August Journal

8/19/2019

0 Comments

 
It seems I'm a little behind on all my projects this year... but everything will be accomplished in its own time right? Here's the first half of August.
Have you noticed the leaves falling? No not the big abundant leaves. Beginning in late July the trees that hold many tiny leaves begin releasing the excess, slowly the leaves have been getting larger, we're now seeing wild cherry sized leaves falling. This is a whole new thing for me, everyone knows and is in awe of the large fall leaves and the colors involved, who even knew it begins so early. 
0 Comments

July Journal

8/19/2019

0 Comments

 
This year we've been taking a nature journaling class through the Wilderness Center.  It has been awesome and a great opportunity to see things differently. However, I've been paying more attention to that than my blog here, sorry guys! So to make up for lost time, you can see my July pages below! Enjoy!
0 Comments

The adventures of Gregor and Lucille

8/7/2019

2 Comments

 
If you've been following me and Noah on instagram or facebook you've seen that we've been raising a pair of black swallowtails, Gregor and Lucille. For those of you who aren't on social media (good for you!) let me fill you in on this incredible experience.

July 17, 2019

While planning some cool park signs, my friend Cathy told us all about a caterpillar she had found on a dill plant at Lowes that was getting ready to be tossed (because Lowes gets really excited about getting rid of old plants, it's a great place to find plants to nurture back to health - just add sun and water). So she bought the plant with the caterpillar (she only noticed one at the time of purchase) of course. Already raising many a number of caterpillars she offered up the plant which I graciously accepted. It's been years (maybe since kindergarten?) since I've done anything like this so I was pretty excited to do so with new more observational eyes. When I got the plant is when we noticed a teeny tiny second caterpillar. I took them and the plant home and excitedly showed Noah, he too was pretty excited. 
As they were happy to just hang out on their plant and didn't seem at risk for venturing any further, we just let them enjoy the plant out in the open in a sunny window of our kitchen.

July 18, 2019

We wake up the next day to find they're starting to change. The little one named Gregor is still in the first instar stage - orange and pointy, about 3/8 in. but Lucille has turned black with orange spots and a whiteish-green 'saddle' - the second instar, she's measuring about 1/2 in.
Picture
Gregor instar 1
Picture
Lucille instar 2

July 19,2019

The following day Gregor grows into the second instar, Lucille is much larger and beginning to show green under her skin.
As they progress through each instar stage they shed their outer layer of skin allowing them to grow larger. After the layer is shed they will eat the old layer.
Picture
Gregor Instar 2
Picture
Lucille Instar 2.5

July 20, 2019

Everyone knows caterpillars are very hungry (thanks author Eric Carle) and these two are no exception - eat, eat, eat! Lucille eats ravenously de-leafing entire branches then eats the branches themselves. Gregor is more modest and timid eating when we're not looking and just staying still when we're around. Both have grown so big so fast. They are now in the third instar stage.
One thing people don't tell you about when raising caterpillars is boy do they poop! Caterpillar frass (official name of caterpillar poop) has made it so we had to move these free range guys out of the kitchen (because, ew) and it's stinkier than one might expect, although dill alone can be pungent so it makes sense. Watching them we estimated they release frass once every 6 minutes! 
Picture
Lucille is on the left, Gregor on the right. (Lucille is starting to turn green - the next stage)

July 21 - 24 2019

Eat and grow, eat and grow. Their first plant got chewed down to a nub so I had to dig up some dill plants we had growing along the driveway so they'd have food. 
At this stage they've both got the beautiful green and black striping with yellow spots. Lucille has a larger face than Gregor, it's about the only way we can tell them apart. They're growing has slowed down to about 1/16th of an inch per day toping out at 1 3/4 of an inch

July 25,26, 2019

And then something happened... Lucille was gone!
There was an extraordinarily large blob of frass at the base of the plant... did she get scared? did the cat eat her? did she climb up into the Hoya plant that was holding up the potted dill stem? We moved furniture, looked through houseplants, moved curtains, interrogated the cat, all to no end. We just have to hope she's safe somewhere. 
In the evening Gregor started acting strange, was he missing Lucille? He stopped eating the plant that by then had gotten pretty wilted (dill does not transplant well) so I picked him some fresh - no interest. He just kept wandering from stem to stem. So I let him be and start in on a project. Out of nowhere I smell this terrible smell (cat was next to me, did she fart?) and hear a squishy thud. I look to the dill plant and Gregor too is gone! Quickly I drop to the ground and find him cruising around under the plant stand. I pick him up and put him back on the plant and he does it again. So I gather the fresh dill from the garden, put it in a tall clear plastic soup container, add Gregor, poke air holes in the lid and let him be. He tried to climb out for quite some time but eventually settled down and got into the pupal position.
Picture
Upon reading into caterpillar behavior, just before they pupate they will release all the excrement from their bodies in a giant smelly green gob (the smell was not from the cat!) then they run around like mad looking for a proper place to be still while they transform for a couple of weeks.

July 27, 2019

Just like that, overnight Gregor shimmied out of his caterpillar skin exposing the chrysalis that will hold him as he changes into a butterfly. If you look closely you can see a fine thread loop he used to hold himself in position. At the bottom of the container rests the shed skin, his sweet little caterpillar face looking up.
Picture
Picture

July 27 - August 4, 2019

Waiting...

August 5, 2019

8:43am I hear a sound like tissue paper ripping, followed by a "pop". I look over to Gregor's container (now without the top on so he wouldn't get too hot) and this dark long-legged creature pulls itself out of the shell of the chrysalis and frantically begins climbing (and falling) finally making its way up the clothes pin clipped to the container. Bit by bit the wings begin unfolding. In the span of 30 minutes, the wings are fully stretched out and early flapping attempts are beginning. 
With the wings open we can finally tell, Gregor is a female!
As I watch Gregor in awe, the entire process is just amazing, I hear a sound from the curtains. The sound is like that of a fly or a bee trying to get through a closed window. So I cautiously pull back the curtain, unsure of what I'd find, and tucked in a far back fold was Lucille!!!! She immediately climbed to the top of the curtain rod flapping her wings proudly, building her strength, getting ready for takeoff. 
I run outside and gather some blooming flowers and some branches and vines and put them in a large container, carefully I coax both butterflies into the container and put a screen over the lid. 
True to form Lucille is still the outspoken one, fluttering about, showing off her wings. Gregor finds a great branch and just relaxes there, she's had a big morning! At 3pm Noah gets home from work and we take Lucille and Gregor out to an area that has many of their host plants. We warn them of the dangers of birds and praying mantises, promise to come visit, then we open the container... They don't hesitate a second, a great breeze drifted by and they were up and out soaring along. We watched one find a tree to rest in, the other was out mingling with some friendly local monarchs, we can only guess who was who but it seems pretty clear. 
Gregor still folded
Gregor
Gregor
Gregor wing detail
Gregor
Gregor's shell
Gregor
Gregor
Lucille's Chrysalis shell found in the curtains
Lucille in her bold glory
Lucille
2 Comments

      Email list
      ​Sign up

    Subscribe

    RSS Feed

    About

    Since 2015 we have been exploring and sharing all the amazing things we’ve found in nature.
    From great and unique places to explore, to learning about new and interesting plant species, to understanding the earth’s cycles.
    Follow along and discover new and interesting things about the world around you. 

    Author

    Emily is an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist who is most often found out in the woods. 

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015

    Categories

    All
    2018 Winter Prediction
    2 Year Anniversary
    3 Year Anniversary
    All About Ferns
    American Kestrel
    April Inspiration
    April Recap
    Ash Cave
    Ashland County
    Audubon Wetlands Preserve
    Autumn
    Backyard Naturalist
    Bald Eagle
    Barne's Preserve
    Beauty
    Bedstraw
    Bee Balm
    Bee-Balm
    Bergamot
    Big Dipper
    Birding
    Birding Ohio
    Birds
    Birdseed
    Bird's-Foot Trefoil
    Birds In The Winter
    Bishops Cap
    Bloodroot
    Bluebird
    Blue Jay
    Blue Phlox
    Bluet
    Blue Vervain
    Bog
    Bog Swamp Fen Marsh
    Branched Coral Fungi
    Brecksville /OH
    Broadleaf Enchanter's Nightshade
    Brown's Lake Bog
    Bugs
    Burning Bush
    Buttercup
    Butterfly
    Canada Anemone
    Carex
    Carnivore
    Caution
    Cedar Bog
    Cedar Falls
    Chickweed
    Chicory
    Chippewa Trail
    Cinquefoil
    Clear Wing
    Cleavers
    Climate-change
    Clover
    Cohosh
    Coltsfoot
    Common Mallow
    Conkle's Hollow
    Conservation
    Cooper's Hawk
    Corn Speedwell
    Crow
    Crown Vetch
    Cutleaf Toothwort
    CVNP
    Dandelion
    Dead Nettle
    Decomposition
    Deep Lock Quarry
    Deer
    Dew Drop
    Dragonflies
    Driving
    Dundee Falls
    Dutchman's Breeches
    Dwarf Ginseng
    Eastern Comma
    Endangered
    Etiquette
    Evening Primrose
    Explore
    Explore Ohio
    Facts
    Fall
    Fall Hiking
    Fall Hiking Spree
    Fall Wildflowers
    False Mermaid
    February
    February Recap
    Fleabane
    Flower Spotlight
    Foraging
    Fungi
    Garden
    Garlic Mustard
    Geranium
    Giant Blue Cohosh
    Giant Leopard Moth
    Golden Alexander
    Golden-crowned Kinglet
    Goldenrod
    Gray Headed Coneflower
    Great Blue Lobelia
    Greater Celandine
    Grosjean Park
    Ground Ivy
    Groundsel
    Hampton Hills
    Hawkweed
    Hepatica
    Herb
    Herbal
    Highlights
    Hike
    Hike Ohio
    Hiker's Guide To Wayne County
    Hiking
    Hiking Alone
    Hiking Ohio
    Hocking Hills State Park
    How To Observe
    Hummingbird
    Hummingbird Moth
    Indian Cucumber
    Indian Cucumber Root
    Insects
    Inspiration
    Invasive
    Invasive Species
    Jack In The Pulpit
    Japanese Beetles
    John Muir
    Johnson Woods Nature Preserve
    July
    Kestrel
    Kidney Leaf Buttercup
    Killer Plants
    Lamb's Quarters
    Ledges
    Lesser Celandine
    Liberty Park
    Lichen
    Little Apple Creek
    Magee Marsh
    March 2018 Review
    Marsh
    Mayapple
    Meadow
    Meditation
    Metroparks
    Mines
    Mockingbird
    Monarch
    Moonville
    Moth
    Mullein
    Mushrooms
    Naturalist Studies
    Natural Remedy
    Nature
    Nature.org
    Nature Quote
    Needle Ice
    New Year Hike
    Night
    Nine Months
    Northeast Ohio
    Nuthatch
    Oak Openings
    Observations
    ODNR
    Ohio
    Ohio Caverns
    Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist
    Ohio Hiking
    Ohio Parks
    Ohio Spiderwort
    #ohiowildflowers
    Ohio Wildflowers
    Old Man's Cave
    O'Neil Woods
    One Year Series
    One Year Study
    Orchid
    Oriental Bittersweet
    Outdoor Safety
    Park
    Partridgeberry
    Phenology
    Phlox
    Pitcher Plant
    Plantain Leaved Sedge
    Plant Care
    Poem
    Purple Cress
    Queen Anne's Lace
    Quote
    Ragweed
    Rattlesnake Master
    Recipe
    Rock House
    Rose Pogonia Orchid
    Rue Anemone
    Rural Fall Hiking
    Rut
    Safety
    Safety Tips
    Sandhill Crane
    Sandstone
    Scarlet Cup Fungus
    Scheuchzeria
    Self Heal
    September Recap
    Serpent Mound
    Shepherd's Purse
    Shreve
    Silver Creek Metro Park
    Skunk Cabbage
    Smilax
    Sneezeweed
    Snow
    Solo Hiking
    Spangler
    Spangler Park
    Spree For All
    Spring
    Spring Wildflowers
    Squirrel Corn
    Stars
    State Nature Preserve
    Storm
    Summer Flowers
    Summer Fun
    Summit County
    Summit County Metro Parks
    Summit Metro Parks
    Sundrops
    Sunrise
    Swamp
    Swamp Buttercup
    Sweet Clover
    Tea
    Teasel
    The Wilderness Center
    Thimbleweed
    Timelapse
    Tobacco Hornworm
    Toothwort
    Trees
    Trillium
    Trillium Trail
    Trout Lily
    Tufted Titmouse
    Turkey Tail Fungus
    Two Leaf Toothwort
    Velvetleaf
    Viceroy
    Virginia Knotweed
    Walk
    Walton Woods
    Waterfall
    Waterleaf
    Wayne County
    Wayne County Ohio
    Werewolves
    West Branch State Park
    White Avens
    White Baneberry
    Wild Blue Phlox
    Wildflower
    Wildflower-count-2017
    Wildflowers
    Wild-geranium
    Wild-ginger
    Willow-gall
    Winter
    Winter Birds
    Wood Anemone
    Wood Hollow
    Woodland Sedge
    Wooster
    Wooster Memorial Park
    Wooster Ohio
    Yarrow
    Yellow
    Yellow Springs
    Zaleski
    Zizia

  • Home
  • Blog
  • A Hiker's Guide
  • Plant Profiles
  • One Year Studies
    • Johnson's Woods >
      • Johnson's Woods
    • Barnes Preserve >
      • Barnes Short Loop
      • Barnes Long Loop
      • BP Pond Overlook
    • Walton Woods Wildflower Sanctuary >
      • Walton Woods Lower Trail
      • Walton Woods Burning Bush
    • Brown's Lake Bog >
      • Bog Boardwalk
      • Bog Loop
    • Wooster Memorial Park >
      • Sycamore Tree
      • Trillium Hill
      • WMP Prairie
  • Shop
    • Shop
    • Photography