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Heliconious Charithonia
Pupal mating is a term that describes the behavior of butterfly males seeking out female pupae prior to eclosion and competing for the chance to mate with either phorate (uneclosed) or with teneral (freshly emerged) female (as in this picture) After mating the female laid eggs on Passiflora Suberosa vine, the same vine that she had eclosed. Eggs were laid in groups of 5-15 on leaf buds or leaves of the host plant.
Passiflora Suberosa/ Corkystem Passion Flower Vine is the most common of the four species of passion flower vines. Its blooms are smaller than a dime. It is the most used caterpillar food plant of the Gulf Fritillary, Zebra Heliconian and Julia Dryas Butterflies. I planted this vine in my backyard with the hope of recording the whole metamorphosis cycle and so far I have succeeded with my first Zebra Heliconian emerging from her chrysalis this morning. There are Gulf Fritillary Caterpillars in the same small vine and I see two chrysalises ready which butterflies should emerge over the weekend.
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